Cafe Via

This week, I went to eat at Cafe Via, one of Birmingham’s finest four star restaurants. It is a unique American bistro that looks like an elegant cafe you would find in Europe. At cafe Via you will fine an atmosphere that is intimate yet sophisticated as well as comfortable and relaxing. It is a rather large restaurant that consists of four dining areas, a bar, and a cozy court yard patio that also has tables. On the menu, you will find delicious meals that are “elegantly simple” such as , grilled salmon, roasted chicken and my personal favorite, the crab cakes. (There is also much more offered on the menu). Stated in the Detroit Free Press, that “smart bistro menu, elegant interior, & secluded patio are winning big crowds.” I went there with my very best friend Tim, and my sister Courtney. We couldn’t decide on what we wanted to have for dinner that night, and we stumbled upon Cafe Via as we were walking in downtown Birmingham. This seemed to be exactly what we were looking for. Once we walked in, we were quickly seated by a friendly hostess. Our waitress came and brought a variety of bread that was delicious. While Tim and Courtney were looking at the menu, they had some trouble deciding on what to get because they are both vegetarians. The waitress was a vegetarian herself and helped them pick out some good items they had to offer. Tim and Courtney ordered tomato bisque which looked amazing. I was completely torn between the tomato bisque or the crab cakes. Everything on the menu looked so good! I ended up ordering the crab cakes and I was not disappointed. Even though there wasn’t a lot on my plate, they were very filling and extremely tasteful. They came with a creamy sauce on top called corn salsa. My total came to about sixteen dollars. Not bad! Although I must say, the pastas tend to be on the more expensive side. I highly recommend Cafe Via to go to for dinner or even lunch with some friends or family. The hours are Monday through Saturday 11 AM to 11 PM and Sunday from 4 PM to 9 PM.  The bar hours are Monday through Saturday 11 AM to closing and Sunday 4 PM to closing. Reservations are accepted for lunch but are on a limited basis for dinner. According to Hour Magazine, "Cafe Via... has the feeling of a small European inn ...The food is simple and simply elegant." My experience here was great! the next time you find yourself strolling down the bustling streets of Birmingham, I strongly recommend you eat at Cafe Via. You will not be disappointed!

Osaka Steakhouse

On Friday, I went to Osaka Japanese Steakhouse in Shelby Township with a friend. There, you can have the chef cook in front of you ( which is called teppanyaki) or you could sit at a regular table. If you choose to have the chef cook in front of you, you would have a course meal where you would enjoy a fantastic show of knife handling, fire, and flying shrimp. First, you get a plain soup that consists only of onion and seaweed but it is still very good. Also, you get the  house salad that contains fresh lettuce, sliced carrot, cabbage,and it comes with ginger dressing which is truly amazing! Next, The chef fries noodles with soy sauce which is my favorite item on the menu! And finally, you have a choice of getting chicken, steak, or shrimp for the main part of your dinner. This would be perfect for a party, because the tables are large, and the chef definitely knows how to entertain a crowd and because of the fun atmosphere. Inside and out really looks like you are in a traditional Japanese restaurant. The decorations, music, and Japanese staff make you feel like you are really in Japan and occasionally you will hear the gong which is a japanese instrument. However, when I went to Osaka on Friday, for the very first time I did not eat teppanyaki. I sat in the regular dining area, and my friend wanted to get sushi. I was excited yet a little nervous to try the sushi because I wasn’t sure if I would like it. I have had the California rolls that you can buy at a grocery store, and I didn’t like them very much. You can order off the “special” sushi menu which allows you to order your sushi exactly how you would want it. You can even get raw fish. Ordering raw fish in your sushi could cause it to taste very fishy. So we kept it simple and ordered sushi with crab, avocado, and another type with shrimp, crab, and avocado. I loved it! It was so fresh, and it didn’t taste fishy at all. We dipped the sushi in soy sauce for some extra flavor. We also ordered a cucumber salad that had only cucumber and crab in vinegar. That too was delicious. Our waitress was very attentive and nice. If you like Japanese food  then I strongly suggest that you dine at Osaka. If you have never tried sushi or Japanese food before then I still recommend that you go Osaka for dinner. It is so much fun and totally different than other restaurants. I can’t wait until I go back!

Sagebrush Cantina

This week a group of friends and I dined out at Sagebrush Cantina in downtown Lake Orion. It is by far the best Mexican food in Michigan, let alone the best I have ever had in my entire life.  As a matter in fact, Since 1996, Sagebrush Cantina has earned a reputation with those in the know as the best Mexican restaurant in Michigan!  Something you would find interesting about Sagebrush is that several years ago, on a dark, early morning, Sagebrush burnt down. Everything was lost. Finally, two years later Sagebrush reopened, and it was bigger and better than ever! People couldn’t wait for it to return for it was truly missed by Mexican food lovers throughout Michigan. The enlarged space was definitely an improvement  because of the restaurants growing popularity.  Upon arrival, we always wait for quite some time, no matter what day of the week it is, or what time of day.  Therefore, I would recommend you to call ahead and have your name put on the wait list before you head over (no reservations are allowed!)  Sagebrush has  such a great atmosphere, it’s fun, upbeat, and extremely kid friendly. You can be as loud as you want, and no one would notice because there’s so much going on there all the time.-waiters clustered together singing happy birthday, or someone running by with a sizzling plate of fajitas. Upon entering Sagebrush, you feel as if you are in Mexico. The paintings on the wall are fun to  look at, and The chandeliers are made from beer bottles. There is a large bar and several flat screen TV’s throughout the restaurant.  Once we were seated, They immediately offered us chips and salsa which were amazing. The staff was efficient, and extremely friendly. For my main dish, I ordered the combo which includes 2 burritos and a choice of soup or salad. I chose to get the soup. It is a chicken and vegetable soup with melted cheese over it. It’s to die for! I got “wet burritos” meaning that they come with a tasteful sauce over them. The burritos come with beans and rice. If you want to get a combo, you have the choice of a single item, double item, or triple item combos.  You get so much to eat for such a cheap price! My total came to $9.49, and I don’t think I have ever been so full in my entire life. For dessert, I highly recommend the fried ice cream as it is my all time favorite, you even get it for free if its your birthday! ¡Disfrute de!

O'Connors

Do you feel like going somewhere different and special for dinner?  Then I know exactly where you should go!  O’Connors Public House located right in the center of Downtown Rochester.  It is the largest authentic Irish Pub in North America and it is designed and decorated to tell you the rich history of Ireland.  The floor in the main bar area is more than 140 years old, and the stone wall that separates the bar from the dining room was once an exterior wall giving a very rustic feel.  My personal favorite part of the restaurant  is the beautiful stain glass and wrought iron that came from crumbling churches all over Ireland. Each stained glass is very unique and different from one another.  The elaborate interior of the restaurant really allows you to experience some of the Irish culture. Also, when you walk in, you immediately notice the joyful Irish music playing, and as you eat there you truly feel like you are in Ireland. Once we got there, we were greeted by the friendly staff and seated rather quickly. The people working there were clearly Irish. You could tell by their red hair, and some even had accents. I went there around lunch time, so I ordered the Piedmontese Burger which is made with northern Italian cattle beef which has less cholesterol and fat than chicken. So, if you are  looking for a burger but still want to stay healthy, than this would be a great choice! It is one half pound topped with shredded lettuce, tomato, onion, and secret sauce. It was the most delicious burger that I have ever tasted in my life hands down. It is so flavorful that its not even necessary to add anything else to it. The fries that I ordered were also amazing. They were very fresh and crispy. Other popular items on the menu are stakes, and fresh fish. And of course, they also have a drink menu that consisted of aged Irish wine. Their menu is is surprisingly affordable, the highest price would be around $11.00. Something really cool about O’Connors is that it provides a lively and exciting atmosphere because there is something going on almost every night, so you don’t have to worry about getting bored. On Mondays, it is trivia night, Wednesdays there is live music, Thursdays there are acoustic artists, Fridays there is live music, Saturdays, there is also live music, and Sundays there is a jazz brunch, (which I hear is amazing) and in the evening there is a live Irish session. Their hours during the week are 11:00-2:00 AM On Sunday, they are open from 10:30-2:AM. There is no other place like O’Connors and I am sure you won’t be disappointed. I had a great time there and I can’t wait until I go back. Give it a try,I strongly recommend it to anyone!

Maggianos

On Tuesday afternoon, my mom and I ate at  Maggianos, an Italian restaurant on 16 mile  in Troy, across from the Somerset Collection. I was really excited to go there because I love Italian food and It was my first time. I have to admit that I was very disappointed. When we walked in, we  we were immediately turned off because of the dark, cold atmosphere. We looked at each other, and debated on weather we should leave or not. The restaurant appears to more of a business meeting place, due to it’s lack of pizzaz. It had a formal feel, similar to that of the Capital Grille. There was no music playing, and the place didn’t have a welcoming feel. We decided to give it a try, because we assumed the food would be decent, and were curious, having never tried it. Once we were seated, we immediately noticed a freezing draft. At one point my mom said “it feels like we are sitting on an iceberg” and I promise you, she was not being dramatic the slightest bit. We mentioned to the waiter how cold we were and all he had to say about that was “that everyone says that, but I'm fine.” So we sat and ate with out coats on the entire time, and we noticed the girl sitting behind us doing the same exact thing as she was talking about how cold it was. We did not order an appetizer, but we were served bread, which aside from that fact that it was warm, was dry and tasteless. We had no silverware, and had to flag down our waiter for butter. My mom ordered coffee, and had to find the waiter again for the creme she requested.  By the time she got the creme, her coffee (which was almost too strong to drink) was cold. For lunch, I ordered the chicken and apple salad that was good and very flavorful. The only problem was, was that the arugula lettuce was full of stems which made it annoying to eat. Looking back, I wish that I would have gotten a pasta dish, or asked what the favorites were on the menu. My mom ordered a salad as well, which came covered in thick chunks of grilled red onion.  This was an unwelcome surprise. Also, her salad was drenched in dressing, making the ice cold lettuce extremely wimpy. Limp, cold lettuce=no fun. All we ordered to drink was coffee and a coke. Since hypothermia was beginning to set in, we paid the 32.00 bill and got out of there.  I will leave you with my mom’s words as we peeled out of the parking lot. “That was the worst 40.00 I have ever spent.” Thinking back, both salads were around 12.00.  Why was our bill 32.00? I’m thinking that will definitely be my last trip to Maggianos.

Down Town Cafe

On Monday, I went out to eat in Down Town Rochester for lunch with my mom and our good friend at the Down Town Cafe. It is a small, cozy, and very plain one room cafe with tables spread throughout the entire room. If you prefer to eat outside, there is  a small area outside the cafe with tables. The smell made my mouth water as I stood waiting to be seated.  The restaurant is so small that there is literally no where to stand while you are waiting for a table. As more and more people come, you are basically standing on top of each other and others while they are tying to enjoy their meal, which I found very aggravating. The restaurant is one of down town Rochester’s most popular cafes and is always very busy. They have amazing breakfast. Some of my favorites are the creme brulee french toast, or the honey waffles. For lunch, I ordered the sun dried cherry salad. I thought it was outstanding and everything was very fresh.You can get so much to eat for a good price. It is a perfect place to go to for a quick meal. The service was great as well. Our waitress was polite and we didn’t have to wait long for our food. As I mentioned before, the cafe is very plain. I didn’t notice any music playing while I was eating there, which I found a bit awkward.  There is nothing special about it that makes it unique, so people that are looking for a fun lunch or breakfast date might be disappointed and find themselves very bored. I think that if the owners fixed the restaurant up, made it a little bit bigger, and create a better atmosphere, the place would be even a bigger hit. Around the Cafe, there is a lot to do. Down Town Rochester is a nice little town that makes you feel like you are up north. It has several shops and a beautiful park. There is also a Dairy Queen right across the street from the Down Town Cafe, so if you want to go elsewhere for  dessert, it is just a few steps away.  Down Town Cafe is the perfect place to go to if you just simply want a quick and easy meal that is also very satisfying. Even though  Down Town Cafe is not the nicest and most fun restaurant, it is still delicious. I am sure you would like the food if you go there and I highly recommend it!

Ivy Dining Room

Over this past weekend, my family, along with Tim and I, went up to Port Huron, Michigan to watch my younger sister compete in the Miss Michigan Teen USA pageant.  Luckily, after a difficult and nerve wracking two day competition, she was crowned Miss Michigan Teen USA 2012.  We were all ecstatic and immediately went out to celebrate.  Unfortunately, there are few decent restaurants in Port Huron, since it is not much of a cosmopolitan town.  To our surprise, we stumbled upon quite a nice restaurant inside the hotel we were staying at.  The Ivy Dining Room, located inside the Thomas Edison Inn just beneath the Blue Water Bridge, offers its guests a breathtaking view of the St. Clair River, along with the a premier view of Canada as well.  The Ivy Dining Room is decorated magnificently in a sophisticated English Tudor style, requiring guests to dress business casual, especially during the evening.  Many guests of the hotel, along with Port Huron locals, enjoy the exceptional dining experience given in the Ivy Dining Room.  Once our party walked into the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by the friendly hostess and Maitre’D.  The warm and comfortable atmosphere of the Ivy Dining Room truly enhanced our dining experience that evening.  The cozy booths, oversized chairs, and gorgeous view of the St. Clair River made our table enjoy the restaurant even before we peeked at the menu.  The large menu listed numerous hors d’oeuvres, each sounding more delicious than the first.  Our table could not resist trying the calamari, hot spinach artichoke dip, basil tomato bruschetta, and the oven roasted stuffed Portabella mushrooms.  After we finished every last morsel of our various appetizers, our soups and salads arrived promptly.  The Michigan onion soup and Thomas Edison Inn salad were two favorites of ours.  At this point, all of us were already full, each positive we could not have another bite.  Although, when our Entrées were set in front of us, we quickly changed our mind.  Char-broiled filet mignon, lemon pepper white fish, oven roasted rack of lamb, and sautéed penne pasta were enjoyed by my family.  Regrettably, I did not get to try the Surf and Turf, which was a Thomas Edison Inn favorite, according to our server.  All in all, the breathtaking view, friendly and well-trained service, and outstanding cuisine make The Ivy Dining Room inside the Thomas Edison Inn a unique restaurant ideal for vacation getaways, wedding receptions, business conferences, and more. 

Pegasus

If you like greek food, then I have the best place for you! The restaurant is called Pegasus located in Greek Town, which is in down town Detroit. I went there last weekend with some friends after the Tigers game. When we walked in, we waited about five minutes until we were seated. Inside the restaurant, it is decorated beautifully with vines covering the walls along with lights woven in them, giving the restaurant a romantic feel. Also, there are some statues inside the restaurant that makes you feel like you are in ancient Greece. The lighting inside is very dim which makes you feel relaxed.  Over all the atmosphere was great! it would be a perfect place to have a party, date, or a night out with friends. It is well kept and very clean. It is also located in a very fun part of detroit. Its not far from Comerica Park, and it is right next to the Greek Town Casino. Since Pegasus is located in a popular part of Detroit, you feel completely safe. I think I like Pegasus so much because it is totally different than any greek restaurant that I know of. The decorations, location, and tasty menu makes it very special. The service we had that night was wonderful. The waiter was very friendly and polite. He never forgot to bring us anything, and once we ordered he brought or food out extremely fast.  He had a strong greek accent that made it obvious that he was from Greece. The food was wonderful, fresh and hot. As an appetizer, our group ordered the saganaki “opa” cheese which was amazing! If you don’t know what saganaki is, you have to try it! its flaming cheese. The waiter lights the cheese on fire then shouts opa! That is by far my favorite thing off the menu. For the entrée,  I ordered the Spanakotiropeta, which is very similar to spinach pie. It contains  Fresh leaf spinach, imported feta cheese and spices in thin layers of filo. Along with that, I got the Klassiki Salata, which is the Classic Greek Salad. There is also a fantastic dessert menu with quite the selection. This time, I got the chocolate moose that was to die for. But in the past I have gotten the Baklava  which is of course, the classic greek desert. The menu isn’t very expensive. The prices range anywhere form around five to twenty seven dollars. If you are ever craving Greek food, or even just a fun night out with friends, then I highly suggest Pegasus! I promise you, you will not be disappointed!

Lelli's

On Tuesday the 20th, my friend Tim and I went out to eat at Lelli’s, and had a somewhat unsettling experience. Lelli’s is an Italian restaurant located in Auburn Hills. It is a rather small restaurant that consists of a bar and room with tables in the middle and large booths lining the wall. We both live in Rochester, so it took us about twenty minutes to get there. Lelli’s is a fairly nice restaurant, so you have the choice of valeting your car or parking it your self. People that dine there tend to dress business casual. I wouldn’t recommend people our age to go out to eat there for several reasons. First of all, the crowd that goes there are mainly older people that want to have a party that consists of people their age, or a nice quiet dinner with their spouse. Therefore, Tim and I felt awkward and left out.  When Tim and I arrived, the hostess lost our reservation, so we had to wait an hour and a half to be seated. Also, our waiter was not friendly at all. He did not make us feel welcome, and was rude to us throughout our entire dinner. He was careless and made it obvious that we weren't worth his time, which made Tim and I feel very uncomfortable throughout the evening. When we would order or ask questions about the menu, he would act like we were stupid, and we could even overhear him talking about us to his coworkers. I believe he was acting this way because we are eighteen year olds, and he didn’t want to take us seriously. In the past, when I have been to this restaurant with my parents, the staff was much more friendly and respectful. Eventhough the service was awful, the food was fantastic except for the bread and the fact that once our food arrived, it was cold.  The bread we received that evening was beyond stale.  Not to mention, it was accompanied with butter that was as hard as a rock.  For the appetizer, I ordered the house salad, along with a small cup of minestrone soup. For the entrée, I ordered the fettuccine pasta in a palomino sauce. It took our waiter what seemed like eternity to bring us our food. Eventhough the food tasted great, it would have been much better if it was warmer. Once we were done with dinner, we ordered dessert. Sadly, they were all out of my favorite ice cream, which is the home made chocolate ice cream, therefore I ordered the Spumoni. Overall, even though the food tasted delightful, I would never recommend going out to eat at Lelli’s, especially if you aren’t accompanied with an older crowd. The awful service wasn't worth it, and it ruined our dinner. There are plenty of other Italian restaurants near by that would be much more worth going to. I do not plan on going back again any time soon. 

Bravo

Earlier this week, I went out to dinner at Bravo located at the Village of Rochester Hills, Michigan. Overall I would say that the experience was fantastic. Before being seated, we spent some time in the large bar located at the front of the restaurant. It was nice to choose an appetizer off the "bar bites menu" where all eight offerings were $2.95. Bravo offers an extensive wine list, which many adults appreciate. Many of the wines are made exclusively for Bravo by a winery in Italy. Also, there is a wide variety of specialty drinks and liquors on the menu .While eating in the restaurant, I felt as if I had been whisked away to Italy because of the decor, music, and general feel of the restaurant The atmosphere was very relaxing due to the soft lightening and view out of the large arched windows. The service was outstanding, and the waiter was friendly, professional, and never forgot to bring anything to our table. Also, he was extremely efficient and we never waited too long for our food. The menu consists of traditional Italian food: appetizers, soups and salads, pizza, pasta, house specials, sea foods, grilled meats, and a wide variety of desserts. For starters, you always get a free appetizer of bread and delicious dipping oil. For the entre, my personal favorite is the Pasta Bolognese (spaghetti with a meat sauce), and the Insalata De La Casa (the house salad) which I ordered that night. For dessert, I enjoyed the cheesecake, which very creamy and the top has caramelized sugar that makes it very unique and flavorful. Depending on the time of day, you can go to Bravo for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Unless you make a reservation, there is usually a line of people. An option is to walk around the village while you wait. Bravo would be a perfect restaurant for parties. They have tables, large booths to accommodate families, or a room in the back for private parties. Also, it would be a perfect place to go on a romantic date. Bravo is also very family friendly, sometimes the waiters even bring dough for the kids to play with! Another nice thing about Bravo is that you don't have to dress up, because it has a casual feel. Bravo is not a place where you leave wishing you wouldn't have spent half of your pay check on dinner. Dinners range from about $6.00 to $25.00, so there is something for everyone! Weather permitting, you are given the choice of either sitting inside, or outside on the patio. Overall, my experience at Bravo was great, and I plan on going there in the future.  If you're looking for a nice Italian dinner, Bravo would definitely be the place to go!