Julie Anne S.
About
I am a teacher, musician, athlete and cook. A great meal is an event, and I am very passionate about not only dining out, but cooking for my friends and family at home. To me, writing about a great meal is as important to me as writing about one that is sub par.
Recent Reviews
When the food is this good, it doesn't matter where it's located
Restaurant: UrbanBelly
Urban Belly is located next to a Laundromat. My friend and I were on our way there for the first time with our bottle of wine (it's BYOB), and I was telling her about all of the rave reviews I'd been reading, and what an amazing chef Bill Kim is........and then we pulled into the parking lot and kinda looked at each other. Really? My friend was starting to question my choice for dinner. We stood at the counter and ordered dumplings and Soba noodle bowls and sat down to wait for our food. The restaurant has communal tables and the seats are not the most comfortable things in the world, so why on earth was this place so crowded?
As they say, you obviously cannot judge a book by it's cover. The dumplings were outstanding and the Soba noodle bowl had us drooling and SO happy that we came. This is a no fuss restaurant that is all about the substance and not all about what kind of centerpiece is on the table. The food truly speaks for itself. The flavors are distinct and not overwhelming. The noodle bowls are delicious, and perfect on a rainy night. Grab a friend and a bottle of wine and try it out! And you can always do takeout.
Service
Prompt
Decor
Communal,Dining
Dishes
Soba Noodles
Dumplings
Duck Fat Fried Chicken......PERIOD
Restaurant: Slurping Turtle
First of all. Do NOT wear a white shirt when you dine here because I guarantee you might get a little messy. They were not kidding when they named this restaurant "Slurping Turtle."
The Tonkotu Noodle bowl had a broth that is flavored beautifully, but in order to enjoy everything in it, trying to be prim and proper goes out the window. So was it tasty enough to get messy for? Yes indeed.
While there, I also tried the brussel sprouts and the duck fat fried chicken. I had read a few reviews before visiting the restaurant and I'm glad I did because the menu is quite large. I very much enjoyed everything about the sprouts and the flavor of the chicken. I have decided that anything that has "duck fat" in the name is going to be good! I dined alone and sat at the bar and found the bartender to be very helpful as I was making my decisions on the menu. This restaurant is not for everyone, as some do not enjoy communal dining, but if you love Urban Belly and Belly Shack, you should give the Slurping Turtle a try!
Service
Great!,the
Decor
Communal,Dining
Dishes
Duck fat fried Chicken
Brussel Sprouts
Noodle Bowls
My favorite Summer Spot
Restaurant: Big Star
Nothing makes me happier than sitting outside at Big Star on a hot Summer day with a Modelo and a couple tacos...ok more than a couple! It's been around for a few years now, and I am still as loyal a customer as I was that first summer. Their Pork Taco, the El Pastor, was written up in Food and Wine Magazine and I have to agree with them: it's top notch. So is the fish taco, and I am a big fan of the Big Star Salad and their guacamole is also delicious. I usually stick with a Modelo, but have also been known to enjoy a Margarita or two. Make sure to wear sunscreen, and be prepared to wait for a table! The secret got out awhile ago, and people come by the masses to see what the buzz is all about.
Service
Very,helpful,but
Decor
I've,never,but
Dishes
Pork Taco
Fish Taco
Big Star Salad
Guacamole
Birthday Bliss
Restaurant: Sunda
A birthday is always better sitting at the Chef's table at Sunda! We were greeted with Sake shots and a beautiful Lobster creation. The service was fantastic and I thought the wine list to be very well chosen. The Brussel Sprout salad was absolutely delicious, as was the ahi tuna encrusted with something decadent. This was my 2nd time dining at Sunda, and the experience was exceptional!
Service
Excellent
Decor
Lively,Crowd
Dishes
Brussel Sprout Salad
Crab Crusted Ahi Tuna
Kimchi Po'Boy Heaven
Restaurant: GT Fish and Oyster
I had been wanting to dine at GT for quite some time after hearing nothing but rave reviews, and I am very pleased to report that I was not disappointed one bit! The entire wait staff was very helpful and I found the menu to be very easy to navigate. We had oysters to start, then moved to the shrimp brushetta which was a very flavorful and a perfect 2 bites. Delicious. We then moved on to the gnocchi which again had a flavor that was very distinct but not overpowering. And THEN we had the kimchi po boy. There are no words. I could eat one of those every day for the rest of my life it was just so good! Our last dish was the Lobster Roll. Not memorable. The dessert? Amazing. It was a salted caramel tart, and after the first bite, my friend and I were looking at each other in disbelief. Worth every bite! I will be visiting this wonderful space again soon.
Service
Very,Good
Decor
Casual,Elegance
Dishes
Kimchi Po Boy
Shrimp Bruschetta
Gnocchi
Oysters
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