The Broke Baker

Tag: restaurant reviews

PizzaRev (A Review)

Good pizza has always been hard to come by in Miami. And, even pizza places that are great when they first open start to decline after a while sometimes, so the hunt for a good pie is a perpetual one. I don’t consider myself an expert on pizza, but I know what I like in my pies. I like fresh cheese, a tomato sauce that is not overpowering, and meat that doesn’t taste like it came out of drug store bag. On all of these counts, PizzaRev delivered.

PizzaRev’s menu style is not a new concept. I typically refer to these kinds of places as “Chipotles for Pizza,” which seems like an accurate estimation. You’ve got an assembly line setup where you can build your perfect pie, then take it back to your table piping hot. What really makes or breaks these types of pizza joints is the quality of their ingredients.

You can pick from four different types of sauces and an assortment of cheeses, including vegan cheese. They also have baskets of breadsticks, but I didn’t try those. Their tomato sauce is made with organic tomato.

The next section is where you add the “heavy” toppings like meats.

The last section is where you add the “lighter” toppings, like sprinklings of herbs or vegetables. I like my pizzas simple, so I got pepperoni, basil, and garlic on mine.

The end-product was an absolute beauty. The crust is thin enough to let the flavors of the toppings shine through, but not so thin that your pizza just collapses if you try to pick up a slice. The cheese at PizzaRev had that stretch that comes with any good pizza, and the sauce didn’t overpower the rest of the toppings.

The counter service was nice, and the place is kept very clean. I would definitely go back!

For more information on PizzaRev, visit their web site at https://pizzarev.com/

January 16, 2018
Corleone’s (A Review)

Not everyone knows this, but I actually lived in Philadelphia, PA for a while. More specifically, I lived in Center City and then South Philly. Back when I thought I could be an artist, I went to an art college in the area. My life eventually took a different path, but not before I spent a year or two living there. I don’t miss a whole lot about my broke college says in Philadelphia, but I DO miss those amazing cheesesteaks. I have always wanted to go back for a visit to eat some of the grub from my college days, but I haven’t found a good reason to justify the cost of a plane ticket. Still, I really miss a good Philly cheesesteak, and they are nearly impossible to come by unless you’re fortunate enough to have a native Philadelphian move into your town. That’s where Corleone’s comes in.

Corleone’s is actually in Phoenix, Arizona. Thanks to Hurricane Irma barreling towards Florida, I made a hasty retreat to Arizona to stay with my sister and her family. My brother-in-law was born and raised in Philadelphia, and mentioned this as a place to get an authentic cheesesteak. Not only is the owner originally from Philadelphia, but my brother-in-law went to High School with the owner’s nephew. It doesn’t get more Philadelphia than that! Even better, the traditional Philly attitude is absent at Corleone’s. Instead, you are greeted at the counter with a smile, and they will answer any questions patiently if you haven’t quite decided what you want when you get to the counter.

In true Philly fashion, the cheesesteaks are made with thinly sliced ribeye. And, also in true Philly fashion, they offer CHEEZ WHIZ for their sandwiches. The bread was soft, but did not get mushy or soggy and held together very well against the moistness of the meat and cheese. The fries were golden, crispy, and well-seasoned. The next time I visit my family in Arizona, I would like to try getting one of these to-go and see if it holds up to traveling as well as the cheesesteaks from Philadelphia do. And yes, I will definitely be asking my family to take me back to Corleone’s during my next family visit.

For more information on Corleone’s, visit their web site at http://www.corleones.net/

October 14, 2017
Homecomin’ (A Review)

The best part about having a job that requires occasional travel is that you get to try new places to eat in different areas. I make a big show out of it, too. I scour the web for what’s around the area where I will be staying with good reviews and a menu that piques my interest. My trip to Orlando for a conference was no different.

The main challenge of dining in Orlando is that it’s a very “touristy” city, with the theme parks and all. So, lots of the restaurants cater to tourists or don’t really bother making great food because they don’t expect return customers anyway. I can’t tell you how many times I felt like I overpaid for my meals during weekends in Orlando. I was hesitant to even consider eating at any restaurants in Disney Springs, the themed outdoor mall that was formerly Downtown Disney. But, my hotel was only a few minutes away and I am lazy about driving in unfamiliar cities. I found Chef Art Smith’s restaurant, Homecomin’, on the list of restaurants in Disney Springs and knew that I had to go there. I mean, Southern food by the guy that was formerly Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef!? Who would say no to that?

I was able to snag a seat at the bar by hovering by some bar patrons that were settling their tab. It’s worth pointing out that the restaurant was jam packed in the early evening on a Sunday, and I assume it only gets worse as the evening wears on. The bar serves the same menu as the dining area, and I opted for an appetizer. The Thigh High Chicken Biscuits sounded like a winner to me. The chicken is brined for 24 hours before it is fried, drizzled with hot honey, and sandwiched between two halves of a cheddar biscuit. The sandwiches also had butter pickles, which I picked off. The chicken had a crisp, flavorful crust that yielded with little trouble to reveal impeccably juicy meat underneath. The hot honey added a subtle sweetness and a touch of heat. The biscuits were of the drop variety, but they were tender and flaky. Did I mention that they have sweet tea? Do you really need anything else besides a glass of sweet tea and some fried chicken after a flight? I didn’t think so.

The service was also great. I sat at the bar, which often lends itself to getting ignored in favor of patrons that are drinking heavily. Instead, each bartender checked on me several times and made sure that I had everything that I needed. They were also very knowledgeable on the menu, which is GREAT when you’re that annoying diner that asks a million questions about menu items.

I strongly recommend reservations, or be prepared to wait a while.

For more information about Homecomin’, please visit the web site at http://www.homecominkitchen.com/

September 18, 2017
The Parlor Pizzeria (A Review)

I must admit that it came as a shock to me to find out that Phoenix, Arizona is kind of “on the map” as one of the go-to cities in the US for pizza lovers. I expected it to shine in Southwestern food, but my few visits to my sister over there have left me a little underwhelmed in that regard. So, when a pizza place in Phoenix made it on a Food Network list, I used the next visit to my sister and her family as an excuse to give them a try. We made our way to The Parlor Pizzeria in a caravan of half adults and half kids.

The walkway towards the entrance is decorated with a small garden. According to the hostess, they try to get as much of their pizza ingredients from their outdoor garden. That is one thing that stood out about this place.

We started with a fritto misto (fried calamari and shrimp) and an order of arancini (fried saffron risotto balls). We enjoyed both. The fritto misto had a very light batter and was tender, not rubbery. None of us were fans of romesco sauce, but discovered that it was fanastic when dipped in the pomodoro sauce that arancini were served with. I expected the arancini to be cheesier, but it was a little bit dry and crumbly on the inside. This probably helped the saffron stand out, but I’m used to risotto being creamy and cheesy.

Unlike most pizza joints, The Parlor Pizzeria doesn’t have a “build your own pizza” option where you pick your size and toppings. Instead, they have a fixed menu of available pizzas with pre-selected toppings. I played it safe and ordered a Pepperoni. It came with giant slices of pepperoni, house-made mozzarella cheese, and basil. I can’t begin to describe how amazing it smelled when it was brought to the table. Then I tasted it. I think I finally understand why restaurants boast about local ingredients on their menus. This pizza was unlike any mass-produced pie that I have ever eaten in my life. Even the grease pooling up on top of the pizza was flavorful. It tasted of all of the love and passion that was used to make every single ingredient. It tasted like heaven. Cheesy, greasy heaven.

For the kids, they also had plain cheese pizza, as well as pepperoni pizza without the fancy cheese and basil. The kids, picky as they are, all loved their pizza and were excited to come back when their aunt from Miami asked if there was time for a quick lunch before dropping her off at the airport on the day that she was scheduled to leave. And, I definitely plan on visiting them again the next time that I’m in Phoenix.

For more information on The Parlor Pizzeria, visit their web site at https://theparlor.us/

May 30, 2017
Antojitos Mexicanos (A Review)

Decent Mexican food is very hard to come by in South Florida. Sure, there are pockets here and there, as well as the occasional “hidden gems,” but stellar Mexican food is not something that South Florida is known for. It sucks for people like me, who would eat tacos several times a week if I could get away with it.

Sometimes, you just really need a taco. That’s where I was one Tuesday afternoon, which is quite apt since “Taco Tuesday” is a thing even all the way over here in Miami. Through a streak of luck, I found a place that serves Mexican food not too far away. Antojitos Mexicanos Tenorio is located in the Olympia Heights area in Southwest Miami. It’s situated in a very nondescript shopping center on the corner of Bird Rd and 147th Ave. I drove by it twice before I finally spotted it.

The restaurant has that hole-in-the-wall dive kind of feel to it. There are no actual tables in here. Just two counters with stools. Thankfully, I came early enough and on a slow day, so I had no trouble finding a place to sit.

They had horchata on their menu, which is automatic bonus points for me. Their version of this rice drink had the perfect balance of richness and spice. No watery horchata here. Already, this place was showing some promise.

In addition to the daily specials, they also have specials on their menu that are available every day. They have a 3 taco special for a discounted price, but only if all three tacos are the same kind of meat. Since I wanted to try different meats, I ordered three tacos a la carte to try. I got steak, carnitas (shredded pork), and al pastor. Taking a bite out of these was like taking a bite out of a taco from a street vendor. I mean that in the best possible way. The corn tortillas were tender, yet held together. A squeeze of lime on the tacos rounded it out. Of these three, my favorite by far was the al pastor.

In fact, it was so good that I ordered another, along with a chicken taco to try. The shredded chicken, while flavorful, felt a bit on the dry side to me. The al pastor tacos were the clear winners for me.

The counter service was very polite, and the food is prepared to order but quick. Be prepared to wave someone down if you need something, though. Once you get your food, they kind of forget that you’re there. Still, next time I’m in the mood for some good tacos, I know that Antojitos Mexicanos where I need to go.

November 26, 2016
Fujiya (A Review)

In Miami, it’s sometimes hard to find a restaurant that specializes in one specific type of cuisine. Being the melting pot that it is, a lot of restaurants end up being “fusion” restaurants, or restaurants that offer dishes that originated in different countries. “Latin” restaurants will usually be a combination of Cuban cuisine and any other popular dishes from Latin American countries. Colombian restaurants might offer Venezuelan dishes and vice-versa (although, given the similarities in the cuisine, this is fairly justifiable). And, rarely do you find an Asian restaurant that isn’t a combination of at least two types of Asian cuisine (Japanese-Thai, Sushi and Korean, Vietnamese and Thai, etc.). It’s not impossible, but it’s just not very common.

So, after a bad experience with a sushi order from the local Sushi-Thai joint that I normally ordered from, I started looking around for alternatives. I found Fujiya on Kendall Drive and 137th Avenue through a fairly brief search on Yelp, and was convinced by the high reviews to give them a shot. That, and the fact that they were a straight Japanese restaurant and not mixed with something else. So, the next time that a sushi craving struck, I made my way over there. It’s in a tiny shopping center that’s kind of a pain to get into if you’re coming from the West, as it requires an awkward U-turn on Kendall Drive to reach the entrance.

Fujiya has the standard “diner” feel to it, despite the tables being covered with linen. As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by someone on the staff and, when you’re seated, they bring you a hot towel to clean your hands with. They also bring you a small dish of sunomono, Japanese cucumber salad. In addition to cucumber, their version contains tomato, and sometimes mango or other fruits. The tang of the vinegar in the dressing is cut by sugar and a drizzle of sesame oil. A great way to get your palate ready for what’s to come.

The measure of a Japanese/sushi restaurant often comes from the quality of their fish. Sashimi, therefore, is an ideal litmus test for whether or not a place is worth its salt. In additional to the beautiful plating, all three types of fish in their sashimi appetizer (salmon, tuna, and hamachi) were exceptionally fresh and melted in your mouth.

With sushi, I like to keep it simple. I don’t need a roll with 10 different ingredients to appease me, especially when the ingredients are well-prepared. These salmon rolls were simple, yet satisfying.

The star of the meal, though, was the chicken katsu roll. It is a roll that contains breaded and fried chicken, avocado, and cream cheese. If you are a sushi purist that thinks that sushi should be seafood only, then I urge you to reconsider and try this roll. The roll is intended to be served with a cilantro mayo and eel sauce, both of which I declined (we all know how I feel about mayo). While I am sure that the sauces elevate it to new heights, the roll without the sauce is still strong enough to stand on its own. The chicken is fried to a great crispness without drying it out, so each bite of the roll is an orchestra of creamy from the avocado and cream cheese, crunch from the chicken, and chewy from the rice and nori.

Service is always warm and inviting at Fujiya, like a family-owned restaurant usually is. I will definitely be a repeat customer!

October 14, 2016
Isla Del Encanto (A Review)

I still have very fond memories of my very first time tasting mofongo. If you're a veteran follower, then you already knew that. Word is getting around that I have a weakness for this Puerto Rican specialty, and recommendations have occasionally come in for places where I can get it. This is how I ended up hearing about Isla Del Encanto, a Puerto Rican restaurant in West Kendall.

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February 4, 2016
Embarcadero 41 (A Review)

Embarcadero 41 caught my attention a few months ago for being a Peruvian restaurant that was slightly on the fancier side. Since it’s located in Downtown Miami, and hard to get to (parking in Downtown is always a nightmare), it took me a while to get myself to go check it out. (more…)

June 18, 2015
DB Bistro Moderne (A Review)

Miami Spice has come and gone. Yet, being the procrastinator that I am, I still have a backlog of restaurant reviews. Forgive me, all, for I have failed in my quest to keep you all informed of the deliciousness that Miami has to offer.

A friend of mine specifically requested that we try a French restaurant this time around. So, we found ourselves at DB Bistro Moderne in Downtown Miami. The parking situation is a bit of a nightmare, but I can’t say no to a friend. At least, not when food is involved. (more…)

October 18, 2014
Lario’s on the Beach (A Review)

Have you ever let a friend talk you into giving an ex a second chance? No? Good then. I have a similar perspective on restaurants. If you burned me once, I’m not likely to pay you a second visit. Unfortunately, exceptions must sometimes be made. Like, when a close friend that you have known since childhood is visiting from out of town and REALLY wants to go to that one, specific place.

This is how I wound up at Lario’s on the Beach. This, after vowing 6 years ago to never eat at an Estefan-run Cuban restaurant after my meal at Bongo’s Cuban Cafe (same as Lario’s, but downtown) was an overpriced and depressingly mediocre experience. But, in the wake of the recent renovations, I took a chance. I didn’t really have much of a choice.
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July 21, 2014