YUM! KITCHEN AND BAKERY
4000 Minnetonka Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55416
http://www.yumkitchen.com/
Cuisine: Various foods and baked goods
Atmosphere: Fast Casual
Cost: $8-12
Split Meal Rating: 4 out of 10
Liliya’s Review-
This little eatery is conveniently located on Minnetonka Boulevard right on the border of St. Louis Park and Uptown. It has some nice outdoor seating and a fairly diverse menu of sandwiches, salads, entrees and bakery items. I have been here several times and tried a couple different things the first was a Blueberry Chicken Salad and an Egg Salad Sandwich. Both were not spectacular but pretty good and had a twist to them that most restaurants don’t. The Blueberry Chicken Salad was big and the chicken fresh and well seasoned, the salad also contained Gouda cheese which you don’t see at too many places. The dressing was a little too sweet for me and didn’t go well with the other parts of the salad. The egg salad sandwich was good too and the portion generous. It did come on delicious bread and with tomato and other vegetables on it, which you don’t see too many places. The restaurant space itself was very crowded, the serving style is like Noodles & Company where you order, grab a number and wait for your food. Both occasions I was there, there was a lack of seating and the space was extremely noisy. I have also tried various bakery items from Yum at various parties and they did not live up to their reputation. One birthday cake I tried from there was dry and bland, cookies and muffins are nothing special.
Reccomended Appetizer: None, the fries are a good choice for a side dish.
Reccomended Entrée: Blueberry Chicken Salad, fairly priced and full of berries, chicken and cheese this salad is worth going back for!
Dining Atmosphere: Fast food like atmosphere, even if you do find a spot to sit at you feel guilty enjoying your meal for too long because of all the other patrons looking for a spot.
Service and Staff: Friendly and efficient.
Not Reccomended If: You want a cozy and romantic dining experience.
Overall Rating: 7 out of 10
Soda’s Review -
Yum is not exactly what this trendy fast casual restaurant or bakery should be called. I would change it to "Just Okay" if you want to tell customers the truth. There are much better places to dine within a 1 mile radius so if you want to walk up and order I recommend Noodles or Chipotle nearby. The menu at Yum doesn’t blend well together nor do the ingredients the cooks make the food with. I had the Pad Thai---my own mistake for trying this at an American fast casual. It tasted like fish sauce with a large squirt of lemon juice and some noodles mixed together. Then considering I shouldn’t have ordered a Thai dish, I got the fish and chips. This item wasn’t actual all that bad if you like eating out of a wrapped news paper. The fish was decent but the batter was so thick I had to dig through. However, there was one thing that I really liked, which was the tartar sauce. Use a lot of tartar and your fish will taste like something you’ll never get at Yum---it will taste like something good.
Recommended to Couples: Maybe for a break up date
Recommended Appetizer: Fries
Recommended Entrée: Fish and chips with extra tartar sauce
Dining Atmosphere: Fast casual horrible seating
Service and Staff: Nice people
Not Recommended If: You don’t like bad food or nowhere to sit
Overall Rating: 1 out of 5, lowest I can go
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Chino Latino
Chino Latino
2916 Hennepin Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55408
http://www.chinolatino.com/
Cuisine: Street Food from Hot Zones - Asian, Spanish, & Sushi
Atmosphere: Trendy
Cost: $17-22
Split Meal Rating: 5 out 10
Liliya's Review -
I had been coming here for years to for a late night drink and finally decided to try their food after hearing people rave about it. My first visit here I tried the Kung Pao chicken and "Ah Phuket" Fried Noodles off of the dinner menu. I found the Kung Pao to be extremely bland and boring. Yes, there were huge chunks of vegetables (mainly green and red peppers) in some kind of sauce, but they weren’t easy to eat nor did they taste very good. The chicken itself didn’t seem like it had any seasoning on it at all. The “Ah Phuket” Fried Noodles, the Pad Thai of Chino Latino were a little better and did taste slightly authentic to me. The noodles came with huge chunks of eggs and lots of vegetables and were pretty good but greasy. My second visit was for a Happy Hour. I sampled all of the 4:30 to 7:00 happy hour dishes. My favorites were the Samurai Tuna Rolls and the Roasted Poblano Fundido. The Tuna Rolls were delicious and fresh with pretty large chunks of tuna and avocados. The Poblano Fundido was great too (but you can’t really go wrong with melted cheese and chips in my opinion). Overall, I found Chino Latino falling short of its hyped up reputation. I found their food to be bland and I think the bar itself is very crowded and noisy. That being said it is a great place to go with a large group, their large dishes and diverse range of cocktails make a great atmosphere for mingling but I would not recommend coming here on a date.
Recommended to Couples: For Happy Hour and if you want to share something for dinner. The portions are huge and great to share, but definitely not a great choice for a first date when you’re trying to get to know someone.
Recommended Appetizer: Samurai Tuna Roll. It’s nothing special but for $5 definitely worth it.
Recommended Entrée: None. Since I haven’t had any particularly good entrees there I would recommend getting a bunch of little plates to share that way you can sample some of everything.
Dining Atmosphere: Busy and crowded.
Service and Staff: Service is decent, staff is good at recommending unique drinks off the menu to liven up your group outing.
Not Recommended if: You want anything authentic. Although Chino’s has some Asian, some Mexican some sushi none are very impressive.
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
Soda's Review -
Chino Latino’s is a great looking venue with good happy hours and wonderful drinks. If you ever go there, try the “Donkey Punch”, it’s similar to a Mai Tai but doesn’t give you too much gut right. Don’t go for the “Chino” food, it’s not very good. The “Ah Phuket” Noodles, there version of the Pad Thai, and Kung Pao dishes are very generic and they don’t come close. The flavors are off quite a bit. It’s a bit more tangy than tasty. However, the sushi and “Latino” part of the menu are good so it’s not all bad. If they stuck with the Spanish flare and dumped the want to be Asian fusion they would even be busier and trendier than they already are!
Recommended to Couples: To new couples this is a good spot. Also couples looking for a 3rd person…I’ll leave it at that. I think this is more of a group or singles bar. Guys, if you’re on a first date and want to pretend you are living the “highlife”, take your date here that’s what most men do.
Recommended Appetizer: Empanada De Janeiro - Brazilian style empanadas stuffed with ground beef, olive and heart of palm.
Recommended Entrée: Coconut Shrimp Curry.
Dining Atmosphere: Trendy.
Service and Staff: Good, not great…it’s a busy place!
Not Recommended If: You want good food or something private.
Overall Rating: 2 out of 5
2916 Hennepin Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55408
http://www.chinolatino.com/
Cuisine: Street Food from Hot Zones - Asian, Spanish, & Sushi
Atmosphere: Trendy
Cost: $17-22
Split Meal Rating: 5 out 10
Liliya's Review -
I had been coming here for years to for a late night drink and finally decided to try their food after hearing people rave about it. My first visit here I tried the Kung Pao chicken and "Ah Phuket" Fried Noodles off of the dinner menu. I found the Kung Pao to be extremely bland and boring. Yes, there were huge chunks of vegetables (mainly green and red peppers) in some kind of sauce, but they weren’t easy to eat nor did they taste very good. The chicken itself didn’t seem like it had any seasoning on it at all. The “Ah Phuket” Fried Noodles, the Pad Thai of Chino Latino were a little better and did taste slightly authentic to me. The noodles came with huge chunks of eggs and lots of vegetables and were pretty good but greasy. My second visit was for a Happy Hour. I sampled all of the 4:30 to 7:00 happy hour dishes. My favorites were the Samurai Tuna Rolls and the Roasted Poblano Fundido. The Tuna Rolls were delicious and fresh with pretty large chunks of tuna and avocados. The Poblano Fundido was great too (but you can’t really go wrong with melted cheese and chips in my opinion). Overall, I found Chino Latino falling short of its hyped up reputation. I found their food to be bland and I think the bar itself is very crowded and noisy. That being said it is a great place to go with a large group, their large dishes and diverse range of cocktails make a great atmosphere for mingling but I would not recommend coming here on a date.
Recommended to Couples: For Happy Hour and if you want to share something for dinner. The portions are huge and great to share, but definitely not a great choice for a first date when you’re trying to get to know someone.
Recommended Appetizer: Samurai Tuna Roll. It’s nothing special but for $5 definitely worth it.
Recommended Entrée: None. Since I haven’t had any particularly good entrees there I would recommend getting a bunch of little plates to share that way you can sample some of everything.
Dining Atmosphere: Busy and crowded.
Service and Staff: Service is decent, staff is good at recommending unique drinks off the menu to liven up your group outing.
Not Recommended if: You want anything authentic. Although Chino’s has some Asian, some Mexican some sushi none are very impressive.
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5
Soda's Review -
Chino Latino’s is a great looking venue with good happy hours and wonderful drinks. If you ever go there, try the “Donkey Punch”, it’s similar to a Mai Tai but doesn’t give you too much gut right. Don’t go for the “Chino” food, it’s not very good. The “Ah Phuket” Noodles, there version of the Pad Thai, and Kung Pao dishes are very generic and they don’t come close. The flavors are off quite a bit. It’s a bit more tangy than tasty. However, the sushi and “Latino” part of the menu are good so it’s not all bad. If they stuck with the Spanish flare and dumped the want to be Asian fusion they would even be busier and trendier than they already are!
Recommended to Couples: To new couples this is a good spot. Also couples looking for a 3rd person…I’ll leave it at that. I think this is more of a group or singles bar. Guys, if you’re on a first date and want to pretend you are living the “highlife”, take your date here that’s what most men do.
Recommended Appetizer: Empanada De Janeiro - Brazilian style empanadas stuffed with ground beef, olive and heart of palm.
Recommended Entrée: Coconut Shrimp Curry.
Dining Atmosphere: Trendy.
Service and Staff: Good, not great…it’s a busy place!
Not Recommended If: You want good food or something private.
Overall Rating: 2 out of 5
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Victor's Restaurant - Puerto Vallarta
Victor's Restaurant
Marina
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Cuisine: Mexican
Atmosphere: Fun
Cost: $8-10 USD
Split Meal Rating: 9 out 10
Liliya's Review -
We stumbled on this place wandering around on the Marina in Puerto Vallarta on our honeymoon. We sat down to grab a quick lunch and before even ordering was served a delicious plate of chips and salsa and were sent over two shots of tequila by the owner. We were only in Puerto Vallarta for a week but ate or drank here at least three times. I had the cheese enchiladas twice, tried some of Soda’s fish tacos but mainly came here to relax and kick back with a couple cocktails. The free chips and salsa you get before every meal were great. The salsa wasn’t too spicy but a had a little kick to it. I ate the enchiladas twice because they were so good. They had a little kick to them and were served with Spanish rice. Our meals were a great experience not only for the food but also for the atmosphere. I strongly recommend everyone comes and visits this restaurant if they are in Puerto Vallarta, the food is authentic and the patrons and servers very friendly making this a fun dining experience.
Recommended to Couples: Absolutely! Even if you’re here for a special occasion Victor’s will cater to make the atmosphere either fun and social or cozy and romantic.
Recommended Appetizer: Did not have an appetizer but the Margarita’s are fantastic!
Recommended Entrée: Cheese Enchilada.
Dining Atmosphere: Fun and laid back.
Service and Staff: Very friendly and fast!
Not Recommended If: You don’t like Mexican food. The menu featured primarily Mexican food and very little American options.
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Soda's Review -
It was our honeymoon so our mood could have been easily swayed but this was NOT the case at Victor’s. We were looking for something fun yet “couple friendly” so just about everybody recommended Victor’s and we soon found out why. As soon as we walked in the door, Victor was the first person to greet us. He knew right away we were honeymooners (or he was tipped off by the people sent us over) and immediately brought us two shots of tequila and a chocolate milky flavored concoction his bartender put together specifically for newlyweds. Customer service says a lot and Victor sure knows how to treat people right. We stopped by each day and he always greeted us with shots and shots of tequila.
Now, not only was the service extremely friend but the food was also pretty good. I had fish tacos that blew away anything that I had tried in the states. Of course, the hot sauce helped it out a bit, but the fish tasted fresh and the sides of rice and beans were a good match. If you are ever in Puerto Vallarta, go to Victor’s. It’s a great place for not only couples but for everyone!
Recommended to Couples: If you are on your honey moon, go to Victor’s. You and your lady will get lots of special treatment and free drinks.
Recommended Appetizer: Nothing. Save your money and eat the free chips and salsa.
Recommended Entrée: Fish tacos.
Dining Atmosphere: Fun, fresh and outdoors.
Service and Staff: Owner operated and he makes the restaurant go.
Not Recommended If: You don’t like free shots of tequila. After awhile it starts to get a little overwhelming but for us, we like shots!
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Marina
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Cuisine: Mexican
Atmosphere: Fun
Cost: $8-10 USD
Split Meal Rating: 9 out 10
Liliya's Review -
We stumbled on this place wandering around on the Marina in Puerto Vallarta on our honeymoon. We sat down to grab a quick lunch and before even ordering was served a delicious plate of chips and salsa and were sent over two shots of tequila by the owner. We were only in Puerto Vallarta for a week but ate or drank here at least three times. I had the cheese enchiladas twice, tried some of Soda’s fish tacos but mainly came here to relax and kick back with a couple cocktails. The free chips and salsa you get before every meal were great. The salsa wasn’t too spicy but a had a little kick to it. I ate the enchiladas twice because they were so good. They had a little kick to them and were served with Spanish rice. Our meals were a great experience not only for the food but also for the atmosphere. I strongly recommend everyone comes and visits this restaurant if they are in Puerto Vallarta, the food is authentic and the patrons and servers very friendly making this a fun dining experience.
Recommended to Couples: Absolutely! Even if you’re here for a special occasion Victor’s will cater to make the atmosphere either fun and social or cozy and romantic.
Recommended Appetizer: Did not have an appetizer but the Margarita’s are fantastic!
Recommended Entrée: Cheese Enchilada.
Dining Atmosphere: Fun and laid back.
Service and Staff: Very friendly and fast!
Not Recommended If: You don’t like Mexican food. The menu featured primarily Mexican food and very little American options.
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Soda's Review -
It was our honeymoon so our mood could have been easily swayed but this was NOT the case at Victor’s. We were looking for something fun yet “couple friendly” so just about everybody recommended Victor’s and we soon found out why. As soon as we walked in the door, Victor was the first person to greet us. He knew right away we were honeymooners (or he was tipped off by the people sent us over) and immediately brought us two shots of tequila and a chocolate milky flavored concoction his bartender put together specifically for newlyweds. Customer service says a lot and Victor sure knows how to treat people right. We stopped by each day and he always greeted us with shots and shots of tequila.
Now, not only was the service extremely friend but the food was also pretty good. I had fish tacos that blew away anything that I had tried in the states. Of course, the hot sauce helped it out a bit, but the fish tasted fresh and the sides of rice and beans were a good match. If you are ever in Puerto Vallarta, go to Victor’s. It’s a great place for not only couples but for everyone!
Recommended to Couples: If you are on your honey moon, go to Victor’s. You and your lady will get lots of special treatment and free drinks.
Recommended Appetizer: Nothing. Save your money and eat the free chips and salsa.
Recommended Entrée: Fish tacos.
Dining Atmosphere: Fun, fresh and outdoors.
Service and Staff: Owner operated and he makes the restaurant go.
Not Recommended If: You don’t like free shots of tequila. After awhile it starts to get a little overwhelming but for us, we like shots!
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Thanh Do
Thanh Do
3005 Utah Ave S
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
The New Generation of Asian Cuisine
http://www.thanhdorestaurant.com/
Cuisine: Asian
Atmosphere: Casual
Cost: $12-15
Split Meal Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Liliya's Review - This cozy restaurant is one of my favorite's. The atmosphere is great for anything from a romantic date to a delicious easy dinner. I have tried many things on the menu and I can honestly say that all of them have been great. All of dishes have a very unique blend of spices and are packed with vegetables and meat. My favorite dishes would have to be the curry's. The curry's have the perfect thickness and are tasty with either chicken or shrimp. If you like cranberry's the cranberry curry is a must. Pair off any meal you choose with a glass of wine or a beer from the short but diverse drink list.The menu is very American friendly but also authentic and unique.
Recommended to Couples: Any couple. It is romantic and fun!
Recommended Appetizer: Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Recommended Entrée: Cranberry Curry Dining
Atmosphere: Very friendly but some of the tables are very close together and can get loud at times.
Service and Staff: Friendly but not always fast.
Not Recommended If: You want a fancy luxurious dinner. Thanh Do has a more casual and laid back atmosphere.
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Soda's Review - I am glad we started our first review with Thahn Do as it's one of my favorite places in Minnesota. The food is very good here and although it has been "Americanized" it's still pretty close to authentic. The restaurant is family owned so the service is good. It can be a little slow sometimes but that's because the cooks put time into the meals and they stay consistently busy. If you have never tried Asian food, this is a great place to start, they may change your mind.
Recommended to Couples: New couples on a first date. I think new couples would like it best because of the noise. It makes you feel a little more safe and not pressured. And if it works out with her, you know where to go back to.
Recommended Appetizer: Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Recommended Entrée: Thai Basil Supreme Dining
Atmosphere: Family or casual. Small and a little loud at times.
Service and Staff: Friendly staff, good chef.
Not Recommended If: You either don't like Asian food or want something extremely authentic. Complete opposites I know but if you don't like Asian and want to try it, this is the place to do it. On the other hand, if you want to feel like your in Bangkok, it's good but not the same.
Overall Rating : 4 out of 5
3005 Utah Ave S
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
The New Generation of Asian Cuisine
http://www.thanhdorestaurant.com/
Cuisine: Asian
Atmosphere: Casual
Cost: $12-15
Split Meal Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Liliya's Review - This cozy restaurant is one of my favorite's. The atmosphere is great for anything from a romantic date to a delicious easy dinner. I have tried many things on the menu and I can honestly say that all of them have been great. All of dishes have a very unique blend of spices and are packed with vegetables and meat. My favorite dishes would have to be the curry's. The curry's have the perfect thickness and are tasty with either chicken or shrimp. If you like cranberry's the cranberry curry is a must. Pair off any meal you choose with a glass of wine or a beer from the short but diverse drink list.The menu is very American friendly but also authentic and unique.
Recommended to Couples: Any couple. It is romantic and fun!
Recommended Appetizer: Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Recommended Entrée: Cranberry Curry Dining
Atmosphere: Very friendly but some of the tables are very close together and can get loud at times.
Service and Staff: Friendly but not always fast.
Not Recommended If: You want a fancy luxurious dinner. Thanh Do has a more casual and laid back atmosphere.
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Soda's Review - I am glad we started our first review with Thahn Do as it's one of my favorite places in Minnesota. The food is very good here and although it has been "Americanized" it's still pretty close to authentic. The restaurant is family owned so the service is good. It can be a little slow sometimes but that's because the cooks put time into the meals and they stay consistently busy. If you have never tried Asian food, this is a great place to start, they may change your mind.
Recommended to Couples: New couples on a first date. I think new couples would like it best because of the noise. It makes you feel a little more safe and not pressured. And if it works out with her, you know where to go back to.
Recommended Appetizer: Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Recommended Entrée: Thai Basil Supreme Dining
Atmosphere: Family or casual. Small and a little loud at times.
Service and Staff: Friendly staff, good chef.
Not Recommended If: You either don't like Asian food or want something extremely authentic. Complete opposites I know but if you don't like Asian and want to try it, this is the place to do it. On the other hand, if you want to feel like your in Bangkok, it's good but not the same.
Overall Rating : 4 out of 5
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