Olympic Cafe

This month, the Ladies of Lunch took on the Olympic Cafe in Bradenton.  Kim picked me up so we could carpool and together we waved to The Hungry Parrot, the scene of our first lunch review, and soon arrived at the Greek-style restaurant.

We got there before Rachel so we took a seat in the booth the waitress directed us towards.  As we waited, Kim made a comment about something she noticed right away.

"There seems to be a lot of locals in here.  I really like seeing how the staff and the customers interact--with a lot of warmth and recognition."

I saw immediately what she meant.  The restaurant was already buzzing with people that waved when they entered and shouted greetings to their favorite waitress.  It brought a level of warmth and familiarity to the atmosphere, even though it was our first time being there.  We also looked around at the decor and were impressed by the small details of pictures and knick-knacks on the walls and shelves.  I especially liked the faux stained glass ceiling in the dining room that brought some visual interest and drama to the room.

Soon Rachel joined us.  She had been here before so we immediately began asking her what was good.  In no time she quickly replied, "the coleslaw," but after we placed our orders and got our food, we all discovered a few other hidden gems.

To start, Kim ordered some stuffed grape leaves for us to share.  I have had stuffed grape leaves at other Greek restaurants in the past and found them to be just ok.  But these were surprisingly delicious.  Stuffed with a mixture of pork and rice and then covered in a rich buttery lemon sauce, we all agreed on the tastiness of them.  "They taste authentic," Rachel said.

The friendly waitress also dropped off some pita bread for us to share, which was airy and chewy.  "Not bad," we said.

For our entrees, Kim ordered Greek chicken with rice pilaf and peas.  She mentioned how the chicken was a little dry and after we all took a bite, we knew she was right.  However, we also all tried her rice and peas.

"Wow, I think I like these sides more than the actual chicken," Kim said.  She passed it around for us to sample and we agreed.  The rice and peas were tender and moist, not processed or flavorless.  

Rachel ordered a BLT with fries and the cole slaw, which again, she deemed "yummy."  As for the rest of her sandwich, Rachel said, "I was glad that they had so many bread options, such as marble rye or pita.  But the BLT as it was tasted good; the tomatoes were fresh and the fries were perfection."

As for me, I asked the waitress what their best or most requested dish was.  "Probably any of our Greek specialties, like the moussaka or the gyros."  I've had both of these dishes before so I really wanted to try something different.  I caught my eye on a dish called pastichio, which is supposed to resemble moussaka in that its a baked dish with meat sauce and pasta, covered in a béchamel sauce.

When it arrived, I took a bite and then offered tastes to the girls.  I enjoyed the spices in the meat and tomato sauce and the tubular pasta was nicely dense and toothsome.  My only critique was the heavy béchamel sauce, which sat in a thick layer over the pasta and sauce.  I wished it had been a smaller amount and with a toastier quality.  Still, it was very good and if I had had the appetite of a lumberjack, I might've been able to polish it off.  The girls tried it and enjoyed it as well, though they agreed on the heavy-handedness of the sauce.

Because we were also celebrating Rachel's birthday, we opted for a little dessert as well.  She looked over the selections turning slowly in the cylindrical display case and chose the chocolate mousse cake.  Her opinion?  "More please!"

As we continued to pick at our leftovers and sip our drinks, we had a quick decision about changing our rating procedure from a 1 to 5 rating to a 1 to 10, so let's see how the Olympic Cafe measured up:

MENU OPTIONS: 

8

TASTE: 

 7.3   

LOCATION:  

6                                                   

PRESENTATION:  

5                                         

   

CLEANLINESS:  

5                                            

SERVICE:  

7.6                                                   

DECOR:  

7.3

    

ATMOSPHERE:  

7.6

Delivery?  No

Carry-Out?  Yes (including a Drive-Thru)

Outdoor Seating?  No

Wifi?  Yes

Pet-Friendly?  No

Refer a Friend?  Kim- No, Rachel- Yes, Kris- Maybe.

Final Thoughts-

Kim:  I really liked watching the waitstaff and patrons greet each other.  There really seems to be a hometown feel to this place, like the people that come here have been coming for years.  As for the food, I loved the stuffed grape leaves and the rice pilaf and peas were really good.  I just wished the chicken wasn't so dry.

Rachel:  This is a real diner-style Greek cafe.  It's the kind of place where everyone knows your name.  I've been here before and in addition to their coleslaw, I would recommend the chicken parmesan.  It's amazing.  But I was happy to discover the grape leaves.  They were excellent and tasted fresh.

Kris:  I have tried Greek food and it never really grabbed me before.  But I enjoyed the grape leaves so much, I would order them again.  As for my main dish, although it was a little on the rich and heavy side, it was still pretty good.  If I find myself over this way again, I'd like to try their other popular Greek dishes. 

  

Duval's New World Cafe

On the main street running through the center of downtown Sarasota, amidst the fancy pet boutiques and specialty spice stores, sits Duval's New World Cafe, a hidden gem that I suspect will not be so little for long.  I had first stumbled upon this place one date night with my husband after we had just gotten out of a movie but hadn't eaten yet.  Strolling past numerous closed signs, we worried we would be doomed to fast food when we noticed an open door.  A well-dressed friendly man was by the hostess stand.  We asked if they would be open for a while, not wanting to be "those" customers who come in just before the restaurant closes and keep the wait staff held hostage.  The man smiled, telling us that we had plenty of time, and welcomed us inside.  It turned out they were doing a tasting menu so we were able to try several courses and wine for a great deal.  The food was fabulous but more than that, we were amazed at the service.  The waitress was so patient and accommodating, and the owner was happy to talk to us.  It was such an unexpected pleasure, I made sure to mention it for my turn with the Ladies of Lunch.

I join my other Ladies at their table and after a few minutes of gab, we set our minds to the menu.  There is both a lunch and a brunch menu, so the options are many.  Our waiter quickly comes to see if we are ready and we place our orders.

Rachel goes for the Roasted Chicken Salad with the Creole Slaw.

Kim selects the Eggs Florentine with Home Fries.

I opt for the Soup and Salad combo consisting of their Signature Salad and the Ham and White Bean Soup.

Our waiter expertly jots down our orders and after he leaves, we begin making our notes.  First we comment on the location.

"I understand that it's downtown, so parking can be a problem.  However, thankfully, today it wasn't an issue," Kim said.

Still, we all agreed that being right in the city was nice for the ambiance.  Meanwhile inside, we were all really impressed with the fresh decor.  After undergoing a recent and hefty transformation, trading in their moody and chic dark grey and purple, Duval's now boasts a bright contemporary coastal feel.  The restaurant is halved by a beautiful woodwork that resembles coral or driftwood, while the left wall, which the bar is set upon, is a cool white with wave details.  On the ceiling are light triangles of fabric made to look like sails.  When you walk in, you can't help but breathe deeply and immediately relax.  It's a welcome respite from the neighboring restaurants that emphasize a hard edge and dark city life.  After being shown pictures of what the restaurant looked previously, Rachel remarked that it looked, "like a retirement home.  But now, it is very modern."

Soon our food arrived and we all dove in.  Immediately, Kim noted how tasty her order was.

"Super yummy.  I removed the tomatoes (because I just prefer sandwiches without them) and wish the English muffin was toasted just a BIT more.  But other than that, this is wonderful.  I especially love the home fries."

Rachel tasted her salad.  "This is elegantly delectable.  The chicken salad has good flavoring and tasted fresh rather than pre-made and refrigerated."  As for the Creole Slaw, Rachel said, "It's spicy with a lot of flavors going on.  It might be a little busy."

As for me, I enjoyed my pairing.  The salad was exactly what I was wanting, being light and refreshing.  The greens were coated in a raspberry vinaigrette with a generous topping of crunchy cashews and blue cheese crumbles.  If I had to suggest anything, I would've loved some fruit pieces tossed in, like strawberries or tangerines.  My soup was also what I wanted- light but filling, with tender pieces of ham and white beans soaking in a savory chicken broth.

When we finished up our waiter was quick to return to us and see how we were doing.  He seamlessly gathered the dishes and scraped the tablecloth clean, and since we were celebrating Kim's birthday, we asked about desserts.  And since we are all indecisive women with sweet teeth, we decided to each get one and taste each others'.

He happily and quickly returned with a plate of key lime pie for Kim, chocolate peanut butter swirl cake for Rachel, and guava bread dippers with chocolate hazelnut dipping sauce for me.  We sunk our forks into each other's with gusto and after swallowing mouthfuls of sugar and chocolate, everyone began voicing their opinions.

I loved the toothsome feel of the guava bread, which was sweet but not overly so.  It paired wonderfully with the warm chocolate sauce dolloped with fresh made whipped cream.  Rachel noted the beautiful presentation of the swoops of chocolate and peanut butter, however she commented, "it's hard to rate after that key lime pie."

We all agreed Kim's chosen dessert was absolutely delicious.  It had a perfect balance of sweetness and tang, with a luscious creaminess that complemented the homemade crust. "The BEST key lime pie I have ever had," Kim gushed.

The sous chef stopped by just then and asked how everything was and we were happy to tell him everything was wonderful.  He seemed so genuinely grateful for the positive feedback and happy to be there, it was infectious.  In fact, once again, everyone from the hostess who sat us, the waiter who attended to us, the owner and the sous chef, was warm and welcoming, and I was so glad the other Ladies could experience it.

And now, the scoring breakdown on a 1 - 5 scale:

MENU               TASTE                 LOCATION             PRESENTATION            
4.8                    3.6                           3                              4  

CLEANLINESS                     SERVICE                         DECOR
       5                                    5 (!)                                4

Delivery?   NO
Carry-out?  YES
Outdoor Seating?  YES
Wifi?  YES
Pet-Friendly?  YES (outside)
Refer a Friend?  YES

Final Comments:

Rachel - "This place is classy yet affordable.  The most exceptional aspect was the service.  Starting with the greeting at the front door by the hostess, followed by the attentive, helpful, knowledgeable and professional server.  Even the management was down to earth yet professional."

Kim - "I loved the fresh cream on the desserts and the home fries were great.  I also really liked Rachel's chocolate peanut butter dessert.  Everything tasted fresh and homemade and I really appreciate that.  I couldn't have asked for a better birthday brunch!"

Kristen - "I was glad that the other girls got to have as good an experience as I had my previous visit. The menu was so varied, I can't wait to try more items.  If you are looking for a great relaxed brunch location with your gals or a romantic evening with your significant other, all while being expertly taken care of, give Duval's a try."

*Let us know about your experience and pass along any suggestions for restaurants to review!

Roadside Rib Shack

I have been wanting to visit the Roadside Rib Shack on Bahia Vista ever since I moved here to Sarasota.  Not because it's reputation preceded itself; it's because I have often heard that the best hidden dining gems are the ones in the most unassuming places, and it's often true.  So when Joe and I passed this place that is tucked next to a Chinese take-out in a strip mall, my hopes were high.  Unfortunately we didn't find ourselves down that way very often (or else we were on our way to a different restaurant), so I was always left wondering- until Kim suggested it for our next place to try for this blog.

I joined the girls who had already grabbed a table in the back.  Because of it's size there's not a ton of seating, but they make sure the dining area doesn't feel cramped.  We looked at the board to make our selections, which was difficult since many things sounded good.  After a few minutes, Kim ordered the half chicken combo with green beans and coleslaw with the sweet and spicy BBQ sauce.  

Rachel got the pulled pork sandwich combo with potato salad and cornbread.  I also got the pulled pork sandwich combo, but I ordered collard greens and cornbread.  

I asked the gentleman behind the counter if I could get mac n' cheese as well (Kim had raved about it), saying I'd be willing to pay extra.  

"Oh, you'd have to pay for it.  Unless you can quickly join our Text Club, and then you can get the mac n' cheese for free."

I was at first a little put off by the pitch, but when he showed me how easy it was, I was impressed.  Even though we live further away now, and really don't know when we'll be back, it's always nice to have the incentive.

We got our food and got to work rating our experience based on our 7-point criteria.  As we tasted, we considered what we enjoyed or disliked.  Kim is the first to speak up about the lack of flavor for her green beans or the coleslaw.  Rachel agreed that her potato salad was also lacking, describing it as simply "eh".  They both claimed my sides were the best, and while I did agree that the collard greens were pretty tasty (probably due to the big bits of juicy pork tossed and cooked with them) I found the mac n' cheese to just be OK.  We did all agree that the cornbread was quite good, not too dry or sweet.  

We then turned our attention to our surroundings, commenting on the walls that were sporadically covered with license plates and pig memorabilia.  Not bland but not especially unique either.  

After we had finished and shared our final thoughts, one of the workers asked if we'd be interested in trying a dessert, namely their bread pudding.  We all exchanged looks, not especially interested, but Kim was intrigued and offered to pop for it if we wanted to taste it.  It arrived nice and hot with big pieces of blueberries and strawberries baked in with a white chocolate sauce.  I'm not a fan of bread pudding (it's texture thing) but we conceded that it wasn't bad.  

I then averaged out each of our points and came up with a number for each category.

Menu Options   
4

Flavors
3.3

Location
2

Presentation
4

Cleanliness
4

Service
4

Decor
3

OVERALL SCORE
3.5

Price:
$

Delivery:  Yes
Wifi:  No
Outdoor Seating:  No
Carry-Out:  Yes
Pet-Friendly:  No
Recommend to Friend:  Yes

Final Comments:

Kim- "The chicken was good but I didn't care for the green beans or coleslaw.  I actually enjoyed what [you girls] ordered instead.  The corn muffin was good, as was the BBQ sauce.  Unfortunately, I thought the dessert was just OK."

Rachel-  "I used the sweet BBQ sauce, but it still had a nice kick.  I think it would be able to satisfy a wide variety of palates.  The pulled pork was cooked well and I liked the mac n' cheese.  But I wasn't amazed by the potato salad- it was just 'eh'.  Overall, I get the impression that they def want to satisfy and impress every customer with their service.  They seem to really care.  Also, I thought the dessert was interesting- a unique take on bread pudding.  If I had more room in my stomach, I would've eaten more."

Kris- "As much as I still believe that you can find great food in the worst-looking places, I didn't love the small parking area or how it's on the busy road of Bahia Vista.  Still, the pulled pork was pretty good and did like the greens and cornbread was dense but pretty good.  I didn't love the mac n' cheese just because I enjoy a more baked-version of mac n' cheese, with a mixture of textures rather than just gooey cheese.  But I think we all appreciated the folksy and friendly attitude of the Roadside Rib Shack, along with the savory scents wafting throughout.  This is by no means a fancy place, but for a BBQ craving, this place satisfies."

The Hungry Parrot

In downtown Bradenton, off of Manatee Avenue, is the new establishment, The Hungry Parrot.  Like many places here in Florida, it relies on a tropical theme to lure patrons in, but unlike most places, the decor is subtle and friendly, with clever signs and bright colors.  Outside, there is a wooden deck in front with several umbrellas and a small tiki bar for outdoor dining, however, because it's midday in August, we opted to eat inside.

I joined the other Ladies of Lunch (the L-o-L-ers), Kim and Rachel, who have arrived before me.  As we scan the menu, Kim explains that due to health reasons, she will be going gluten-free.  Thankfully,  she spies a few things that appeal to her and are considered gluten-free.  In the end, she selects the Duval Street Salad with grilled chicken.

Rachel, meanwhile, peruses several options but opts for the turkey reuben, more commonly called "the Rachel".  

Finally, I had seen something on their website about a Key West Prime Rib Sandwich that seemed special so, curious, I ordered that.

Our waitress, who was attentive and patient, took our order and as she left we began discussing more points about our experience.  We looked around the dining room, which wasn't large, but didn't feel cramped.  The inside was colored a soft blue and lots of cheeky and Margheritaville-type signs hung all about the walls.  We also appreciated the layout of the menu, which was very colorful and well-organized.

In a matter of minutes, our food arrives.  We are immediately surprised at the simplicity of our dishes.  After seeing all the details with the decor, I was expecting flower garnishes or tropical-printed plates. Instead, our food arrived on nondescript white platters and bowls.  My "Key West Prime Rib" sandwich, consisted of merely roast beef on a bun with some crinkle-cut fries.  Rachel's was very similar, with her reuben sandwich and fries as well.  Kim's was the most elaborate looking with it's apples placed precisely.  However there was a problem.

"Is this the right order?" she asks.  She looks back at the menu and sees that the description mentioned "greens" and nothing about cabbage.  Instead, her chicken and apples are sitting on a bed of iceberg lettuce, chockfull of purple cabbage.  

Just then, the manager, April, comes over to check on us.  Kim asks about the salad and April explains that all the salads come that way.

"I can fix it for you if you like?" April said, helpfully.  Kim, not wanting to cause trouble, says its fine, but as April leaves, she mentions how disappointing it is that the menu would mislabel it's salads.

"For anyone who enjoys iceberg lettuce and cabbage, they'd enjoy these salads.  However, not liking them, my options are suddenly slashed."

Back to our sandwiches, they are tasty but unremarkable.  My sandwich is very tender and moist, but I was hoping for some extra Au jus on the side, and maybe a different kind of bread.  

Rachel is satisfied with hers, although it's nothing special.

When we have finished, we begin rating the restaurant based on several factors, rating them from 1-5.

MENU OPTION      FLAVORS/TASTE      PRESENTATION      DECOR             LOCATION

Kim:  1                 Kim:  1                  Kim:  3                  Kim:  4            Kim:  4

Rachel:  4            Rachel:  3              Rachel:  1             Rachel:  5        Rachel:  4

Kris:  4                 Kris:  4                  Kris:  1                  Kris:  3            Kris:  4

CLEANLINESS      SERVICE                    PRICE                        Wi-fi.......                  Yes

Kim:  5               Kim:  5                     Kim:  $$                    Outdoor Seating......   Yes

Rachel:  5           Rachel:  5                Rachel:  $                  Pet-friendly............. Yes

Kris:  5               Kris:  5                     Kris:  $                      Carry-out..........        Yes

                                                                                          Delivery...........         Yes

Final Comments:

Kim-  "The chicken was good, the apples were fresh, and the citrus vinaigrette was good.  However, the menu was misleading, claiming the salad contained greens and no cabbage.  Instead it had iceberg and LOTS of cabbage.  The chicken was good, the apples were good, the fries were good.  The rest was crap."

Rachel- "For being a tropical theme restaurant, I was expecting a bright and colorful presentation.  Instead, the plate was a basic white.  I'm not usually a 'hot sandwich' fan but the name appealed to me."

Kris-  "I also thought the presentation was lacking.  The decor and menu led me to believe the theme would carry into the food.  Instead, it was very diner-y.  Although the sandwich wasn't bad, it didn't wow me.  If they could keep the tenderness of the meat but pair it with a different roll or something to jazz it up, it would be greatly improved."