Wrightsville Beach Brewery- Wilmington, NC

Now here is a brewery that was long in the making, and that wait was well worth it as this place was well thought out and planned. I have been meaning to go to Wrightsville Beach Brewing for some time now and the opportunity arises when my daughter said she wanted to go for her birthday. Fifteen of us showed up and they were very accommodating what with joining tables, splitting bills, and taking care of people from 2 to 65 years old. 

Someone spent some serious time, and some serious cash, designing this place. The layout is quite nice, clean, open, and warm, and the most amazing part is the acoustics. You can actually carry on a conversation with people at your table at a normal voice and not be drowned out. 

The beer selection was quite good with seventeen Wrightsville Beach Brews being offered. well, the waitress said they were out of three, but that still left fourteen. I went with a flight of four for eight bucks to get an idea of their offerings, The two porters were okay, probably would be even better in November in cooler weather. The Ginger beer was good. The Belgian Triple was excellent and warranted a ten ounce pour to follow. The real surprise for me was that I ordered a Kolsch after tasting my daughter's beer. This was the finest Kolsch I have ever had. 

I ordered the shrimp and grits at $14 and I was quite impressed, it had more of a cajun feel than a low country.  The shrimp tasted fresh, the grits were perfectly cooked, and there was just the right amount of a cajun heat to the dish. I am going to try to replicate this at home. 

The rest of our party had pizzas, salads, and crab cake sliders. 

Definitely a place you should check out sometime, I know I'll be back soon and often. Check out their website for more information and directions. 

Zoe's Kitchen- Wilmington, NC

We were in the mood for something light and my daughter suggested Zoe's in Mayfaire so we all popped in. I had the steak kabobs with a side salad and pasta salad for about twelve bucks. I was quite pleased with it. The steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked, the salad fresh, and the dressing very good. Definitely a good place. 

Brooklyn Pizza Co- Wilmington, NC

I've heard some good things about Brooklyn Pizza Co on Market so we popped in for a quick dinner.  I decided on a veal park hero and it was quite good. The veal was nice and tender, cooked perfectly, with a tasty sauce. Teresa got the eggplant parmigiana, also quite food. My daughter had a meatball hero and I tasted one of the meat balls, again good. My granddaughter had a slice and I had a tiny piece, once again good. We took home a chicken focaccia sandwich for our son-in-law. 

Overall, quite good and we'll be back again. Try them sometime. 

New Anthem Beer Project- Wilmington, NC

My new hometown, Wilmington, NC, has experienced a boom in the craft beer industry and the number of small breweries is into the double digits with more to come. Being retired now, I have plenty of time to explore the new offerings and one of the first was New Anthem Brewing Project on Dock Street. 

The brewery has a nice layout inside using the existing brick and wood and giving it a warm and friendly feel with plenty of space. 

I had an Imperial Stout at about 9% that was really quite smooth and would probably sneak right up on you. I followed with an IPA which had a nice crisp taste with just a hint of fruitiness. 

I have a feeling I'll be back a few more times to sample the wares. 

Equilibrium Grille and Taproom- Middletown, NY

I've heard some good things about this new brewery in Middletown and we decided to pop in and see what it was all about on a Saturday afternoon. 

The design is nice, taking an old factory or warehouse and utilizing the exposed brick and wood. There are two levels, a bar on the first floor and the dining area, with its own bar, on the second. Good idea as the first level could be a bit louder and the dining are is quieter. 

It was quite a bit crowded, but we only had to wait ten minutes or so for a table. I started with a flight of four for eleven bucks, a bit pricey but the best way to get a feel for the offerings. 

They had six brews listed, but one had just kicked. I list in order of my preference. The Photon, their signature IPA at4.8%, which had a nice clean, and ever so slightly fruity taste. Next was the Mmm...Osa which is the Photon with oranges added. Nice fruity taste without being overpowering. The third was the MC2 which is the Photo ramped up to 8% as an Imperial IPA. The best was the Optimization, a double at 8% which had the hint of a sour taste to it. 

The food was excellent. We both ordered blue cheese burgers (twelve bucks) and mine was cooked to a perfect medium while Teresa's came the perfect medium-well that she ordered. She had a side salad while I opted for the fries, which were crispy on the outside with a soft inside and seasoned properly. 

Overall, a nice experience and I think they will do quite well. Stop by and check them out sometime. 

Saigon Pho- Wappingers Falls, NY

Saigon Pho is a restaurant we have passed by for years mainly because of the strip mall location. Friends have been raving about it so we finally stopped by for lunch and now I wish I had done so sooner, I've been missing out on some really good Vietnamese food. 

We started with the Spring Roll at five bucks with a peanut sauce. Excellent! We both had Pho, mine was the three meat special and Teresa had the rib eye variety. Again, both were excellent. Total bill was just over twenty-five bucks. 

Stop by sometime and see what I mean. Excellent food and service, clean and bright decor. They have a website for more information. 

Guacamole Grill Mexican Restaurant- Wallkill, NY

Friends of ours have been raving about Guacamole Grill Mexican Restaurant in the Hamlet of Wallkill, NY for some time now so when we saw they had a burger special we decided to stop in. 

Located on the main drag it looks nice on the outside, and even nicer inside with a fresh, bright look and Mexican music on the stereo. We looked over the menus and decided to have a beef empanada (two bucks) and a fish taco (two-fifty) to start with as we decided what to order. Both were excellent.

I went with the Sweet Bacon Burger and it was great. Fresh tasting beef, perfectly cooked, on a fresh bun with bacon, ranch dressing, fried tortillas, jalapeños, and onions. Nice flavor combination and some crispy fries on the side. Teresa had the chicken enchiladas verde and it was excellent as well. 

All of the above was only twenty-six bucks. The service was excellent as well. Stop by sometime and see for yourself. They have a website for more information. 

Carlos Restaurant- Yonkers, NY

We got a sixty dollar gift certificate for Carlos Restaurant a while back and never got around to heading down, it is an hour away, but to day we stopped in for lunch. Before I get any further I have to say that if they were any closer I'd be there every week, it was that amazing. 

After looking over the menus we realized that in order to spend sixty bucks we'd have to order a bunch of food, the prices are quite reasonable. The decision was made for three appetizers and two entrees with anything left over to be taken home. 

We started with the Spiedini Alla Romano, which is a fresh mozzarella on bread, deep fried with a caper and lemon sauce. Absolutely amazing.  

Next up was an order of clams oreganata. Now these were a full size clam, not some minced nonsense, with some great seasoning. You could tell they were fresh made in house. Also amazing. 

I had to try the Polenta which was an Italian version of shrimp and grits. Three huge shrimp over polenta cakes with mushrooms, tomatoes, and a gorgonzola cream sauce. Quite nice and I may incorporate blue cheese in my next shrimp and grits attempt.

By now we were getting a bit full, especially when you add in the delightful bread we were served, and the side salad we shared. However, the entrees were so good we dove in anyway. 

I got the veal Sorrentino and it was perhaps the finest offering of that dish I have ever had. Teresa ordered the lunch sized (it was huge) eggplant parmesian and it was also amazing. Some of the leftovers, including two rather large potato croquettes, are in the fridge now calling me. 

All of the food came to sixty bucks, plus tax and tip. The service was excellent, the food amazing, and the ambiance warm and friendly. This is definately a place to visit for an excellent meal. Check out their website for more information, oh and they have a second location in New Rochelle. 

Lakeview House- Newburgh, NY

We went to the Lakeview House a couple of years ago and it was great, so when I saw that they were participating in Hudson Valley Restaurant Week we decided to pop in for lunch today. It was amazing and we left full after having a three course meal for twenty-one bucks each. 

I started with the French onion soup and Teresa got the potato appetizer. For our main course I got the chicken cavatappi and Teresa had the shrimp almandine. Both were excellent. 

It won't be a couple of years before we go back, this place is a hidden treasure. Oh, and the service was excellent. 

Plaza Azteca- Exton, Pa.

We stopped by Plaza Azteca in Exton for lunch today and were quite impressed. I had the Tacos al Pastor shown above. Quite tasty. Teresa had the green enchiladas which were quite good as well. Prices are reasonable, ambiance nice, and excellent service. 

PB&J Burger at Victory Brewing- Parkesburg, Pa.

That creation above is a peanut butter and jelly cheeseburger with bacon and jalapeño rings on a sesame bun with house made pub chips. Yes, I said peanut butter and jelly. I saw this on the menu at the new Victory brewpub in Parkesburg and just had to try it. While the combination seems odd, the flavors blended perfectly to create a nice balance of taste. The peanut butter somewhat muted the heat of the peppers and the jelly added to the saltiness of the bacon. 

I paired it with a Sour Monkey, a Belgian Triple, which further added an interesting flavor note. The tart, sour taste went well with the burger. 

Oskar Blues Brewing

I came across what is one of my new favorite breweries, Oskar Blues. They are out of Colorado, but they have a brewery in Brevard, NC and when I am in my Wilmington home I do try to drink only North Carolina beers. My other favorites are Natty Greene's and Highland, as well as the eight local microbreweries within a twenty minute drive of my house.

My favorite is the Blue IPA which has just the right amount of hoppiness and a nice clean taste. I tried the new Pinner, flavored with mango and it was good. The real surprise was the coconut porter which had a slight coconut taste that didn't overpower a good porter. 

They have a few more brews, including Dale's Pale Ale that I know I can get in New York so I can have them in the other house as well. 

Bitty & Beau's Coffee- Wilmington, NC

Bitty & Beau's is a cool coffee shop located in an extinct Hummer dealership on New Centre St. The inside has been very tastefully done up in black, white, and grey with wooden tables. You get the feel of a large open space with a modern look.

The coffee is good, in fact very good. They have some nice pastries, as well as some sandwiches. Leaving it here, it would be a nice coffee shop. However, there is much more to Bitty & Beau's that make it a special place indeed.

You see, it is a not for profit company whose mission is to provide employment for developmentally disabled adults. This gives these fine people an income, and more importantly, a sense of purpose. When you go in everyone seems so happy to be working there and they take an immense pride and joy in their work. We could all take a valuable lesson from them.

Stop by sometime and see for yourself. In the meantime check out their website for more information, and check out some of the videos and press. We need more places like this.

Cast Iron Kitchen- Wilmington, NC

Cast Iron Kitchen is on Market Street, across from the Walmart in Ogden. The decor is modern Southern rustic and they are only open for breakfast and lunch. After looking over the menu I went with the chicken and waffles for $8.95 and got a side of fried green tomatoes for another $3.75. Teresa ordered the Southern breakfast for $7.25 and substituted potatoes for the grits. 

There were two large, homemade, chicken tenders that were crispy, flavorful, and moist in the middle sitting on two very nice waffles. add in a few pieces of fruit and granola with a bit of fig jam and it was delightful. The fried green tomatoes were quite nice as well. Teresa enjoyed her breakfast and we had some good coffee with the meals. 

Overall, a nice experience with excellent food at reasonable prices, good service, and a pleasing atmosphere. 

Platypus and Gnome- Wilmington, NC

We stopped by Platypus and Gnome tonight for dinner after having heard some good things about them. They are located at 9 Front Street, where the restaurant 9 Bakery was, and they haven't changed much in the design.

I went with the bacon bacon burger shown above at eleven bucks. It was cooked to a perfect medium and had bacon in the burger, on the burger, as well as a bacon spread. Cheese, lettuce and some really good fries rounded it out. Teresa had the Platy burger at nine bucks which was cooked perfectly to her desired medium well. 

They lived up to the hype and we will be back again.