Had lunch with several work associates at Carmela's, which is located at the old Macri's Deli and in the same building as Macri's Bakery. I had been to Carmela's several years ago with my wife, but had not returned, so I was interested to see what I would think of it.
As we entered the building, I could see the wear/cracks in the brick walkway leading to the entrance of the building. As we entered, though, the inside of Carmela's looked very inviting. We were seated at a nice corner table. There were only about 4 other tables occupied, so the restaurant was not noisy at all.
We had two waitresses - one was training the other. They did a good job of serving us and keeping up on our drinks. They were not the greatest servers I have ever had, but they did their job efficiently.
I ordered an Italian Beef sandwich with french fries. I joked that, since we were at an Italian restaurant, that it should just be a Beef sandwich. Though my co-workers go the joke, the waitresses were a bit too preoccupied to laugh. Or - it was a stupid, corny joke. My coworkers all ordered salads.
The orders came pretty quickly. All of the salads looked pretty good and my Beef sandwich looked tasty. I asked for some ketchup, since there was none at the table. It took them about 5 minutes to finally bring it to the table. Luckily, I was enjoying dipping my sandwich in the tasty au jus. When they brought the Hunt's ketchup, I remembered why we always buy Heinz at home. I am not a huge Hunt's ketchup fan.
The price of the sandwich was not overly exorbitant, really not much more than one would spend at Penn Station, though Penn Station's fries are much better. I would probably go to Carmela's again for lunch, if I was in that area of town.
Showing posts with label South Bend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Bend. Show all posts
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Lunch at Ho Ping House in Roseland or South Bend, IN
Had lunch at the Ho Ping House in Roseland, North of the University of Notre Dame campus. The location had once been a Denny's and before that a Shoney's. I believe that the owners are somehow related to the owners at the Mandarin House. I like Ho Ping better, since they give you free refills on your drinks.
We were going to ride together, but he ended up having a last minute meeting, which pushed our noon lunch to 12:45pm. I told him that I would just meet him there, since I had an appointment at 2pm at the office for which I needed to return. I arrived at Ho Ping at 12:45pm with my stomach grumbling. My counterpart did not arrive until 12:55pm. Prior to his arrival, I had ordered a diet coke from our waiter, Jin.
When my guest arrived, we ordered very quickly. He ordered the Sesame Chicken with fried rice and some lo mien noodles. I order the General Tso's chicken (like I had done at Cre-Asian earlier in the week) with white rice, a spring roll and won ton soup. The presentation, like always was great. Jin brought my won ton soup out quickly and I inhaled almost as fast. Soon both of our entrees appeared. As I started eating the chicken, I noticed that either their recipe had changed or my taste buds had. The General Tso's was not very sweet, as I had been expecting, but was still good.
Of course, I ate everything on my plate and was very satisfied after doing so. Jin brought the check and the fortune cookie, which I ate straight away. After paying and on the way out, I took a peppermint candy to help freshen my breath after the feast.
I will definitely be going to Ho Ping again in the near future.
We were going to ride together, but he ended up having a last minute meeting, which pushed our noon lunch to 12:45pm. I told him that I would just meet him there, since I had an appointment at 2pm at the office for which I needed to return. I arrived at Ho Ping at 12:45pm with my stomach grumbling. My counterpart did not arrive until 12:55pm. Prior to his arrival, I had ordered a diet coke from our waiter, Jin.
When my guest arrived, we ordered very quickly. He ordered the Sesame Chicken with fried rice and some lo mien noodles. I order the General Tso's chicken (like I had done at Cre-Asian earlier in the week) with white rice, a spring roll and won ton soup. The presentation, like always was great. Jin brought my won ton soup out quickly and I inhaled almost as fast. Soon both of our entrees appeared. As I started eating the chicken, I noticed that either their recipe had changed or my taste buds had. The General Tso's was not very sweet, as I had been expecting, but was still good.
Of course, I ate everything on my plate and was very satisfied after doing so. Jin brought the check and the fortune cookie, which I ate straight away. After paying and on the way out, I took a peppermint candy to help freshen my breath after the feast.
I will definitely be going to Ho Ping again in the near future.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Happy Hour at Brother's Bar and Grill at Eddy Street Commons in South Bend, IN
I went to Brother's Bar and Grill at Eddy Street Commons for happy hour on Thursday, September 18. Brother's is a small, regional chain that originated in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. I have been to Brother's for happy hour before and enjoy the plethora of craft beers that they have on tap.
On this day, I entered the bar and sat myself at a table in the bar area. Though no one greeted me, when I entered, the waitress was quick to come to my table. As I stared at the beers that they have on tap, she brought me a beer list. I immediately spotted a Green Flash West Coast IPA and ordered it. Since I was meeting someone from San Diego, I thought that it would be fitting to order a craft beer from San Diego.
The bar was not too busy, when I arrived at 3:45pm. There were some revelers at the bar and a few tables had some folks at them, but there was no one seated at the tables in the restaurant area. Of course, since it was a nice day outside, there were a few people seated outside. Inside it was a bit sticky and humid, but I quickly got over that, when the waitress brought my beer.
My guest was about 20 minutes late, so I had almost downed my first beer, when he arrived. I am not sure what he ordered, but he ordered me a second Green Flash West Coast IPA. I did not realize how strong they were, but could start to feel it a little, once I was halfway through the beer.
I will definitely be back to Brother's since I like them better than O'Rourke's for that type of bar scene and because they have Green Flash beers on tap.
On this day, I entered the bar and sat myself at a table in the bar area. Though no one greeted me, when I entered, the waitress was quick to come to my table. As I stared at the beers that they have on tap, she brought me a beer list. I immediately spotted a Green Flash West Coast IPA and ordered it. Since I was meeting someone from San Diego, I thought that it would be fitting to order a craft beer from San Diego.
The bar was not too busy, when I arrived at 3:45pm. There were some revelers at the bar and a few tables had some folks at them, but there was no one seated at the tables in the restaurant area. Of course, since it was a nice day outside, there were a few people seated outside. Inside it was a bit sticky and humid, but I quickly got over that, when the waitress brought my beer.
My guest was about 20 minutes late, so I had almost downed my first beer, when he arrived. I am not sure what he ordered, but he ordered me a second Green Flash West Coast IPA. I did not realize how strong they were, but could start to feel it a little, once I was halfway through the beer.
I will definitely be back to Brother's since I like them better than O'Rourke's for that type of bar scene and because they have Green Flash beers on tap.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Lunch at Elia's Mediterranean Cuisine in South Bend, IN
Had lunch with some friends at Elia's in South Bend, which is located near the corner of US23 and Ironwood, not far from Cre-Asian, where I recently had lunch. I have been going to Elia's since they opened at their location on US31 North in Roseland.
As usual, there were quite a few people scattered throughout the restaurant. The four of us sat down and just ordered waters. Our server was quick and efficient and took our orders. Most at our able order the Shish Tawouk, a great chicken dish. I ordered the Midardara Bowl Combo, which is a mixture of lentils and rice topped with tabouli, hoummos and garlic paste. Just after we ordered, our fifth joined the group.
Our orders were prepared pretty quickly, but the presentation is always spot on at Elia's. Everything was in the right place on our plates and looked delicious. We quickly accepted our server's suggestion of some pita. The pita at Elia's is of the thin, but quite delicious variety. My coworkers devoured their Shish Tawouk. I was pleasantly surprised with my dish, since I had never ordered it before. All of the flavors complemented each other very well and the garlic paste was tasty, but not overpowering.
The price was just right for what we ordered. It is awesome to have a good Mediterranean restaurant in our community. I will definitely continue to frequent Elia's on a regular basis.
As usual, there were quite a few people scattered throughout the restaurant. The four of us sat down and just ordered waters. Our server was quick and efficient and took our orders. Most at our able order the Shish Tawouk, a great chicken dish. I ordered the Midardara Bowl Combo, which is a mixture of lentils and rice topped with tabouli, hoummos and garlic paste. Just after we ordered, our fifth joined the group.
Our orders were prepared pretty quickly, but the presentation is always spot on at Elia's. Everything was in the right place on our plates and looked delicious. We quickly accepted our server's suggestion of some pita. The pita at Elia's is of the thin, but quite delicious variety. My coworkers devoured their Shish Tawouk. I was pleasantly surprised with my dish, since I had never ordered it before. All of the flavors complemented each other very well and the garlic paste was tasty, but not overpowering.
The price was just right for what we ordered. It is awesome to have a good Mediterranean restaurant in our community. I will definitely continue to frequent Elia's on a regular basis.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Lunch at Cre-Asian in South Bend, IN
Had lunch with some friends at Cre-Asian, a Vietnamese restaurant that has recently expanded it's menu to Chinese and Taiwanese food. I had been here once before a couple of years ago, but had not been back.
I knew where the restaurant was located, but I still missed the entrance, as I was going North on Ironwood. The entrance to the complex is BEFORE you actually see the restaurant. After doubling back to get to the restaurant, many of the parking spaces are reserved for the two other businesses that are located at the shopping complex. Since there was no parking up front, I made my way to the back, where there was more parking. I noticed that many patrons were parking in the parking lot next door (to the North), where the business is currently vacant. In fact, as I was walking from the back of the building to the front, where the entrance is located, one of my friends pulled up in that lot.
As we entered the restaurant, we encountered our other friend and were seated at a table. They seemed to be doing a pretty good business, since most of the tables were full. It became apparent pretty quickly that there was only one waitress on duty, so we made sure that we were ready to order when she came by.
As a group, we ordered the pot stickers and I ordered the General Tso's chicken with an egg roll and white rice and a Diet Coke. My friends order the Chicken Pad Thai and the other the Drunken Noodles with Chicken. While they both ordered theirs to mild heat, I ordered mine to be nice and spicy.
The pot stickers were very good, followed by our entrees. It was quickly that we noticed that the heat index we had discussed with the waitress was not followed. My chicken was not spicy, but the Chicken Pad Thai had a very large kick to it. Even though my General Tso's chicken was not spicy, it was still good. Even though our waitress was alone, she did a good job of refilling my Diet Coke, so that I did not have to wait too long.
The price was very reasonable for what we purchased and the food was decent. I will definitely consider Cre-Asian again, when I have a hankering for Asian food.
I knew where the restaurant was located, but I still missed the entrance, as I was going North on Ironwood. The entrance to the complex is BEFORE you actually see the restaurant. After doubling back to get to the restaurant, many of the parking spaces are reserved for the two other businesses that are located at the shopping complex. Since there was no parking up front, I made my way to the back, where there was more parking. I noticed that many patrons were parking in the parking lot next door (to the North), where the business is currently vacant. In fact, as I was walking from the back of the building to the front, where the entrance is located, one of my friends pulled up in that lot.
As we entered the restaurant, we encountered our other friend and were seated at a table. They seemed to be doing a pretty good business, since most of the tables were full. It became apparent pretty quickly that there was only one waitress on duty, so we made sure that we were ready to order when she came by.
As a group, we ordered the pot stickers and I ordered the General Tso's chicken with an egg roll and white rice and a Diet Coke. My friends order the Chicken Pad Thai and the other the Drunken Noodles with Chicken. While they both ordered theirs to mild heat, I ordered mine to be nice and spicy.
The pot stickers were very good, followed by our entrees. It was quickly that we noticed that the heat index we had discussed with the waitress was not followed. My chicken was not spicy, but the Chicken Pad Thai had a very large kick to it. Even though my General Tso's chicken was not spicy, it was still good. Even though our waitress was alone, she did a good job of refilling my Diet Coke, so that I did not have to wait too long.
The price was very reasonable for what we purchased and the food was decent. I will definitely consider Cre-Asian again, when I have a hankering for Asian food.
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