"Eat Mor Chikin"
Ah, the infamous Chick-fil-A. This restaurant is not your typical fast food restaurant. Chick-fil-A specializes in chicken sandwiches and I am sure you have all tried them at some point in your life. Now before we get started on this post, please remember that Ryan and I rate each restaurant with previous visits out of sight and out of mind. We rate each food junction as if it was our first time stepping foot in the building.
As we pulled up to the Chick-fil-A nestled between a Wawa and Red Robin on 309, we noticed that the parking was already very limited. There happened to be a fundraiser night on this fine Thursday evening for Trumbauersville Elementary School. 10% of your food purchase went towards benefiting this elementary school. As a result, there were many families and children and seating was becoming hard to find. It was very busy as we arrived, so we had to stand in line for several minutes before we could order. I ordered a Chargrilled chicken sandwich deluxe meal (which comes with bacon and cheese) and a root beer and Ryan ordered a regular chicken sandwich meal (no pickles, of course) and an 8 piece chicken nugget along with a sweet tea. We were very excited about our waffle fries and the many sauces available to us. I chose the honey mustard sauce to accompany my fries and the buffalo sauce to add extra "zing" to my sandwich. Ryan chose the BBQ sauce for his sandwich and fries. We received our food and searched high and low for a seat. It was rather noisy and busy inside for us, so we took advantage of the pleasant weather and ate at the tables that they had located outside.
We immediately noticed that the waffle fries were cooked nicely. They were a little crunchy (and not mushy like some other fast food joints) and they were actually hot! It was nice to know that our fries were actually cooked on the spot and not leftover from the previous day. Our sandwiches were hot as well and definitely did not disappoint. The sauces that were added to the sandwiches created an extra bite to it and made for a delicious meal. One of the best parts about Chick-fil-A is that we get free refills after the meal too! However, don't make the same mistake that I did and throw away your cup by accident. (oops.)
The service was pretty good considering how busy it was. Each cashier had a friendly smile on his or her face and they were genuinely pleasant with each customer that they came across. The only complaint that we have is that it was a little busy and overcrowded. However, Chick-fil-A was benefiting this elementary school and raising awareness in the community. They put on a lot of fundraisers at various Chick-fil-A's to help support their community. It is definitely for a great cause!
It is a relatively cheap night out and Chick-fil-A also accepts cash and cards!
Visit their website at http://www.chick-fil-a.com/ for a menu, locations, and learn more about what "First 100" means to them!
FINAL RATING: 4/5
PRICE: $
602 N West End Blvd
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-538-8848
Signing Out,
Derek and Ryan
Monday, May 16, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Restaurant #12 - Bochi's Homemade Food (April 21, 2011)
"Great Flavor From Argentina to the World"
Ryan and I took advantage of the beautiful weather last evening and ate at Bochi's Homemade Food. Bochi's is located in the heart of Quakertown and if you are familiar with Quakertown, (which you all should be by now) Bochi's is attached to the old Rita's Water Ice. Bochi's is a little shop with no seating indoors. The seating consists of two picnic tables located right outside in front of the shop. This allows you to enjoy the nice weather and take in the smells of home cooked empanadas. As we were deciding what to order, we noticed that all the signs (menus) that were posted on the front of the empanada stand could use some color to them as they were simply printed off of Microsoft Word 97. Unsure of what empanadas actually were, the lady at the stand showed us that they are about the size of pierogies. I ordered 3 empanadas and a small soda (which is actually just a normal size soda can), and Ryan ordered the special and bought 6 empanadas and got TWO free. He had to order his soda separate. There are about 12 different flavors to choose for your empanadas and the best part is that they let the customer choose flavors and mix them up. Naturally, we had to order every flavor available, with the exception of tuna and veggie. The flavors we ordered were:
-Beef
-Chicken
-Ham & Cheese
-Spicy Chicken
-Spicy Beef
-Cheese & Onions
-BBQ Pork (Our Favorite!)
-Pepperoni and Cheese
-Sweet Corn (Least Favorite)
We were immediate lovers of Bochi's empanadas. The outside crust of the empanada reminds me of a chalupa that you would get at Taco Bell (For you Taco Bell lovers out there). We struck up conversation with the cashier (and owner) of Bochi's. Her and her husband (the cook) run Bochi's from 11 AM - 8 PM, Monday to Monday. They are originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. They moved to the United States 6 months ago and opened Bochi's 3 months ago. It turns out that these empanadas are a specialty in Argentina! In fact, most of the food at Bochi's is a specialty in Argentina. It is not Mexican food!
After our love for empanadas was discovered, we decided not to stop there. We ordered two flans (dessert), and one special Bochi's tarta. We received the flans first and they came right out of the fridge, very cold. I, personally, have never had a flan and didn't know what to expect. Ryan has had a few flans in his time and of all the ones he has tasted, they have been heated and warm. This one looked like it was baked at one point ( I sure hope so since a main ingredient is eggs), but the flan was cold and mushy and a little chunky. It reminded me of rice pudding, which I am not a fan of.
At this point, we were waiting for our special Bochi's tarta to be heated up. The tarta was huge and looked like a small cake. We were excited and ready to dig in. The tarta consisted of: Cooked ham, cheese, bacon, tomato, sweet peas, and eggs. This sounded very delicious to us and finally the time was ready to experience what a tarta tasted like. As we bit into the tarta, unfortunately, we experienced what a luke warm, mostly cold tarta tasted like. I think it would have tasted a lot better if it were heated up 5 minutes longer!
Overall, the empanadas were excellent! However, the flans and tartas need a little bit of work. I expect all of you to visit Bochi's and order yourself some empanadas! The prices are very reasonable and the employees are very kind!
**Bochi's only accepts cash, so make sure you have cash handy!**
Also, Bochi's offers Takeout, Delivery, and Catering. Be sure to check out their website at http://www.bochisfood.com/ for a complete menu!
Our original rating was leaning towards a 4/5, but due to the disappointing flans and tartas, we dropped it to a 3/5.
FINAL RATING: 3/5
PRICE: $
500 West Broad Street
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-538-2075
Signing Out,
Derek & Ryan
Ryan and I took advantage of the beautiful weather last evening and ate at Bochi's Homemade Food. Bochi's is located in the heart of Quakertown and if you are familiar with Quakertown, (which you all should be by now) Bochi's is attached to the old Rita's Water Ice. Bochi's is a little shop with no seating indoors. The seating consists of two picnic tables located right outside in front of the shop. This allows you to enjoy the nice weather and take in the smells of home cooked empanadas. As we were deciding what to order, we noticed that all the signs (menus) that were posted on the front of the empanada stand could use some color to them as they were simply printed off of Microsoft Word 97. Unsure of what empanadas actually were, the lady at the stand showed us that they are about the size of pierogies. I ordered 3 empanadas and a small soda (which is actually just a normal size soda can), and Ryan ordered the special and bought 6 empanadas and got TWO free. He had to order his soda separate. There are about 12 different flavors to choose for your empanadas and the best part is that they let the customer choose flavors and mix them up. Naturally, we had to order every flavor available, with the exception of tuna and veggie. The flavors we ordered were:
-Beef
-Chicken
-Ham & Cheese
-Spicy Chicken
-Spicy Beef
-Cheese & Onions
-BBQ Pork (Our Favorite!)
-Pepperoni and Cheese
-Sweet Corn (Least Favorite)
We were immediate lovers of Bochi's empanadas. The outside crust of the empanada reminds me of a chalupa that you would get at Taco Bell (For you Taco Bell lovers out there). We struck up conversation with the cashier (and owner) of Bochi's. Her and her husband (the cook) run Bochi's from 11 AM - 8 PM, Monday to Monday. They are originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina. They moved to the United States 6 months ago and opened Bochi's 3 months ago. It turns out that these empanadas are a specialty in Argentina! In fact, most of the food at Bochi's is a specialty in Argentina. It is not Mexican food!
After our love for empanadas was discovered, we decided not to stop there. We ordered two flans (dessert), and one special Bochi's tarta. We received the flans first and they came right out of the fridge, very cold. I, personally, have never had a flan and didn't know what to expect. Ryan has had a few flans in his time and of all the ones he has tasted, they have been heated and warm. This one looked like it was baked at one point ( I sure hope so since a main ingredient is eggs), but the flan was cold and mushy and a little chunky. It reminded me of rice pudding, which I am not a fan of.
At this point, we were waiting for our special Bochi's tarta to be heated up. The tarta was huge and looked like a small cake. We were excited and ready to dig in. The tarta consisted of: Cooked ham, cheese, bacon, tomato, sweet peas, and eggs. This sounded very delicious to us and finally the time was ready to experience what a tarta tasted like. As we bit into the tarta, unfortunately, we experienced what a luke warm, mostly cold tarta tasted like. I think it would have tasted a lot better if it were heated up 5 minutes longer!
Overall, the empanadas were excellent! However, the flans and tartas need a little bit of work. I expect all of you to visit Bochi's and order yourself some empanadas! The prices are very reasonable and the employees are very kind!
**Bochi's only accepts cash, so make sure you have cash handy!**
Also, Bochi's offers Takeout, Delivery, and Catering. Be sure to check out their website at http://www.bochisfood.com/ for a complete menu!
Our original rating was leaning towards a 4/5, but due to the disappointing flans and tartas, we dropped it to a 3/5.
FINAL RATING: 3/5
PRICE: $
500 West Broad Street
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-538-2075
Signing Out,
Derek & Ryan
Monday, April 11, 2011
Restaurant #11 - Bubbas Potbelly Stove (April 9, 2011)
"Real Good Food....Real Good People"
Bubbas Potbelly stove is located along 309 right before you enter Coopersburg. Ryan and I headed to Bubbas ready to chow down on some good cookin. The parking lot was packed when we arrived, and this was a good indicator that Bubbas was going to be something worthwhile!
The inside of Bubbas had a "cabin feel" to it and reminded me of the days when I would build homes with lincoln logs and then my gi-joe would take over and destroy them in battle. As Ryan and I stood against the wall waiting to be seated, we noticed that Bubbas had quite a few plaques with awards and news articles hanging along the wall displaying their presence in the media. It was nice to know that Bubbas has a presence in Quakertown and by the looks of it, everyone loves Bubbas. Every table was packed and with Bubbas being on the smaller side, Ryan and I were placed at a table not even arms length away from a family. The atmosphere felt a little cramped but it wasn't keeping business away!
Ryan ordered a Montgomery burger which consists of bacon and cheese. Each burger comes with lettuce, tomato, onions, a pickle and chips. If you don't want those, make sure to clarify! I ordered a burger that actually IS NO LONGER on the menu. The waitress told me about it and it sounded delicious, as it was. It was a burger with ham and cheese, and pineapple. With lettuce, tomato and onions on top of that and a side of BBQ sauce, I had to unhinge my jaw like a 6 foot boa constrictor in order to succesfully fit the burger in my mouth. We both wanted fries instead of chips (Who doesn't!?), so we had to pay extra for fries (They don't substitute). However, it was SO worth it. The fries reminded us of steak fries. However, most steak fries are too mushy for Ryan and I, but Bubbas fries were perfect. They were crispy and didn't taste like grease! As Ryan and I looked around, we noticed that almost every person in Bubbas at the time had a bowl of French Onion Soup. I asked the waitress about it and she said that the French Onion Soup is a popular among the locals. I had to add that soup to the tab! For $5.95 a bowl, I got a taste of what Bubbas is all about. Filled to the brim with cheese, be sure to wear a bib because it will get messy! I am not a huge fan of french onion soup (Or so I thought), but I know good soup when I taste it! I highly recommend stopping by Bubbas and grabbing a bowl of this delicious soup.
Now Bubbas can be a little pricey. If you aren't getting a sandwhich, then expect to spend at least $20 per person for the other entrees. The refills are free which is nice, but since when do fries not come with a burger!? We spent $5.90 I believe for 2 orders of fries. The fries are delicious and it would be neat to see the fries added to the burger meal!! **Note: On Wednesdays, they have a deal where you buy any burger and you get fries for free. I might be checking that one out!
Bubbas can make for a nice night out if you are willing to spend a little more. The food was pretty good and we left feeling very satisfied. The atmosphere was a little cramped and it would be nice to have a little more room so the people next to us don't have to hear every word we say, and vice versa. The price and the atmosphere took the rating down a little bit, but overall, we would go back!
Be sure to check out Bubbas website at http://www.bubbaspotbellystove.com/index.asp to see special promotions, hours and even view their menu! Bubbas accepts cash and plastic!
FINAL RATING: 3.5/5 stars
PRICE: $$
1485 North West End Blvd.
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-8308
Signing Out,
Derek & Ryan
Bubbas Potbelly stove is located along 309 right before you enter Coopersburg. Ryan and I headed to Bubbas ready to chow down on some good cookin. The parking lot was packed when we arrived, and this was a good indicator that Bubbas was going to be something worthwhile!
The inside of Bubbas had a "cabin feel" to it and reminded me of the days when I would build homes with lincoln logs and then my gi-joe would take over and destroy them in battle. As Ryan and I stood against the wall waiting to be seated, we noticed that Bubbas had quite a few plaques with awards and news articles hanging along the wall displaying their presence in the media. It was nice to know that Bubbas has a presence in Quakertown and by the looks of it, everyone loves Bubbas. Every table was packed and with Bubbas being on the smaller side, Ryan and I were placed at a table not even arms length away from a family. The atmosphere felt a little cramped but it wasn't keeping business away!
Ryan ordered a Montgomery burger which consists of bacon and cheese. Each burger comes with lettuce, tomato, onions, a pickle and chips. If you don't want those, make sure to clarify! I ordered a burger that actually IS NO LONGER on the menu. The waitress told me about it and it sounded delicious, as it was. It was a burger with ham and cheese, and pineapple. With lettuce, tomato and onions on top of that and a side of BBQ sauce, I had to unhinge my jaw like a 6 foot boa constrictor in order to succesfully fit the burger in my mouth. We both wanted fries instead of chips (Who doesn't!?), so we had to pay extra for fries (They don't substitute). However, it was SO worth it. The fries reminded us of steak fries. However, most steak fries are too mushy for Ryan and I, but Bubbas fries were perfect. They were crispy and didn't taste like grease! As Ryan and I looked around, we noticed that almost every person in Bubbas at the time had a bowl of French Onion Soup. I asked the waitress about it and she said that the French Onion Soup is a popular among the locals. I had to add that soup to the tab! For $5.95 a bowl, I got a taste of what Bubbas is all about. Filled to the brim with cheese, be sure to wear a bib because it will get messy! I am not a huge fan of french onion soup (Or so I thought), but I know good soup when I taste it! I highly recommend stopping by Bubbas and grabbing a bowl of this delicious soup.
Now Bubbas can be a little pricey. If you aren't getting a sandwhich, then expect to spend at least $20 per person for the other entrees. The refills are free which is nice, but since when do fries not come with a burger!? We spent $5.90 I believe for 2 orders of fries. The fries are delicious and it would be neat to see the fries added to the burger meal!! **Note: On Wednesdays, they have a deal where you buy any burger and you get fries for free. I might be checking that one out!
Bubbas can make for a nice night out if you are willing to spend a little more. The food was pretty good and we left feeling very satisfied. The atmosphere was a little cramped and it would be nice to have a little more room so the people next to us don't have to hear every word we say, and vice versa. The price and the atmosphere took the rating down a little bit, but overall, we would go back!
Be sure to check out Bubbas website at http://www.bubbaspotbellystove.com/index.asp to see special promotions, hours and even view their menu! Bubbas accepts cash and plastic!
FINAL RATING: 3.5/5 stars
PRICE: $$
1485 North West End Blvd.
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-8308
Signing Out,
Derek & Ryan
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Restaurant #10 - Captain Bob's Fresh Seafood (March 22, 2011)
"Ryan hates seafood, but loves Captain Bob's"
Captain Bob's is located in the heart of Quakertown, and on this fine Tuesday evening, two Admirals (I'm trying out some nautical terms in this blog) entered the restaurant and didn't know quite what to expect. I enjoy seafood on occasion, but Ryan however gets a bit seasick at the thought of seafood.
The first thing that we noticed before entering is that there are two different entrances for C Bob's. If you want take out, you enter one door where you can choose from a vast array of fish, fried or broiled. Choices of fish include flounder, haddock, salmon, tilapia, catfish, tuna, swordfish. You can also order delicacies such as clams, scallops, shrimp, crab cakes, fish cakes, oysters, etc. If you want to eat in, you enter through the other door, and they have a window connecting the other room where you can order from. Ryan and I chose to eat in (as is the rule with our restaurant adventures) and so we ordered, were given a number, and we then anchored our vessels and got our drinks. We were excited to find out that if you pay an extra 50 cents, you can get free refills. We are suckers for free refills! Shortly after we sat down, our number was called. The service was very fast and this made us very pleased.
I ordered Deviled Crabs because according to the menu, this is "Everyone's Favorite." Ryan ordered Pop-Corn Shrimp and one deviled crab, because like me, he was curious. Each platter comes with a side of french fries and cole slaw, although Ryan asked for more fries in replacement of the 'slaw. The deviled crabs were outstanding although halfway through, Ryan worried me because he made me realize that I have no idea what exactly makes up a deviled crab cake. However, that has never bothered me before. The fries were delicious and thin and crisp. Ryan enjoyed his pop-corn shrimp and even enjoyed his deviled crab cake. Remember, he hates seafood, and that's not a lie.
The atmosphere was very pleasant and as we sat there, we felt as though we were eating lunch on the boardwalk at the beach. The walls had a nice ocean blue tint to them and we were surrounded by 7 different posters of various marine life which took me back to my studies of marine biology in high school. (I didn't really study marine biology in high school, but if I did, Captain Bob would have been my teacher.) We also noticed that Captain Bob's has an awesome logo inside their restaurant. It is almost 3D looking, and kind of hard to explain unless you go see it for yourself. Unfortunately, they don't have the same logo on the outside! The sign for Captain Bob's on the roof of the building is kind of bland looking and we think it would be neat to incorporate the 3D logo on the outside of the building as well!
Overall, we thought that the customer service was a nice help to Ryan and I and they were a very fast and efficient crew. The food was delicious and cheap, especially with it all being seafood! If you don't like seafood, we definitely recommend that you start with Captain Bob's Fresh Seafood and see what you think! You can also check out their website for a menu at http://www.captainbobsseafood.com/. Their site provides you with a full menu as well as their hours. They also now accept plastic so if you don't have cash with you, that's okay! So shove off, (that means to "To leave; to push a boat away from a pier or vessel's side") and come to Captain Bob's today!
FINAL RATING: 3.5/5 stars
PRICE: $ to $$ (Basically one and a half dollar sign)
609 S West End Blvd # 5
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-538-0773
-Derek & Ryan
Captain Bob's is located in the heart of Quakertown, and on this fine Tuesday evening, two Admirals (I'm trying out some nautical terms in this blog) entered the restaurant and didn't know quite what to expect. I enjoy seafood on occasion, but Ryan however gets a bit seasick at the thought of seafood.
The first thing that we noticed before entering is that there are two different entrances for C Bob's. If you want take out, you enter one door where you can choose from a vast array of fish, fried or broiled. Choices of fish include flounder, haddock, salmon, tilapia, catfish, tuna, swordfish. You can also order delicacies such as clams, scallops, shrimp, crab cakes, fish cakes, oysters, etc. If you want to eat in, you enter through the other door, and they have a window connecting the other room where you can order from. Ryan and I chose to eat in (as is the rule with our restaurant adventures) and so we ordered, were given a number, and we then anchored our vessels and got our drinks. We were excited to find out that if you pay an extra 50 cents, you can get free refills. We are suckers for free refills! Shortly after we sat down, our number was called. The service was very fast and this made us very pleased.
I ordered Deviled Crabs because according to the menu, this is "Everyone's Favorite." Ryan ordered Pop-Corn Shrimp and one deviled crab, because like me, he was curious. Each platter comes with a side of french fries and cole slaw, although Ryan asked for more fries in replacement of the 'slaw. The deviled crabs were outstanding although halfway through, Ryan worried me because he made me realize that I have no idea what exactly makes up a deviled crab cake. However, that has never bothered me before. The fries were delicious and thin and crisp. Ryan enjoyed his pop-corn shrimp and even enjoyed his deviled crab cake. Remember, he hates seafood, and that's not a lie.
The atmosphere was very pleasant and as we sat there, we felt as though we were eating lunch on the boardwalk at the beach. The walls had a nice ocean blue tint to them and we were surrounded by 7 different posters of various marine life which took me back to my studies of marine biology in high school. (I didn't really study marine biology in high school, but if I did, Captain Bob would have been my teacher.) We also noticed that Captain Bob's has an awesome logo inside their restaurant. It is almost 3D looking, and kind of hard to explain unless you go see it for yourself. Unfortunately, they don't have the same logo on the outside! The sign for Captain Bob's on the roof of the building is kind of bland looking and we think it would be neat to incorporate the 3D logo on the outside of the building as well!
Overall, we thought that the customer service was a nice help to Ryan and I and they were a very fast and efficient crew. The food was delicious and cheap, especially with it all being seafood! If you don't like seafood, we definitely recommend that you start with Captain Bob's Fresh Seafood and see what you think! You can also check out their website for a menu at http://www.captainbobsseafood.com/. Their site provides you with a full menu as well as their hours. They also now accept plastic so if you don't have cash with you, that's okay! So shove off, (that means to "To leave; to push a boat away from a pier or vessel's side") and come to Captain Bob's today!
FINAL RATING: 3.5/5 stars
PRICE: $ to $$ (Basically one and a half dollar sign)
609 S West End Blvd # 5
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-538-0773
-Derek & Ryan
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Restaurant #9 - Big Richard's Steak Shop (March 20, 2011)
"If you take a seat, you need to eat"
Being the first day of spring and having beautiful weather, Derek and I decided to check out what the Quakertown Farmers Market had to offer. The focus of today's visit was to Big Richard's Steak Shop, also known to some as Big Richard's Sandwich Shop. Additionally, we broke away from our routine in that going to the Q-Mart sounded like a great double date so we both brought along our better halves. First off, entering the Q-Mart we had no idea where Big Richard's was so we went in one of the entrances and began to wonder in the direction we thought it may be. After passing an eclectic smorgasbord of shops and delis we finally spotted the Big Richard's Sign. Pay close attention because if you are walking to quickly or distracted, you will pass on by very easily without even noticing the restaurant.
We grabbed a table for four and began to contemplate what meal would have the opportunity to dance across our palates today. Be careful where you put your elbows while sitting down as we had some elbow sweater stick. The table of our choosing had not been visited by Mr. Clean, and it was awkwardly close to the ordering counter. The decisions were made and the result were four value meals. Two cheese steaks, one Webber, and one pork BBQ sandwich. The value meal started at about $5.50 which gave you the sandwich, fries and a drink, or you could up grade for another buck and half to a large. This meant receiving a club roll vs. a hoagie roll. The cheese steaks were anything but mind blowing, the Webber was not impressive (turns out you also have to pay more for lettuce and tomato), and the pork sandwich was good - having a tint of sugary sweetness to it. While half the the party (being the guys) liked the fries our counterparts pointed out that they thought they just tasted like grease.
Putting food aside, the service was up to par of that of your local DMV. I believe it would take a miracle to get a smile to break out on any of the employees faces, although, being in a windowless area, it can have that effect on you. We all just felt that there was no effort made to make us comfortable or to have us feel welcomed. Additionally, I ran into one of my greatest pet peeves... "no free refills". I just do not get it. You sucker me into paying a buck and a half for a cup of soda that costs you 10 cents, and then you have the audacity to not even give me one free refill. Throw a guy a bone here, and at least give one free refill, or refrain from putting the iceburg that sunk the Titanic in my cup so I get more than a table spoon of soda. (Sorry for ranting, no this is not the only restaurant that does this, but we are coming out of a long winter so you must forgive me).
While we were eating we had noticed that on the menu they also had fried oreos, twinkies and Snickers. I never turn down a snickers and when you throw it on a stick and deep fat fry it, it can only get better. I was quite pleased when I received my fried Snickers and couldn't wait to dig in. But, I quickly learned that a fat fried Snickers is about 200 degrees hotter than molten lava. Having now melted the entirety of my mouth, I was glad that I had allowed them to sucker me into buying a refill of Diet Pepsi off of them for a buck.
Overall the food was mediocre, the atmosphere was loud and sticky, and the service could use some courtousy training. The only thing that saved the trip was going to see the Q-Mart's diamond in the rough, Wally the alligator.
FINAL RATING: 2/5 Stars
PRICE: $
Quakertown Farmer's Market
201 Station Rd, Quakertown, PA 18951
Phone: 215-538-1255
-Ryan & Derek
Being the first day of spring and having beautiful weather, Derek and I decided to check out what the Quakertown Farmers Market had to offer. The focus of today's visit was to Big Richard's Steak Shop, also known to some as Big Richard's Sandwich Shop. Additionally, we broke away from our routine in that going to the Q-Mart sounded like a great double date so we both brought along our better halves. First off, entering the Q-Mart we had no idea where Big Richard's was so we went in one of the entrances and began to wonder in the direction we thought it may be. After passing an eclectic smorgasbord of shops and delis we finally spotted the Big Richard's Sign. Pay close attention because if you are walking to quickly or distracted, you will pass on by very easily without even noticing the restaurant.
We grabbed a table for four and began to contemplate what meal would have the opportunity to dance across our palates today. Be careful where you put your elbows while sitting down as we had some elbow sweater stick. The table of our choosing had not been visited by Mr. Clean, and it was awkwardly close to the ordering counter. The decisions were made and the result were four value meals. Two cheese steaks, one Webber, and one pork BBQ sandwich. The value meal started at about $5.50 which gave you the sandwich, fries and a drink, or you could up grade for another buck and half to a large. This meant receiving a club roll vs. a hoagie roll. The cheese steaks were anything but mind blowing, the Webber was not impressive (turns out you also have to pay more for lettuce and tomato), and the pork sandwich was good - having a tint of sugary sweetness to it. While half the the party (being the guys) liked the fries our counterparts pointed out that they thought they just tasted like grease.
Putting food aside, the service was up to par of that of your local DMV. I believe it would take a miracle to get a smile to break out on any of the employees faces, although, being in a windowless area, it can have that effect on you. We all just felt that there was no effort made to make us comfortable or to have us feel welcomed. Additionally, I ran into one of my greatest pet peeves... "no free refills". I just do not get it. You sucker me into paying a buck and a half for a cup of soda that costs you 10 cents, and then you have the audacity to not even give me one free refill. Throw a guy a bone here, and at least give one free refill, or refrain from putting the iceburg that sunk the Titanic in my cup so I get more than a table spoon of soda. (Sorry for ranting, no this is not the only restaurant that does this, but we are coming out of a long winter so you must forgive me).
While we were eating we had noticed that on the menu they also had fried oreos, twinkies and Snickers. I never turn down a snickers and when you throw it on a stick and deep fat fry it, it can only get better. I was quite pleased when I received my fried Snickers and couldn't wait to dig in. But, I quickly learned that a fat fried Snickers is about 200 degrees hotter than molten lava. Having now melted the entirety of my mouth, I was glad that I had allowed them to sucker me into buying a refill of Diet Pepsi off of them for a buck.
Overall the food was mediocre, the atmosphere was loud and sticky, and the service could use some courtousy training. The only thing that saved the trip was going to see the Q-Mart's diamond in the rough, Wally the alligator.
FINAL RATING: 2/5 Stars
PRICE: $
Quakertown Farmer's Market
201 Station Rd, Quakertown, PA 18951
Phone: 215-538-1255
-Ryan & Derek
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Restaurant # 8 - The Brick Tavern Inn (March 8, 2011)
"It's a Win-Win at The Brick Tavern Inn"
Thanks to an anonymous Quakertown sponsor, Ryan and I were able to dine out tonight, without the expense. We are very grateful and if anyone else would like to sponsor us, shoot us an email at eatingthruquakertown@gmail.com. You can remain anonymous if you would like as well!
Anyhoo, we finally were able to make it out to the Brick Tavern Inn on this fine Tuesday evening, after going on a hiatus for a few weeks. Due to schedule conflicts, we had to miss a week and reschedule for a Tuesday rather than a Thursday, but food is food, and we worked around it!
As we pulled up to the Inn, we noticed the fresh landscape that surrounds the building and is very inviting. Many different types of shrubs and trees line the perimiter of the restaurant and create a very nice atmosphere. The inside of the inn was very fancy as each table was joined by a lone candle at the center of it. Yes, two men in their early 20's eating dinner by candelight. It made for an awkward meal. We were even given cloth napkins (The kind where you have to unfold 10 times and put in your lap because it's the correct "etiquette" way).
We opened up the menu and noticed that if you want an entree, expect to pay at least $25. We chose to each order a sandwich, which comes with fries, and then we ordered an appetizer as well. Ryan ordered a Little Italy Chicken Sandwich which is grilled chicken, garlic, tomatoes, and spinach, toasted with Swiss and Provolone on a hoagie roll (Yes, I just typed exactly what it says on the menu). I ordered the New York Reuben which is corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, 1000 island dressing, grilled on rye. We also ordered an appetizer of chicken wings (half BBQ, half buffalo).
The chicken wings were good, although the buffalo wings were a bit spicy and if you have chapped lips, be careful, as the hot sauce loves to infect the chapped lips even more. However, the Inn provides wet wipes so you can clean your hands thoroughly afterwards. Ryan enjoyed his sandwich, although with the amount of spinach that they put on the sandwich, I thought I was at dinner with PopEye. I enjoyed my reuben, but it was nothing "Earth shattering." The service was good and our waitress was very friendly and came to check up on us many times.
Our only complaints were that it seemed to be a little dark inside the restaurant. With it being candlelight, they dimmed the overhead lights making for a darker atmosphere. The background music was at a good setting so I could still hear Ryan without having to shout for him to repeat himself. We did spot a piano sitting against the wall unattended to, like a little puppy in a pet store. We would have liked to see some live music and see what that piano can do! However, if you visit http://www.thebricktaverninn.com/, you can see live music schedules, upcoming events, photographs, additional menu information and more! We both recommend to check it out sometime as it makes for a nice evening out with the significant other or family and friends!
FINAL RATING: 4/5 stars
PRICE: $$ to $$$ (Depending on if you get an entree or just a sandwich)
2460 Old Bethlehem Pike
Quakertown PA 18951
215-529-6488
Signing Out,
Derek and Ryan
Thanks to an anonymous Quakertown sponsor, Ryan and I were able to dine out tonight, without the expense. We are very grateful and if anyone else would like to sponsor us, shoot us an email at eatingthruquakertown@gmail.com. You can remain anonymous if you would like as well!
Anyhoo, we finally were able to make it out to the Brick Tavern Inn on this fine Tuesday evening, after going on a hiatus for a few weeks. Due to schedule conflicts, we had to miss a week and reschedule for a Tuesday rather than a Thursday, but food is food, and we worked around it!
As we pulled up to the Inn, we noticed the fresh landscape that surrounds the building and is very inviting. Many different types of shrubs and trees line the perimiter of the restaurant and create a very nice atmosphere. The inside of the inn was very fancy as each table was joined by a lone candle at the center of it. Yes, two men in their early 20's eating dinner by candelight. It made for an awkward meal. We were even given cloth napkins (The kind where you have to unfold 10 times and put in your lap because it's the correct "etiquette" way).
We opened up the menu and noticed that if you want an entree, expect to pay at least $25. We chose to each order a sandwich, which comes with fries, and then we ordered an appetizer as well. Ryan ordered a Little Italy Chicken Sandwich which is grilled chicken, garlic, tomatoes, and spinach, toasted with Swiss and Provolone on a hoagie roll (Yes, I just typed exactly what it says on the menu). I ordered the New York Reuben which is corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, 1000 island dressing, grilled on rye. We also ordered an appetizer of chicken wings (half BBQ, half buffalo).
The chicken wings were good, although the buffalo wings were a bit spicy and if you have chapped lips, be careful, as the hot sauce loves to infect the chapped lips even more. However, the Inn provides wet wipes so you can clean your hands thoroughly afterwards. Ryan enjoyed his sandwich, although with the amount of spinach that they put on the sandwich, I thought I was at dinner with PopEye. I enjoyed my reuben, but it was nothing "Earth shattering." The service was good and our waitress was very friendly and came to check up on us many times.
Our only complaints were that it seemed to be a little dark inside the restaurant. With it being candlelight, they dimmed the overhead lights making for a darker atmosphere. The background music was at a good setting so I could still hear Ryan without having to shout for him to repeat himself. We did spot a piano sitting against the wall unattended to, like a little puppy in a pet store. We would have liked to see some live music and see what that piano can do! However, if you visit http://www.thebricktaverninn.com/, you can see live music schedules, upcoming events, photographs, additional menu information and more! We both recommend to check it out sometime as it makes for a nice evening out with the significant other or family and friends!
FINAL RATING: 4/5 stars
PRICE: $$ to $$$ (Depending on if you get an entree or just a sandwich)
2460 Old Bethlehem Pike
Quakertown PA 18951
215-529-6488
Signing Out,
Derek and Ryan
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Restaurant #7 - Burger King (February 3, 2011)
"In sight - in mind"
**WE HAVE CHANGED THE RATING AFTER MUCH DEBATE. WE WERE STILL NEW AT THE RATING SYSTEM AND AFTER REVIEWING IT, WE REALIZED QUICKLY THAT BURGER KING WAS NOT DESERVING OF A 3/5 STARS. WE HAVE LOWERED THEM TO A 1.5. **
Anyone who has driven through Hometown, America knows about Burger King and we have all seen the silly King commercials. BK has set itself apart from other fast food, with their flame grilled burgers like you would grill up on your backyard charcoal grill. We entered the restaurant and went through the cattle chutes to order our food. I wanted to order a BK Double Stacker, but I wasnt sure of what kind of sauce was put on the burger. When I asked the teen behind the counter what kind of sauce was on the burger, not only was he unable to tell me what kind of sauce it was, he did not even give it a thought to ask someone else what it was. I got it anyway out of a sense of adventure, and Derek ordered a grilled chicken sandwich. Then came something we hoped we would not see.
Preparing our food was a lanky kid who had to keep battling the curtain of hair fighting for his attention in his line of sight. He began to clear some lettuce off of the prep counter. He then reached into a bucket of brackish water, wiped down the counter with a rag and then put it back into the bucket. To our horror, he kept the same latex gloves, that were now dripping wet, and without skipping a beat, grabbed for two rolls and started making our sandwiches. We got our food and soda and grabbed our seat. The fries were awesome, being crisped to perfection. My burger was good but I couldn't get the brackish water out of my mind. At one point I think I could have even smelled clorox on the bun. Derek liked his sandwich but it was really nothing to write home about.
Overall, the food was okay, the fries were great, the facility was clean and seemed like a good place to bring your family, because they have the play place that your children can enjoy and you can bring the whole family without having to take out a home equity loan to afford.
FINAL RATING: 1.5/5
PRICE: $
100 North West End Boulevard
Quakertown, PA 18951-2307
(215) 538-0380
-Ryan & Derek
**WE HAVE CHANGED THE RATING AFTER MUCH DEBATE. WE WERE STILL NEW AT THE RATING SYSTEM AND AFTER REVIEWING IT, WE REALIZED QUICKLY THAT BURGER KING WAS NOT DESERVING OF A 3/5 STARS. WE HAVE LOWERED THEM TO A 1.5. **
Anyone who has driven through Hometown, America knows about Burger King and we have all seen the silly King commercials. BK has set itself apart from other fast food, with their flame grilled burgers like you would grill up on your backyard charcoal grill. We entered the restaurant and went through the cattle chutes to order our food. I wanted to order a BK Double Stacker, but I wasnt sure of what kind of sauce was put on the burger. When I asked the teen behind the counter what kind of sauce was on the burger, not only was he unable to tell me what kind of sauce it was, he did not even give it a thought to ask someone else what it was. I got it anyway out of a sense of adventure, and Derek ordered a grilled chicken sandwich. Then came something we hoped we would not see.
Preparing our food was a lanky kid who had to keep battling the curtain of hair fighting for his attention in his line of sight. He began to clear some lettuce off of the prep counter. He then reached into a bucket of brackish water, wiped down the counter with a rag and then put it back into the bucket. To our horror, he kept the same latex gloves, that were now dripping wet, and without skipping a beat, grabbed for two rolls and started making our sandwiches. We got our food and soda and grabbed our seat. The fries were awesome, being crisped to perfection. My burger was good but I couldn't get the brackish water out of my mind. At one point I think I could have even smelled clorox on the bun. Derek liked his sandwich but it was really nothing to write home about.
Overall, the food was okay, the fries were great, the facility was clean and seemed like a good place to bring your family, because they have the play place that your children can enjoy and you can bring the whole family without having to take out a home equity loan to afford.
FINAL RATING: 1.5/5
PRICE: $
100 North West End Boulevard
Quakertown, PA 18951-2307
(215) 538-0380
-Ryan & Derek
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