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Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Yahoo
High ratings for Oak Ridge Mexican restaurant, ice cream shop
After doing this for well over 20 years, I'm at the point, where I manage my expectations when it comes to Mexican-food restaurants. The vast majority of the ones I have tried do a decent job. No major complaints. But it's not often that one lands on the right-hand side of the bell curve. Barrios Mexican Cantina in Oak Ridge, however, did just that. While researching it online, I appreciated the aesthetics and functionality of the website, and the menu definitely piqued my interest. Then upon our arrival, I noticed that the modestly sized bar and dining areas didn't beat me over the head with cliché Mexican-restaurant décor like piñatas, streamers and gaudily colored booths. I don't need an explosion of visual stimuli in my face when I dine out, which is why Barrios' understated mom-and-pop vibes felt refreshing and welcoming. And as I mentioned, I was hopeful about the menu too. You'll find a number of dips and a couple of ceviche dishes among the appetizers. I also spotted unique salads like berry and goat cheese as well as avocado and kale. And yes, they have familiar south-of-the-border dinners like burritos, enchiladas, nachos, fajitas and quesadillas. There were also sections focused more on chicken and vegetarian options. I ordered one of the seafood entrees, the seafood chimichanga ($17). The tortilla is filled with mahi, shrimp and sauteed onions, then deep-fried and topped with chipotle queso. It's served with rice, beans, pico and crema cilantro. The Grub Spouse tried one of the Casa Specialties, the carnitas dinner ($16). The confit pork is prepared with sauteed onions and served with similar sides as mine and accompanied by tortillas. Barrios also offers more than two dozen street taco varieties. Prices vary, but I got the molida taco (ground beef) for $3.75. There were so many other dishes I would have loved to try but passed on, including the chori-chicken chimichanga, the enchiladas supremas, the seafood and spinach quesadilla and the quesabirria — a flour tortilla stuffed with birria (stew), cheese, onion and cilantro. Combo and a la carte options are up for grabs as well. This was by far my favorite Mexican-food meal in a long while. The carnitas were cooked to perfection, and my deep-fried chimi was bursting with plump shrimp, mildly flavored mahi and mucho onion. I loved all the sides as well, including the rice, which I can usually take or leave. Even the cilantro-enhanced pico was wonderful. One negative was the service, which started out great, but our personable server went missing once our food was delivered. We received no follow-up, and even after he eventually dropped by, it took a little too long for him to get us a check and to-go boxes. We were the only customers there at the time. It was regrettable, but I'm not letting that have too much impact on my overall score. We passed on a familiar list of Mexican desserts, mainly so we could be-bop right down the Oak Ridge Turnpike to Lolli & Bobo's Ice Cream Shop, a block off the main drag in that Bus Terminal Road shopping area. My research indicated that they get their ice cream from Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream in Door County, Wisconsin. It's rated as super premium, containing at least 14% butterfat, which makes it creamy and delicious. And I would agree. We agonized over the nearly 20 flavors available that day, including blueberry cheesecake, cool mint cookie, bourbon trail and caramel corn. I got a scoop of Cake Pop (cake batter ice cream, salted chocolate cake pieces and sprinkles) and a scoop of Michigan Pot Hole (chocolate ice cream with black-tar fudge and chocolate chunks. The Spouse got two scoops of Eskimo Kisses — coconut ice cream with bits of chocolate ice cream and a blanket of fudge. Each two-scoop cup was $6.49. We didn't see Lolli and Bobo, two grandparents who are Tennessee transplants, but if we had, we would have told them that they have excellent taste in ice cream. My favorite chain lately has been Bruster's, but in this case, Lolli & Bobo's comes about as close to that benchmark as any local shop I've experienced. I'm giving them two little, pink plastic spoons, way up. Barrios Mexican Cantina Food: 4.5 Service: 3.5 Atmosphere: 3.75 Overall: 4.25 Address: 154 Talmeda Road, Oak Ridge Phone: 865-272-5171 Full bar service Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Lolli & Bobo's Ice Cream Shoppe Food: 4.5 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Overall: 4.5 Address: 124 Bus Terminal Road, Oak Ridge Phone: 865-410-0411 No alcohol service Hours: 1 to 8 p.m. Sundays; noon to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays Bottom line: These two Oak Ridge eateries — serving Mexican food and ice cream, respectively — are both very good at what they do and worth the drive from Knoxville. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: High ratings for Oak Ridge Mexican restaurant, ice cream shop Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Barbarella, London E14: ‘A large scoop of Lady Gaga does House of Gucci' – restaurant review
The Big Mamma group's gargantuan, flamboyant, frothily decorated pleasure palaces, which have grown rapidly across London – from Gloria in Shoreditch to Circolo Popolare in Fitzrovia and from Avo Mario in Covent Garden to Jacuzzi in Marylebone, among others – not to mention across Europe in general, tend to cause earnest food sorts to sigh wearily. If the lofty scofferati could have found a way to scupper Big Mamma's growth, they probably would have, because these restaurants are unashamedly focused on big, sexy, silly and Italian-inspired fun. The dining rooms are styled with the chaotic yet elegant detail of a big-budget movie set; no two are remotely the same, but each branch is connected by dependably over-the-top Italian serving staff, usually male and every one of them determined to be your best friend all the way from the antipasti to the dolci, even if your stiff British mentality fights their displays of chumminess. The latest Big Mamma opening, Barbarella in Canary Wharf, east London, is no different, and features all of those elements with which we've become so familiar: the tall, wobbly lemon meringue pie, the camp banquettes, the huge flappy menu with 100-plus items all written in Italian and in a teensy-tiny red font. At Barbarella, there are also oversized sculptures, vintage Fiorucci in glass display cases and, vibe-wise, a large scoop of Gaga does House of Gucci. Why are clever food people so sniffy about Big Mamma, despite its restaurants being full to the brim every night? Well, there are two reasons: first, Barbarella and her sisters are determinedly fun; almost forced fun, if we're completely honest. Just try telling your server that you're not here to have a laugh, but instead have come for a sparse, sensible, calorie-counting meal, so there's no need for a double martini or to be spooned tiramisu from a huge bowl by a winking man from Sicily called Gianluca. They just won't understand you. The second, and possibly more logical reason for the raised eyebrows is because – let's cut to the chase – the food in all of these restaurants isn't always terribly good and is sometimes actively awful. Not that you'll ever cajole any of the staff into admitting that: 'This tiramisu is my favourite tiramisu in the world, even better than my own nonna's,' is just one line directed at me at Barbarella. The staff simply cannot break character, so all the pasta is, according to them at least, 'freshly made this hour' and 'better than they serve in the village I come from in Italy'. Every T-bone steak is the juiciest and every brunello on the extensive wine-list is the most thoughtfully sourced. You've more chance of seeing Mickey Mouse at the front of a Disney parade with his headpiece off and smoking a Marlboro than hear a Barbarella server admit that this food is just OK – and hugely overpriced, too. Not that you'd really want that, either. Barbarella, like all of these places, is about escapism, boisterous group dining and being swept up in the moment, with someone else – a lover, a boss, a father-in-law – hopefully picking up the hefty bill afterwards. Lunching here stone-cold sober is a real eye-opener. I've only ever been to a Big Mamma restaurant while a bit tipsy, but here I'm being served a £24 plate of 'millefoglie di patate con tartare di manzo e tartufo', or a sort of cold fried potato rösti with a spoon of unseasoned beef tartare that's not remotely delicious. A courgette and cheese insalata limps on to my table hoping for love, but it's another hopeless state of affairs. This is not good courgette, these are not pleasant croutons. Next up, lobster linguine for £36 in a thick, one-note bisque sauce and with half a lobster on top – fine, but nothing earth-shattering. A £38 fillet steak with green peppercorn sauce is by some distance the most delicious thing we eat, and comes with a side of actually great rosemary potatoes. Then again, it's also probably the least Italian thing on the menu. But the tiramisu is, as ever, rich, thick, cocoa-covered and comes with that timeworn trick of offering a second scoop to denote largesse. Upstairs is the place to sit, it being the room with all the movie-star glamour; downstairs is, dare I say, a little less exciting. But, from my seat by the till (not somewhere I wanted to linger) and having to move plates about to make them fit on a tiny table that's about as big as one of the pizzas, there's just something about Barbarella that left me a little cold. Perhaps glamour isn't supposed to be practical. The wild Italian party continues in Canary Wharf regardless, but I don't think I'll be running back for a scoop of gelato any time soon. Barbarella Unit 3, YY London, 30 South Colonnade, London E14 (no phone). Open all week, noon-midnight. From about £40 a head à la carte, plus drinks and service. The next episode of Grace's Comfort Eating podcast is out on Tuesday 15 July – listen to it here.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'I had dinner at a proper curry house in Surbiton and it's a true gem'
Decent curry houses might not be hard to come by in and around Surbiton but I've found a true local gem with top quality food and even better service. I had walked and driven past Prithi Cuisine in Ewell Road, many times in recent years but I hadn't eaten there until recently - and I can confirm it won't be long before I'm returning. I must admit, I was a little tentative at first due to the lack of customers in the restaurant but I was greeted and shown to my table by Raj, the owner of Prithi Cuisine and a true gentleman. Raj quickly put my unease to rest as he explained Thursdays were typically his quietest days and Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays were "very busy". Prithi Cuisine in Ewell Road (Image: Gianni Cirillo) My mum and I ordered our drinks and specially requested Raj to point us in the direction of his personal recommendations for starters and main courses. He seemed delighted to recommend the chicken pakorani and green garlic king prawns for our starters. Did I know what to expect? No. Were the smells from the kitchen making me excited? Absolutely. The poppadoms and dips (Image: Gianni Cirillo) As we waited for the starters to arrive, Raj brought out a tray of warm poppadoms and a tree-like structure holding six different dips and toppings. Personally, poppadoms and dips are my favourite part of an Indian meal and Prithi's take on this classic appetiser absolutely hit the spot. The poppadoms were perfectly crisp and the dips were a faultless selection - some sweet, some spicy, some tangy but all delicious and allowed for each bite to be customisable. With our tastebuds well and truly primed and ready for starters, Raj brought out the chicken pakori and green garlic king prawns. The starters (Image: Gianni Cirillo) Both dishes were served similarly - boldly spiced meat served with charred green peppers and onions and a fresh salad on the side. Both the chicken and prawns were seasoned generously and served piping hot. The chicken was tender and juicy and the prawns were meaty and unquestionably fresh. The grilled vegetables held that trademark open-fire char and the side salad was crunchy, cool and an ideal way to reset the pallet before we got underway with our mains. Raj (middle left) with regular customers Nick, Paul and Ramkumar (Image: Prithi Cuisine) During the short interval after the starters, we got speaking to Raj who exuberated not only a pride in serving great food, but having a great connection with the local community. He knows his customers by name and works often with the local radio station and other businesses when he can - I'd known him all of 20 minutes but I could see, as clear as day, how much satisfying his customers means to him. Again my mum and I put our trust in Raj, who brought out two curries - the methi chicken and the royal king prawn korai as well as a saag aloo, a garlic naan, a peshwari naan and a bowl of pilau rice. Following the trend set by the appetisers and starters, the main courses packed punches of flavour although nothing was overly spicy (which can so often be the case in Indian restaurants). The Main Courses (Image: Gianni Cirillo) The chicken and prawn curries again featured a wonderful concoction of spices and were served in a great liquid consistency - not too thick and not too runny. This allowed me to tuck in to my curries via my preferred method - using the naan as a pocket to scoop up mouthfuls as opposed to a fork or spoon. The naans were hot, fluffy and structurally integral and the rice was steamed to perfection. The saag aloo is an Indian staple and more familiar to me than the two curries we'd been served, it was nothing revolutionary but it was certainly given the same culinary attention as the rest of the dishes and gave no room for criticism. Royal king prawn korai curry (Image: Gianni Cirillo) Despite the hefty quantity of food we'd been given, we polished it off such was the quality. Raj came round to ensure everything was to our liking and the smile on his face never faltered. As intriguing as the dessert menu looked, I had physically run out of space for any more food. I left Prithi with a stomach full of fantastic food and a heart filled with the infectious pride and joy that Raj holds in his restaurant. I can confirm that when I next have that Friday evening hankering for an Indian, I know where I'll be heading.
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Outraged diner sparks war of words with restaurant owner after 'worst experience ever': 'What has happened to the hospitality scene?'
A diner has sparked a bitter war of words with the owner of a restaurant after labelling her visit the 'worst dining experience ever'. Kiana, who frequently shares food reviews on her social media, said she booked a table at Misc in Parramatta Park, western Sydney, for 11.15am for Sunday brunch. The restaurant is owned by Gogglebox favourite Jad Nehmetallah and opened in October 2022. Kiana claimed the group of four arrived five minutes late for their reservation and were told by the waiter they would need to order immediately as the kitchen was closing to prepare for the lunch rush. 'We quickly looked at the menu and order two of their platters,' she said. 'The waiter brought two platters but only one basket with two pieces of bread, and there's four of us. 'So we're trying to get the attention of the waiter, she came back and we asked for more bread, and she said the kitchen is closed.' After some back and forth, the table was eventually given a second basket of bread. Kiana said while the group was eating, a staff member approached the table at 12.30pm with an EFTPOS machine and requested payment for the meal because their table was booked for the lunch service and would need to be cleared. 'We had literally just finished eating and were about to order drinks, and then she said the table is booked for lunch,' she said. Kiana said when she protested, the waitress went away and returned to say they could stay until 1pm. 'She kept saying it's in the reservation you have a two-hour seating for a group of four,' she said. 'I brought up my reservation and I couldn't see anything about a two hour seating.' Kiana shared her experience on TikTok, with Nehmetallah labelling the review 'harsh' and challenging the diner's version of events. He explained last breakfast orders were taken at 11.45am to 11.50am so lunch could start at noon. 'She arrived 15 minutes late at 11.30am so we're being considerate by letting her know that we need to get her breakfast order in before the changeover,' he said. 'The kitchen shuts for a small time to change over from breakfast to lunch. 'It seems though you were on your laptops having a meeting during a Sunday service. 'At no point did we say we don't want you there. Instead we did everything we could to extend your booking.' Kiana questioned why the presence of her laptop contributed to the bad service she received. 'There's so many rules on us as patrons now, this is a transaction,' she said. 'I pay to come to the restaurant and you in return give me my food and a good experience. It's really that simple. 'The excuse was we are really busy, but this really is not a way to run a restaurant. We were literally asked to leave. I don't know what has happened to the hospitality scene when they don't want you there and you're a paying customer.' Kiana said the staff could have made the experience better by offering a free coffee. The restaurant also took the time to respond to Kiana with the general manager weighing into the matter. 'I'm really sorry to hear you had a disappointing experience,' they wrote. 'That's never what we want for any of our guests. Our team always aims to communicate clearly and treat every guest with care and respect. 'We also care deeply about creating a positive environment for both guests and staff. We've heard your feedback and genuinely appreciate you sharing it. 'If you'd ever like to return, feel free to reach out to me directly via email. I'll personally make sure your next visit is a great one.' Social media users were divided with some defending Nehmetallah. 'Jad is known in the community for his dedication and generosity,' they said. 'If someone had a negative experience, there are respectful ways to address it. 'Posting to tear a place down rather than reaching out directly doesn't solve anything—it just spreads negativity.' Another said 'every' restaurant has a two hour window. 'For someone who's worked in hospitality, you should know that! Don't bash a small business in public. You sound petty.' Others defended Kiana and said she had every right to be upset. 'I think they may have forgotten without the customer there is no restaurant,' one wrote. 'I totally agree that they should have compensated for the bad experience, but unfortunately some businesses don't care about their reputation.'
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
The 'immaculate' West London restaurant offering an escape for a 'downright steal' of £30 per head
Oh dear, I thought, as we stepped into the discreetly minimalist dining room of The Lavery. Here we go again. Because with its polished parquet floor and soaring South Kensington ceiling, its Georgian stucco detail, modernist light fittings, artfully aged mirrors and white – lots and lots of white – I expected fussy, fastidiously plated food served on strange and delicate porcelain, accompanied by pompous paeans about 'Chef's obsession' with sustainability, hyperseasonality and Somerset hand-crafted charcoal. I was, thank the lord, quite stupendously wrong. Because this is a place that gets everything right: the service, which purrs and glides, warm but well drilled. And the light, which today floods through the vast picture windows, holding the whole room in a mid-spring embrace. And the food, from head chef Yohei Furuhashi, who's done time at Toklas, Petersham Nurseries and, of course, The River Cafe. There's a charred slab of golden, buttery polenta with a great blob of mellow salt-cod brandade. Crisp winter tomatoes add sharpness and bite. Asparagus, pert and thrusting, sit atop a puddle of gently pongy fonduta. Roasted artichokes come with silken slices of excellent prosciutto. The dishes may be simple, but are immaculately done. Nettle tortelli are stuffed with ricotta and pine nuts, the pasta, a lushly verdant green, exquisitely delicate. It's like biting into something ephemeral, almost otherworldly: a breathy whisper of barely carbohydrate delight. Then a tranche of sea trout, a fraction overcooked – I crave a little translucence in the centre of my fish, but nobody else complains. With it, a tangle of spinach, the first of the season's peas and a dollop of wild garlic mayonnaise. For something a touch more robust, there's leg of rabbit, stuffed with Tuscan sausage, wrapped in pancetta and served with lentils studded with baby broad beans. A few sorrel leaves add acidic aplomb. You might expect the prices to be suitably stratospheric but while not exactly cheap, they offer serious value. You could come in for pasta and a glass of wine, and escape for under £30. For cooking this accomplished (and in this particularly gilded part of South Kensington) that's not so much a deal as a downright steal.
