Encore Edition: Garam Masala [20.5]

As you know, The Ave is an every changing organism that reinvents itself every so often. Due to this fact, we'll be posting a few "encore editions" of Voyage To The Ave to keep you up to date on the latest and greatest restaurants on The Ave!

"I'll tell you what I don't like about indian food...if you spill it on your clothes you smell like Inidan food all day. (sniffing his shirt) How many times am i going to have to soak this in bleach?!" - Mike McEvoy

From Mike's point of view, Garam Masala was just like eating IN Inida. They offered many delicious meals in the "Lunch Manue" section. Mike ended up getting the Chicken Tikka Masala for his entree. Another awesome thing is that you get lot's of naan for only $1.50. Dexter, his eating partner, got the vindaloo dish. Which according to Voy, tasted like tomato sauce. Chef Boyardee's tomato sauce to be precise.

It was nice to have Dexter sit in on this meal, because he was actually in India all summer. Mike, naturally, defaulted to him for the authenticity check of Garam Masala. According to Dex, it is "the best Indian food on The Ave". (A hefty claim coming from an American in a flannel shirt.)

To Mike, the restaurant was fairly plain in the decoration department. But...it did have music from India playing from a ghetto blaster (of course). The only reedeming thing for the intangibles was the niceness of the staff; a family of three who worked the grill and the front desk. It's legit.

Value: 6.5

Taste: 8.5
Intangibles: 5.5

Total Score: 20.5 out of 30

THANK YOU!

On behalf of Voyage To The Ave we would like to thank all of you for following and reading this blog. It's been a good run and we couldn't have done it without all of you!

While this is the end of Mike's voyage to the Ave, he will embark on yet another voyage. At the end of the summer, Mike will announce where he will be eating his way to next.

Thank you again, tell your friends, and have an amazing summer!

-Voyage To The Ave

Thai Tom [24.5]

"It's been a good ride, and there is no other place I'd rather end the Voyage than at Thai Tom." - Mike McEvoy

Thai Tom is located on the Ave just south of 47th. What's not to love about Thai Tom's. Besides the ever present line they have to sit down at one of their 4 tables. HOWEVER, on this glorious occasion all 5 of us were able to be seated together the second we got there. (That's right...5 people. I'm pretty sure that's a world record.) Inside they have a few tables and a bar that seats around 8. The "bar" however is about 2 feet away from the lone grill and it makes you super hot and sweaty from all of the steam. (Not that Mike has a problem with sweating and eating; it just stands to be mentioned.)

Anyways....They serve your food in a giant banana leaf plate! Right there you know it's going to be good. Nothing served out of a plate like that doesn't have exquisite flavor and bodacious taste. Mike, at first, wasn't super impressed by Thai Tom's portion size. Mike kept hoping Tyler didn't eat all of his food so that he could eat it. The banana leaf plate, however, must bend physics somehow to hide more food somewhere in the plate. But by the end of his meal, Mike was pleasantly full.

The ambience of Thai Tom's is incredible. It feels like you are really eating in Thailand. With a base meal price costing about 9 or 10 bucks after tax and tip, it's a lot cheaper than buying a plane ticket to south east Asia to get authentic Thai food. By the time you walk out onto the Ave again, you feel like you've stepped back out of the wardrobe and back into the real world.

Thai Tom's is good. Really good. Michael Jordan good.

Bottom Line: It's worth the wait in line.

Value: 9
Taste: 7
Intangibles: 8.5

Total Score: 24.5 out of 30

Café on The Ave [20]

"I've had a lot of sandwiches in my life. I've had good sandwiches. I've had bad sandwiches. But that was one dang good sandwich at Cafe on The Ave." - Mike McEvoy

Located at the Ave and above 42nd is Cafe on the Ave. Mike didn't think he would be going there at first because it seemed like a coffee shop only type of deal. The rule with Voyage To The Ave is if they serve lunch, he has to eat there. At first Mike thought since they were a coffee shop, their sandwiches would be par at best. (i.e. nothing interesting)

Let's just say Cafe on the Ave surprised Mike.

Mike ordered the California Croissant Club with turkey, ham, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, sauce, and a side of chips. They did NOT skimp on the meat and it had cascades of bacon flowing down the sides of the sandwich. It was amazing. (ps they even put bacon on their french dip!) With 2 people with tax and tip the meal was around $20.

The vibe was nice on the inside with a mix of round tables, couches, and high tables. Mike liked sitting at the high table so he could peer around the entire restaurant. While it could be construed as a "cold" environment, but Mike felt that it lent itself to a study/romantic feeling.

Bottom Line: "Cafe on the Ave needs to go over to Tahn Vi and take their 'Best Sandwiches On The Ave' sign and put it in front of their store."

Value: 5
Taste: 8.5
Intangibles: 6.5

Total Score: 20 out of 30

College Inn [11.5]

"My personal history of the College Inn: Thursday Night Jordan Collier Time, I once went there with a professor and a class, and hearing some old dudes talk about it at Husky football games." - Mike McEvoy





For those who don't know, the College Inn is located on the Ave south of 42nd. The entrance is a tiny door in the back of a building that is next to an unkempt field of prairie grasses. You descend the stairs and you enter into a poorly lit basement. It's not that creepy because this place is technically a bar, they just happen to serve food too. Mike ordered an Italian Grinder which is a stark departure from the fan favorite: the Howard's Special. (Oh college...)





The worker there was confused to say the least when Mike and his eating partner only ordered food and not an adult beverage. They have a few darts boards down there as well. Mike didn't partake but he was glad he had the option. It's an interesting atmosphere, but it was extremely conducive to holding a conversation. Different, but in a good way.

That's about it. It's the College Inn. It's a lot more simple there.

Value: 4


Taste: 3.5


Intangibles: 4





Total Score: 11.5 out of 30

Solstice [13.5]

"Let's just put it this way...after I ate a sandwich and soup from Solstice, I was still able to go to Pizza Fridays at Kappa's and eat a whole pizza." - Mike McEvoy





Down on the Ave below 42nd on the east side of the street is Solstice. It turns out that solstice is more than just a coffee shop; they serve sandwiches and soups. So, Mike got a sandwich and soup. Katie, Mike's eating partner, got a tuna sandwich which tasted fairly good. Mike ordered a club-type sandwich with turkey bacon and ham. Unfortunately the sandwich came out a little too dry for Mike's liking. Thankfully the bowl of soup was there too. The soup added just the right amount of moisture to the sandwich to make it enjoyable to eat. The soup itself was a tomato basil concoction that tasted like good.





When it came to the economics of the meal, Solstice started to fall short. A cup of the tomato basil soup cost $4 and the Bowl cost $5. (That itself makes no sense. Is the bowl only 20% larger than the cup? Maybe they're the same size and if you want to spend an extra dollar you get rewarded with the absence of a handle. Do people hate handles that much? Perhaps, but i digress...)





The atmosphere is very coffee-shop-ish. A few people were studying contently inside and the atmosphere was conducive for it. It has a similar feeling to University Zoka with a lot of wood surfaces and people studying and talking inside. They had a patio too which is a great choice on a summer Seattle day.





Bottom Line: Good atmosphere, but the food and prices make you leave wanting more.





Value: 4


Taste: 4


Intangibles: 5.5





Total Score: 13.5 out of 30

Pizza Ragazzi [14]

"I don't know if I'd call Pizza Ragazzi an Ave restaurant. It's on the Ave, it serves foods, but it doesn't feel like a reastaurant. You go to a window, order pizza, wait in a parking lot, get your food, and eat it in a parking lot. However, their pizza...delicious." - Mike McEvoy



Value: 5

$12 for a large Hawaiian pizza. It tasted great, but Mike hates eating in parking lots, so he had to walk back to work to eat it. (Sidenote: You can only get pizza by the slice at certain hours of the day. Check their website for more info.)



Taste: 8

One bite takes Mike back to his deep Hawaiian roots.



Intangibles: 1

Parking lot.



Total Score: 14 out of 30

Pig Tail BBQ [13]

"When I saw there was a place called Pig Tail BBQ on the Ave, I was thrilled. Nothing brings me back to my Alabama roots like some good ol' pork BBQ. As soon as I saw the menu, all of my hopes and dreams of going back to my childhood days, disappeared." - Mike McEvoy

Pig Tail BBQ's homestead is located at the Ave and 50th. Mike likes their intentions. Some goal of getting pork on the Ave, bu their execution makes me think that they've never been to the South. They took a piece of weird pork, slapped it between some bread with a lot of lettuce and cucumbers. That is NOT the South. It was really expensive and nothing about it left Mike wanting more.

First of all: the only way you serve something green is if it's fried. Pig Tail was way too healthy.
Second of all: they didn't even have BBQ sauce! I mean, c'mon!

In their defense, Mike maybe had his hopes to high due to his southern-ness wanting some good BBQ. But, they could have at least tried.

Bottom Line: There's 5 ways to serve pork 1) Ribs 2) Chopped 3) Chipped 4) Sliced 5) Pulled. This was none of those.

Value: 4
Taste: 5.5
Intangible: 3.5

Total Score: 13 out of 30

Vegan Pizza Pie [9.5]

"Here's the thing about Vegan places: At first I thought that they are there to appeal to all the vegans in Seattle. Now I think that they are owned by rich people who want to make a statement. A disgusting, cheese and meat free, statement." - Mike McEvoy



Located at the Ave up on 55th lies Vegan Pizza Pie. They had an ad that listed all the other vegan places in the area. How is that good for business? Posting that ad is like burning money, for heat, in the summer. $26 for a 15 inches, which is a LARGE pizza according to Vegan Pizza Pie. 15 inches is not a large pizza. Mike got half Aloha and half Margherita. Mike got the Aloha because it said that it came with Canadian bacon. Forgetting it was a vegan place Mike was angry to find that what came on the pizza was actually Canadian crap. AND...let's just say the "large" pizza didn't live up to its name.



Let's go back to the whole $26 dollar thing. What the crap?! The only way you could enjoy that pizza is if you're rich and have a super tiny stomach.



Bottom Line: Vegans have been persecuted ever since they came over to America on the Soyflower, and Mike will continue that persecution. (Not with violence but by eating lots and lots of animals.)



Value: 2

Taste: 4

Intangibles: 3.5



Total Score: 9.5 out of 30

Jimmy John's [11.5]

"The only thing that will bring me back to Jimmy John's is a free sandwich coupon and a servant to carry me up to the second floor." - Mike McEvoy

Mike's favorite thing about JJ's is that it is elevated on the second floor, alowing you to look out upon the ave. Which is fun...i guess. Expect for the stairs, which Mike does not like. When he walked into JJ's something just didn't feel right. Mike isn't sure what it is, but it irks him. When looking at the menu there is a nice feature in which you can pay whatever amount you want for a sandwich. It ranges from $4-$7. Mike has yet to hear someone say that they "Love Jimmy John's". Nothing about JJ's draws one to the restaurant. In JJ's defense, this is restaurant number 70, so it really had to wow in order to make a difference.

For the fun of it: Here is a quick Ave Sandwich Heirarchy (from best to worst) to illustrate how Mike feels about JJ's:

DaVinci's/Which Wich
Subway
Jimmy John's
Than Vi
Pita Pit

Bottom Line: Jimmy John's is just kinda.....blah.

Value: 4.5
Taste: 4
Intangibles: 3

Total Score: 11.5 out of 30

Chili's [16]

"Chili's is interesting. I think I need a bath." - Mike McEvoy

It's located just north of 50th on the eastside of the Ave. (2 restaurants away from Hawaii BBQ.) Chili's isn't what you would expect. Chili's is 7-11 meets Indian food. Mike walked in and wasn't sure if he should order lunch or buy a Butterfinger. The layout is basically 2 booths, one for ordering and one for paying. In between the two was a mini-mart with candies and bandaids.

Mike got the chicken platter that came with chicken, rice, and some spicy soup sauce. There were also 3 side dishes and a big piece of naan. It only cost $7.99 for all of that. Jordan got a rice crepe filled with a potato and onion mix and 2 Indian chutneies to dip it in. His was $6.99. Most of the food actually tasted pretty good. The food, however, was super spicy. Mike went through about a dozen napkins throughout his meal.

The people working there were really nice. What they lack in looking like an actual restaurant, they make up for in service.

Bottom Line: Mike couldn't get a Slurpee or an omlett taquito at the end of his meal, but you could get everything else that a 7-11 has at Chili's.

Value: 6
Taste: 6
Intangibles: 4

Total Score: 16 out of 30

Caspian's [9]

"Well, the good news about Caspain's is you get food. The bad thing is costs about 4 times more than anywhere else on the Ave. It's like I got robbed...shanked in the wallet. When I left there I felt worse than I felt all year. It's humiliating. I hesitate to say this, but I spent $43 for two people to eat on the Ave. THE AVE! Who does Caspian's think it is? It's ridiculous! Apparently Caspian is Narnia-speak for 'Eat here and sell the rights to your first born so that you can afford to pay for your meal.' I mean, c'mon!" - Mike McEvoy

55th and the Ave is where Caspian's sits and feeds on the money of unsuspecting Seattleites. When Mike and his friend Mike walked in, they were the only people there. Pretty lame for a restaurant that has 30 tables it it. (sidenote: they had a stage and a DJ botth as well. Lame.) Evidently Caspian's makes enough profit to only have two people a day because it costs so much for one frappin meal.

The "upsides":
They each got a Cornish Game Hen (2wings, 2 drumsticks, 2 breasts, 1 grilled tomato)
They got the satisfaction of eating an entire bird
They didn't have to spend $44 for the meal
It had a functioning door

The downsides:
$43 for 2 people to eat!!!!!! What is this? High school prom?!?

Bottom Line: If you haven't won the lottery yet, don't eat at Caspian's.

Value: 0 (First zero in value EVER!)
Taste: 6
Intagibles: 3

Total Score: 9 out of 30

Banana Leaf Cafe [12]

"Nobody I know has ever heard of Banana Leaf Cafe. Maybe their food advertises itself?......nope. " - Mike McEvoy

Banana Leaf Cafe is located at the Ave and 40th. (Near the College Inn.) Super far south. Way past where Mike thought restaurants actually existed. He said "Tom do you realize how far away Banana Leaf Cafe is?". I didn't know how far, but it was far enough to make Mike angry.

Despite the name, Banana Leaf is in fact a Thai food restaurant. NOT a sandwich joint like the word Cafe implies. When you walk in, there are a bunch of people just sitting by themselves. You look around and there is a tiny counter. Mike wasn't sure if he had to go up to it and order or sit and wait for someone to take your order.

When mike looked at the menu, it was very informational. Swimming Rama which is spinach, meat, and peanut sauce. Peanut sauce makes anything green taste good. The food was okay, it was nothing special. In fact it was similar to other Thai food, but a little bit under average. It definitely doesn't make Mike want to forge the 8 mile hike between UPC and this restaurant. If he had a razor scooter, he would go down there since it's all downhill. But then he would need a ride back up.

Bottom Line: There's way too many better Thai places on the Ave to choose your time at Banana Leaf.

Value: 4
Taste: 4
Intangibles: 4

Total Score: 12 out of 30

Blue Dog Cafe [20]

"I can't think of anything worse in life than when you and someone go out to eat, pay the same price for a meal, and the other person get's twice the amount of food." - Mike McEvoy

(BDC) Blue Dog Cafe is located at 55th and the Ave. It is a quaint little cafe with an undertone of hippie permeating throughout the restaurant. (take that for what you will.) They have free wifi which is nice for the person who needs to get some work done and their Starbucks gift card has just ran out of money. They even had a bookcase filled with random books. BDC's set up is nice and their menu is a giant blackboard with all the sandwiches, soups, and breakfast items written in chalk. (Sidenote: They stop serving breakfast at noon.) (Doubley Sidenote: If Mike gets a chance to eat their breakfast, he will be willing to rescore this place.)

Mike went to eat with his eating partner Aaron. They both got sandwiches which, after tax, were about $8 each. As it turns out, Aaron's sandwich was about 150% larger than Mike's sandwich. It ACTUALLY upset him. He sat there staring at Aaron's sandwich in disbelief that he spent just as much as Aaron, but got much less sandwich. When Mike finally got around to eating the sandwich, he was pleased.

Bottom Line: It takes a while to walk up there, but it has a nice feel. Very original.

Value: 6
Taste: 7
Intangibles: 7

Total Score: 20 out of 30

A Pizza Mart - [11]

"I walk into a very dimly lit A Pizza Mart at high noon. Now the 3rd time I had been there with nobody in there. Even if I have to make my own pizza. Do i sit at the table? The couch in the back perhaps? The bar? I don't know. It was then a middle aged woman strolls over and takes our drink order. No beer for me today, I say. Just some delicious A Pizza Mart pizza...please. What kind you have i ask? Any kind she said. I decide on the peperoni. An exotic meat that I have heard tales of. Since she's the only one there, I assume she will be bringing me my pizza. I wait patiently for it to come. My associate max and I wait for the food. The pizza finally strolls over on top of the middle aged woman's hand. 10 pieces of A Pizza Mart pizza. I ate 60% of that pizza. Delicious...and by delicious I mean it was super average. 2 guys eating a meal for $12 after tax and tip was pretty dang good. If only the pizza had tasted good. I strolled back out onto The Ave and walked away. Like a handful of places on The Ave, nobody eats lunch at A Pizza Mart."
-Mike McEvoy

Bottom Line: Mike would rather go there than Flowers.

Value: 5
Taste: 4
Intangibles: 2

Total Score: 11 out of 30

Finn McCool's - [17.5]

"The legend of Finn McCool: Finn would suck his thumb, and by doing that, magic happened!" - Ryan Church

"Uhh...thanks Ryan" - Mike McEvoy

Down on The Ave just north of 45th, Finn McCools is open during the day too. Mike said that for lunch they had a special on BBQ beef mixed with a grilled cheese sandwich. AND...it was cut into triangles!!! Mike loves triangle shaped food. It was served with amazing BBQ sauce. According to Mike and Jordan, every food tastes better with BBQ sauce. Even pie. (Don't believe me? Just try it, nay-sayer.)

Inside it wasn't packed at all. Even though it was a bar by night, it definitely had a very good lunch feel. The lady working there was nice for the most part. She was probably flustered from serving 2 strapping young men like Mike and Jordan. (But, probably not.) Mike felt like you get a good sandwich and good fries for about $10 with tax and tip. It's not the best value in the world, but it could be worse. And while Mike didn't get a fish or a beef burger, they looked good in his mind.

Bottom Line: If you're going to go to a bar for lunch on The Ave, Finn's is the place to go.

Value: 4.5
Taste: 7.5
Intangibles: 5.5

Total Score: 17.5 out of 30

Pam's Kitchen [16.5]

"Note to all you lunch eaters. Pam's kitchen is only open on Friday's. I don't know what kind of business plan that is, but their making enough to stay open. "

Pam's is located at 50th and The Ave, and it serves food from the country of Trinidad and Tobago food. (2 words, 1 island) While Mike doesn't know much about this type of food, but it was very similar to Indian food. It has quickly become Mike's #1 place to get goat meat on The Ave.

The inside is filled with many wonderful things likes a flag, a tiki hut bar, an authentic (and informative) waitstaff, and an overall good island feel. For the meal Mike ordered a giant pile of goat meat that came with potato-like food substance, and pita type bread. The bread tased muy delicioso. A major downside was that after tax and tip, Mike's meal was $15. Yikes. The secret to how they stay in business is now known.

Bottom Line: If the parents are buying, go there. Otherwise, you're eating for one and paying for 2.

Value: 2
Taste: 7.5
Intangibles: 7

Total Score: 16.5 out of 30

Earl's [14]

WE'RE BACK! Me, Mike, and #1 fan Jordan Collier were with a crew of people down in the Dominican Republic. Sorry it's been so long since the last entry, but we're back in America and ready to review!

"I learned a valuable lesson today, Tom. Nobody eats lunch at Earl's." - Mike McEvoy

Mike and his eating partner Justin walked into a dimly lit Earl's restaurant. Luckily Jerry Springer on the TV shed just enough light to manouver about the restaurant. There were 6 others inside, the most eclectic of the group being Pete. Pete both takes orders and makes all the food at Earl's. The creepiest person being the lady giving the other 4 people at the bar, back rubs. Mike feels as though Earl's has a lot of potential. It has lots of seating options, pool tables, etc...BUT it is not a very compatible place for eating lunch.

Mike got a $5.50 cheese burger and chicken wings. The food was okay tasting. It didn't leave him wanting to go back to get another Earl Burger, but he didn't hate it. When it came time to pay Pete for the meal, Mike paid $16 for his $14 tab and Pete shoved the money straight into his pocket. No cash register necessary, apparently.

Bottom Line: No one eats lunch at Earl's. (Thanks Emily Eggers)

Value: 8
Taste: 4.5
Intangibles: 1.5

Total Score: 14 out of 30

Cedar's On The Ave [14.5]

"This is not the Cedar's on Brooklyn, but the Cedar's on the Ave and 43rd. I reccomend sticking with the Cedar's on Brooklyn." - Mike McEvoy

The other Cedar's is Indian food. This Cedar's is Mediterranean food. Inside it is really tiny with only 4 tables crammed in the middle. It gave you no room to hold a meaningful conversation. Mike ordered the gryo plate for his meal. The menu said that it came with pita bread. Mike was excited at this prospect of loads of bread, but much to his dismay, he was delivered tiny triangles of "pita". Basically what you would get to eat a teaspoon of hummus. Also, a majority of his plate was covered in some foreign dish called "salad". This pissed off Mike.

Bottom Line: Mike just wanted more from Cedar's. It's didn't live up to the name Cedar's, but it is definitely better than Samir's.

Value: 3
Taste: 6
Intangibles: 5.5

Total Score: 14.5 out of 30

Thanh Vi [14]

"What's that thing called...a pananni?" - Mike McEvoy

"I think it's called a panini." - Jordan Collier

On the outside of the restaurant, located at the Ave and south of 43rd, is a sign that says "Best Sandwiches On The Ave". Let's just say Mike is not the biggest fan of false advertising. It was bread filled with meat and shredded carrots. It is a good healthy snack. The sandwich itself was a good deal at $3.50, but it isn't a meal. It's the quinticential definition of an afternoon snack. They also had Pho there. Before this place Mike was convinced that there was no difference between the various pho places, but this place proved him wrong. Thanh Vi's pho tastes noticeably worse than the other 3 pho places. The main reason for this horrible pho is that their meat was groddie. It was basically soggy meatballs in luke-warm water. Yummy?

Bottom Line: meat + carrot strips = not the best sandwich on the Ave. Liars.

Value: 6
Taste: 3
Intangibles: 5

Total Score: 14 out of 30

Subway [13.5]

"Ahh...Subway. The perfect Ave restaurant. The only good Subway in America is here on the Ave." - Mike McEvoy

Mike doesn't have much to say other than everyone's been there and it's a franchise restaurant. It is nice, however, that all of their sandwiches are $5. Mike ate a $5 dollar meatball sub. Yummy. Welp...that's about it.

Bottom Line: Subway might not be the perfect Ave restaurant, but it certainly beats Jack's Tapas Café.

Value: 7 (5. 5 dollar. 5 dollar foot longs.)
Taste: 6
Intangibles: 0.5 (Too franchisey)

Total Score: 13.5 out of 30

ps Subway no longer takes the "buy ten get one free cards" so don't even try

Jack's Tapas Cafe [9.5]

"I don't know who Jack is, I don't know what "tapas" means, and I don't think it's even a cafe." - Mike McEvoy

Jack's is at 52nd and the Ave. Mike had high hopes. They had a newspaper clipping from The Seattle Times saying that they got a good review. Sounds good enough, right? No.

Mike ordered the General Tsao's chicken. Unfortunately when Mike recieved his meal he was not aware that he had ordered from the menu for ants. Basically, what makes this General Tsao's different from other General Tsao's is that this one could barely feed a newborn koala. The second he saw his meal, Mike immediately started thinking about what else he would have to order to suppliment his meal. Mike is going to go on the record and say, "This is by far one of the worst value I have seen on the Ave." Anyways, he ended up getting a side of white rice. (Sidenote: Something about Jack's made mike cough every time he took a bite. Who knows what it is, but watch out.)

Bottom Line: This will explain Jacks: When Mike and his party sat down, the vacated table next to them was covered with beef chunks and dirty napkins that didn't get cleaned up the entire time they were eating there.

Value: 1.5
Taste: 4
Intangibles: 4

Total Score: 9.5 out of 30

Samir's Mediterranean Grill [13]

"What a crappy week. First Thanh Vi, then Jack's Dumb Cafe, and now Samir's. Uhh...someone bring me a Chipotle burrito before I throw up." - Mike McEvoy

This place basically has gyros, a big Greek salad, or fallafals. The gyros sound like a good deal..and then you taste it. Here's the thing. Samir is a solid dude. He was jolly and giving out mints to eveyone and Mike really wanted to like this place. BUT his pita tasted sooooo gross. It was lacking in meat and it was embellished in a sauce called 'tahini sauce'. As is turns out, tahini is Mediterranean for "tastes like the inside of a camel". The sauce totally demolished the taste of the food with it on it, and all of the food within 10 yards of it. It literally made Mike not want to eat! His eating partner Jordan Collier actually threw up a little in his mouth! Consider yourself warned.

Bottom Line: Feel free to go to Samir's but make sure you bring your own sack lunch.

Value: 4
Taste: 1.5
Intangibles: 7.5

Total Score: 13* out of 30

ps If Samir's actually is good then post a comment telling Mike the dish he needs to get that doesn't taste like a pachyderm.

Ruby's [14]

"Life's questions can be solved with one answer...add more meat." - Mike McEvoy

Ruby's is south of 43rd and the Ave right next to Flowers. (I'm sorry to keep bringing this place up. I promise this is the last time we will write Flowers on this blog.) It has a cold feel when you walk in and you definitely want a coat. Or at least a scarf. It reminds Mike of one of those New York studio apartments. Much like the one in Big Daddy. Mike and his eating partner were seated right next to the window which was neat. The service was okay. There was only one waitress, but luckily there weren't that many people.

The food was a mix between sandwiches and curry. Mike ordered a delicious sandwich but it didn't come with anything. Not even fries. He had to supplement his meal with a freaking salad. A salad! Salads are what food eats! Ridiculous. Anyways...their curry was good but the large potato chunks made you want to stab your curry.

Bottom Line: If you were someone with a ton of money and you wanted a sandwich, this is the place for you

Value: 3
Taste: 7.5
Intangibles: 3.5

Total Score: 14 out of 30

Mr Lu's Seafood & Burgers [19]

"If you've walked by the outside of Mr. Lu's, you realize why its taken me 53 restaurants to get here. However..."- Mike McEvoy

Maybe it's all of the neon colors in the restaurant. Maybe it's the cultural rift that seems prevalent between seafood, Mr. Lu's, and burgers. But, it took a day like today for Mike to make it up to Mr Lu's. A day where not much was going on and he could leave half way through the day if he were to become sick from burgers and seafood.

Mr Lu's is located at the Ave and just south of 50th. When they walked in the owners were tapping away on their laptops and then jumped to work at the sight of new customers. It was more funny than representative of bad service. When Mike first looked at the menu the $1.95 onion ring basket was staring him down. They specialize in 3 things at Mr. Lu's: Beef Burgers, Chicken Burgers, and Fish Burgers. All of them are reasonably priced at around $5.95 for a burger and fries. Their specialty though is the Blackened Salmon Burger and it was priced at $7.75. It was interesting tasting in a good way with a lot of 1,000 island sauce. Mike enjoyed his choice but he wouldn't get that same thing again.

Mike would go back to Mr Lu's and it far exceded his expectations. It was no Chipotle, but it's no Best Of Bento.

Bottom Line: Touchè Mr. Lu. Touchè

Taste: 6.5
Value: 8
Intangibles: 4.5

Total Score: 19 out of 30

Shalamar [19.5]

"What can I say? I love a good waterfall." - Mike McEvoy

Shalamar definitely takes the cake for the classiest interior for an Indian food restaurant. Speaking of Indian food Restaurants, Mike needs to drop some knowledge of the workings of these establishment with regards to food quality and price. Here's some quick Mike-onomics:

The more buffet-style a restaurant is, the cheaper it is. The less buffet-style a restaurant is, the more expensive it is.

The inside was a spectacle! As Mike ate his Vindaloo chicken a palm tree hung over him and watched a waterfall flowing down over depressed caves of candles. It was putting a calm over Mike which he has never felt before in a restaurant. The scent of curry and rice lingered in the air. A tantalizing treat for Mike's senses...Of course none of this actually matters as much as Mike filling his belly.

They had a lunch and dinner menu too, but Mike should have known he wouldn't be filled up. To this day he still wishes he would have ordered off the dinner menu. It haunts his dreams and dominates his thoughts daily, eating him up inside. Anyways...The service was nice and the aesthetics of the restaurant were really cool.

Taste: 7
Value: 4.5
Intangibles: 8

Total Score: 19.5 out of 30

Veggie Veggie [17.5]

"I refused to eat at a place named Veggie Veggie...until this Ave Review." - Mike McEvoy

Veggie Veggie is an Ave restaurant now in its 3rd year of existence located just south of 47th. He's not the biggest fan of places that make derogatory comments towards meat. (i.e. their name being Veggie Veggie) Since it was a Thai place, they had a lot of Thai pictures inside that were classy from far away, but once you get closer you see tiny signs on them made with blue marker that claim their business hours for everyone to see. Weird.

Mike ordered soy chicken. Mike's palette was extremely confused by this culinary invention. It's not tofu, but it definitely wasn't meat. Mike described it as eating a flavored sponge. (A stark departure from the organic free-range chicken he was expecting.) Mike ate his whole meal...which of course means absolutely nothing and on average 1 out of every 6 bites tasted good. (The other 5 were okay, but it just lacked flavor or something.)

That is how his meal tasted, and now this is how his meal smelled:
Have you ever been to the county fair? Let me describe it for you. You're walking the fair ground passing booths offering shaved ice and elephant ears. People are all around displaying smiling faces and trucker hats. As you make your way through the fair with the sun beating down on you and your overalls clinging to your shoulders you stroll into the 4-H barn. Then it hits you! A suffocating wave of farm animals and hay ravage your nostrils! That's what Mike's food smelled like. Nothing else in the restaurant smelled like that, just his meal. So if you order the pad kee-mo, consider yourself warned.

Besides that, the service was great with extremely nice people helping you order and make your dining experience better. And the music! It was amazing! An eclectic mix of Rascal Flats, U2, The Fray, and the like. They also had HUGE water cups that were never empty.

Taste: 5
Value: 5.5
Intangibles: 7

Total Score: 17.5 out of 30*

*While Mike doesn't reccomend this lifestyle, if you are a vegitarian or a vegan it's a pretty legit place.

Yummy Bites [20]

"C'Mon That place is called Yummy Bites. Let's just say that my expectations weren't really that high." - Mike mcEvoy

On the outside of the restaurant, at 42nd and the Ave, there is a sign with a dolphin with rainbow colors all around it. Mike wasn't sure if this restaurant served illegally caught dolphin meat or rhino steaks or what. Who knows the type of food they serve. If you really think about it any food from any place in the world could be served in the form of a bite...that is yummy.

When you walk in it is actually pretty good looking with nice tables, mirrors, 4 walls, the usual for a classy joint. When you approach the counter to order you get assaulted with many different options for your meal. There were about 8 different menu sections to choose from ranging from soups to korean dish to eel burgers. Mike almost partook in eel burgers, but didn't. He ended up getting beef bulgogi with spicy pork. It was decently priced too. Both Mike and Matt (his prtner-in-dine) ate for under $13. Not bad.

Mike says he learned 3 things from Yummy Bites Today:

1) He is never ordering anything bulgogi ever again. It turns out that boiiling meat makes meat less appetizing.
2) Menu items with a tiny chili pepper next to it, probably are extremely spicy and make him sweat a lot.
3) Yes. Yes Mike can eat a whole meal with chopsticks. It took him a little under an hour to finish, but he perservered.

Overall Mike was pleasantly surprised. He won't be making the walk anytime soon, but if you really REALLY need some bulgogi, this is your place.

Taste: 5.5
Value: 7
Intangibles: 7.5

Total Score: 20 out of 30

Greek Continental [13]

"This is the ideal place for a business meeting you wish you weren't having." - Mike McEvoy


This review won't be very long for 2 reasons:




1) Mike gave me his scores then walked into a meeting. I have no idea what he experienced, I just have his scores.



2) I [Tom] have a little bit of unfinished business of my own (that I left in the middle of) to do this blog post. It is a very important meeting with a very important client. (I'm almost to the raptor part.)





So, here is the review...




You go in, and you sit down and order. They bring you a gyro, salad, and french fries. Mike ate it and he wasn't too happy. Anyways, he ate and paid too much and left and now he doesn't want to go back.

The End

Taste: 5
Value: 3
Intangibles: 5

Total Score: 13 out of 30

La Casa Del Mojito [21]

"It's Cuban food and that scares people a little bit. That's because Fidel Castro scares people a little bit." - Mike McEvoy

La Casa Del Mojito (which is spanish for The Casa Del Mojito) is located at 55th and the Ave. The only thing from keeping this restaurant from being insanely popular is the fact that it is so far north. You walk in and something hits you, it doubles as a salsa dance club on Fridays. They have Cuban food, and for those who have never partaken in this type of food, the cuisine is centered around AMAZING sandwiches. AND the pork was some of the best Mike has had. AND fried plantains accompany your meal. So delicious.

The owner of La Casa is a man named Luigi. (Omar Vizquel is the godfather to his kids.) He sounds as if he is originally from Latin America and he is so nice! In one lunchtime conversation, Mike felt like he's formed a lifelong friendship. The pictures around the restaurant were pretty and didn't make a lick of sense. They were super confusing and you couldn't tell what the artist was going for.

WARNING: They give you 2 salsas. One was delicious, and one was frappin' hot. Choose wisely.

Taste: 7
Value: 5
Intangibles: 9 (Mainly because of Luigi)

Total Score: 21 out of 30

Kai's Bistro [17.5]

"I didn't even know Kai's Existed." - Mike McEvoy

For those who don't know, Kai's is located at the Ave and 43rd.

From the outside Kai's looks like nothing. Possibly a bagel shop from the look of it. When you walk in, though, it has a unique feel. Very loungy feeling with high backed chairs and lots of seating. Interestingly enough there were a lot of older-than-college people, if that's your scene. It feels like a Belltown restaurant that was relocated to the Ave. It's a nice place, but it doesn't fit the feel of your typical "Ave lunchtime restaurant".

They served a happy hour menu all day.....right. Why can't their happy hour menu just be called 'menu'. Mike wasn't complaining though, because he ordered a chicken burger and fries for 5 bucks. His eating partner, Jordan Collier, got some delicious chicken strips and fries. Since each meal was 5 bucks, they ordered a third meal to share, Mac-and-Cheese with marinara. The third meal was sub-par compared to the other two.

Sidenote: Mike would rather read a book that's thin than a book that's thick.

Taste: 6.5
Value: 7.5
Intangibles: 3.5 (Mike has nothing against the environment of the restaurant, it just doesn't feel like the Ave)

Total Score: 17.5 out of 30

Best of Bento [13.5]

"Best of Bento is worth a shot if there is an earthquake and you are stuck between University Smoke Shop and Flowers. But, if the crack between you and Chipotle is less than 8 feet, I'm going for it." - Mike McEvoy

Best of Bento is located at the Ave just south of 43rd (close to Chipotle). Mike has walked by Best of Bento probably 25 times and he's never wanted to go in once. It makes Ichiro look like an art museum the way Best of Bento scares you away. According to Mike, here is the definition of bento: teriyaki in an elementary school tray but without the chocolate milk carton

The normal lunch deal is $5.99 with chicken rice, salad, and mee so soup. Mike ordered the combo meal which cost $7.99. It came with chicken Katsu, pork teriyaki, rice, salad, egg rolls and an orange slice (which Mike failed to eat. again, Mike was put onto this earth for one thing: to eat meat.) The egg rolls were really delicious. It took a while to order there due to a language barrier between Mike and the worker there.

Inside of the retaurant were about a dozen people and some tiki looking roof things. They also had giant copper fish on the wall which is fun. The environment was conducive for talking and hanging out. The water cups were a good size which is always a plus.

(sidenote: Contrary to popular belief: sushi is not a meal...for a guy. If you (a guy) are going to take someone (a girl) out to sushi, you need to eat at least one meal before the date.)

Taste: 3
Value: 3.5
Intangibles: 7

Total Score: 13.5 out of 30

Pagliacci's [22]

Pagliacci's. You all know where it is. You've all been there. Now...the Mike's Ave Review of Pagliacci's pizza:

"I still believe that Pag's is the best place for pizza on the Ave. Don't take that you should go anywhere else for pizza from this review. They have a good variety of salads and slices AND they have a great coupon in the Student Survival Guide AND their pizza is delicious. I just think that people make too much of a deal about Pag's and I don't get that." -Mike McEvoy

Pizza for Mike is a big deal. At any sitting, anywhere, Mike mentally wants to go for half of a pizza or more. Two slices of Pag's doesn't fill Mike up. Eating ONLY two pieces of pizza is an anomaly to Mike.

WAIT! Mike just had an epiphany! Pag's is Mike's new Tulley's! You go to Tulley's for a little drink or a muffin to pass the time. It's not edifying in any way. Now, Mike will start to go to Pag's for only one slice. (Since that one slice of Pag's ranks lower than a snack for Mike.) Since he won't be going for a meal, this breaks the anomaly of ordering two slices of pizza at a pizza place! Hooray!

Taste: 8.5
Value: 6
Intangibles: 7.5

Total Score: 22 out of 30

Northwest Fish & Chips [15.5]

"I don't want to say I was disappointed...but I was disappointed. When I walked in there was no sea captain working behind the counter. I would've even settled for a pirate. Just someone who looks like they just caught the fish I was about to eat." - Mike McEvoy

Northwest Fish And Chips (NWFAC for short) is located at the Ave and 42nd st. The first thing that Mike noticed was that there was no all you can eat fish and chips. Normally a fish and chips place has an all you can eat deal. That is the challenge of going to these places. (For example: The most Mike has eaten at an all you can eat fish and chips restaurant is 12 fish, 6 baskets of fries, and 6 bowls of chowder. His main gift in life is definitely eating.) They did, however, have a family meal on the menu. It was $20 with 12 fish and fries. It's good to know that most American families eat as much as Mike does in one sitting.

NWFAC also failed Mike with the lack of a "Captain's Booth" (i.e. a place that one goes when you attempt feats of eating massive amounts of food) What they did have at NWFAC's was a little basket with 15-18 fried shrimp and fries for $3.99. Good deal and okay taste (the fries were pretty bland), but you need to supplement with something else. For Mike's supplement he chose a bowl of chowder. (Bowl is a loose term here since it was a super tiny bowl.)

Overall, NWFAC adds variety to the Ave and has a niche there.

If this place were down on the Pier though, it'd be out of business in about 2 weeks.

Taste: 4
Value: 6.5
Intangibles: 5

Total Score: 15.5 out of 30

Teriyaki First [15.5]

"When you walk into Teriyaki First there might as well be a sign that says order your food and get your business out of here. Except instead of "your business" it would be some choice language." - Mike McEvoy

Teriyaki First is on the Ave, just north of 52nd. It turns out that the restaurant only has 2 tables inside. The design was mainly for people to order food and take it to go. Mike decided to use one of the tables, but you totally feel an invisible force tugging at you to leave. Especially since sitting at 1 table takes up half the seating in the restaurant.

If you're up north on the Ave for some reason, then you can go there. BUT...This isn't the only thing Mike and his Ave review are about. He's also about connecting with people over a shared meal and talking about life. This restaurant was having none of that.

The food itself isn't bad and the menu is very diverse. Mike ordered the pork teriyaki which was served with rice and salad. It was pretty good. He felt filled up after the meal. The main downside is the long walk to get there. Since Mike hates any aerobic activity, the intangibles score will undoubtedly take a hit. And you need a jacket because it's cold inside.

More like: Teriyaki 8th.

Taste: 7
Value: 6.5
Intangibles: 2

Total Score: 15.5 out of 30

Falafal King 2 [17.5]

"We were there from 12-1 and we were the only people in the restaurant. Maybe people don't know about Falafal King 2. Maybe they have problems with cleanliness? Who knows, but it was keeping people away from Falafal King 2." - Mike McEvoy

Compared to Alladin's falafal, the portion size at Falafal King 2 was much larger. Unlike Aladdin, which gives you all of your food INSIDE the pita, at Falafal King 2 you got a big plate with the lamb, veggies, and rice with the pita on the side. You had to assemble the meal yourself. (As Mike said: "You had to put it together yourself, like an Ikea meal." From now on this sort of meal presentation will be referred to as "Ikea-Style".) It is pricier than Aladdin and it was less tasty than Aladdin. Falafal King 2, however, was much more Ikea-Style than Aladdin.

Everything's not lost though. The service was REALLY good. The chef even came out at one point and asked us if everything was okay. That was awesome. For those who love comparing things; when all is said and done a simple math equation can sum it up: Falafal King 2 is less than or equal to Aladdin

Value: 4
Taste: 6
Intangibles: 7.5

Total Score: 17.5 out of 30

Kiku Tempura House [20]

"Kiku was actually a hidden gem. Who knew that Kiku would be the place that would heap food onto my plate." - Mike McEvoy

Kiku has a great menu. A lot of combinations could be found. You could get chicken thighs on the bone with chi ken katsu (Becky Riggers: "Not to be confused with chicken Kitsu." (Kitsu being Becky's new puppy.)) Kiku it tucked away up north just past 50th. The food was a good quantity and it filled Mike up. That is a huge deal to Mike. 2 hours after he ate (when Mike would typically start another meal) he was still full!

There is still something, however, holding Mike back. He wants to give it a good score, but he thinks it was comparable to a first date. A first date that goes surprisingly well. After all is said is done, you don't remember what you talked about, you only remember that you felt good when you left. Mike wants to make sure that his current infatuation isn't blinding his better judgement. He wants to get past this phase and find out more of this Kiku. (Thank you Mike Gaffney for the relationship wheel.)

Taste: 7
Value: 8
Intangibles: 5

Total Score: 20 out of 30

A Burger Place [13]

"If you're going to spend $8 on a burger go to Red Robin and get a great burger and unbelievable fries! I hate that Jack in The Box is the best deal for a burger on the Ave!" - Mike McEvoy

Located on the Ave just south of 43 is A Burger Place. Mike feels that their slogan is "you can have whatever you like". But...It tells you the price of every item on the burger. Mushrooms, 50 cents. Onions, 50 cents. It's a bit different in that respect. A Normal burger starts at $3. Mike's burger was $5, then you had to add fries for another $3. It's nice to have options with your burger, but it's also nice to have the menu tell you what you want.

The burger size leaves a lot to be desired. Definitely not worth the money you spend.

Here's Mike's bottom line: "I don't care if it's grade D meat. I don't care if there's a little rat in my patty. I want a good sized, $3 burger."

Taste: 7
Value: 3
Intangibles: 3*

Total Score: 13 out of 30

*They had a big screen TV with only news on it. No ESPN. No Sport Center. Just lame news.

Sunney's [12.5]

"I wouldn't have guessed that the most famous Korean food of all time [Kim Chi] would have turned out to be so gross in real life." -Mike McEvoy

Sunney's is located between 47th and 50th on The Ave. It is, in fact, a Korean restaurant.

Mike was feeling adventurous and got the Bi Bim Bop. No one actually knows what Bi Bim Bop is made of. Mike decided to guess what it was made up of rice, egg, noodles...? Mike also tried every one's favorite Korean dish: Kim Chi. Kim Chi is basically boiled cabbage rolled up in seaweed. It was free, but after one bite, you definitely don't want more. Also, Korean food is like Indian food buffets. You end up smelling like the food for the rest of the day. You can be your own judge as to if that is good or bad.

Here's the funny thing. Mike went with someone who lived in Korea from the past year. This dude was amped on Korea. The people, the language, the food, everything. This guy decided to strike up a conversation with the cook there who was actually from Korea. It turns out, the cook hated Korea and that was why he was here now. It was like good cop bad cop, but with a country.



If you have Korean friends coming to town, bring them to Sunney's. You get an authentic Korean food experience. If you don't have Korean Friends coming to town...just walk away. Just walk away.

Taste: 6
Value: 3
Intangibles: 3.5

Total Score: 12.5 out of 30

Pizza Brava [18]

"Jordan, is it Pizza Bravo or Pizza Brava? On my receipt it says Pizza Bravo. What is the real name?" - Mike McEvoy
"Sign trumps receipt." - Ryan Church

Mike's Pizza Philosophy: "Never get pizza by the slice, just get a whole pizza. Mentally I cannot get it through my head that i can only eat 2 slices. Like in New York. There were giant pieces and I could barely finish 2 slices. In my mind i can eat 4-7 peices. It's sort of a mental block I can't break."

At Pizza Bravo you can get a gyro, pizza, or a hot sandwich. Mike, of course, had to try all of them. The gyro was decently sized but the taste wasn't that good. The sandwich was suffereing taste quality too. It can be compared to making food at home. It's basically the same quality. No special spices in the crust of the pita, just your run of the mill...food.

They did have a cool Seattle mural on a wall that Mike found himself constantly gazing at. So cool.

Taste: 5
Value: 6.5
Intangibles: 6.5

Total Score: 18 out of 30

Pho Ty Ty [?]

This post is only to show the fact that Mike ate at the 3rd pho place on the ave. He doesn't know the name, but he for sure ate there.

Again, Mike can't tell the difference between Pho places, so for its review please see previous post.

Pho Tran [19]

"I can't tell you the difference between the 3 Pho places. You get the same looking bowl, the same Mongolian plum sauce, the same chopsticks, and every place gives you a cream puff at the end. That just doesn't seem right." - Mike

Mike likes pho. All 3 places he's been, he's liked. (He still is pissed off, however, about when Tyler tricked Mike into getting a medium. Not cool, Ty. Not cool.) Pho is a good value, and Mike leaves full. A key thing to remember at this place is to ration your water. You only get one because they don't refill it.

Again, Mike likes pho. But, if you put Mike in a hallway with pho on one end and a Chipotle burrito on the other, it would be like putting a dog in a hallway and putting a t-bone steak at one end and lettuce on the other. You do the math.

Value: 7
Taste: 7
Intangibles: 5

Total Score: 19 out of 30

Pita Pit [11.5]

"Pita Pit is not somewhere I like to find my self on a rainy day. In fact, it's not a place I want to find myself on any day." - Mike


What is a pita? According to Mike, it's basically a burrito. Except you take out all of the good stuff in a burrito and replace it with salad.

Pita Pit's pitas are about $7.50. Mike did get double meat in his pita because he had a free coupon. Without the coupon it would have been $10. The people make you feel uncomfortable the whole time. Three tables line the south wall when you could easily fit 20 tables in the place. The restaurant is SOOOO empty that you could add a couple of streamers, The Jonas Brothers, and a six-pack of Rainier and you've got the perfect place for a high school dance.

Pita Pit is located on The Ave just north of 45th. It's nice because of the short walk. However, you are forced to walk by Mongolian Grill on the way back and you realize what a crappy deal you just made to get a dried piece of bread stuffed with salad. Boo Pita Pit.



Value: 2.5*
Taste: 6
Intangibles: 3
Total Score: 11.5 out of 30

*Worst food-with-bacon value, ever.

University Teriyaki [20.5]

"I have a tough time reviewing all these teriyaki places to find out which one is my second favorite (behind Tokyo Garden), and University Teriyaki is fighting for that second place."
- Mike McEvoy

University Teriyaki is literally the last place to eat on The Ave. If you can huff it all the way down there, you get what you walk for. It has 3 separate dining facilities which are usually full. Something is drawing people there, and Mike is still finding what that thing is. You walk in and there's usually a line. But they get you through quick. It's a veritable Teriyaki machine in there. You get a good amount of food for a pretty good value and it makes you satisfied. Mike got the chicken/beef which is a little pricier than either of the meats alone. (It's expensive to breed cows and chickens. And nearly physically impossible.) A plus for U Teriyaki is that they have very good salad. It won't affect the score at all because Mike believes that salad isn't food, per se. It's more what food eats.

For this review Mike is using the age old question WWBD? (That of course means What Would Bacon Do, which is Mike's new spin-wheel toy that answers questions like a piece of bacon would answer questions.) Bacon says: it will spit hot grease for U Teriyaki.

Value: 7.5
Taste: 7.5
Intangibles: 5.5

Total Score: 20.5 out of 30

Thai-ger Room [23.5]

"I'm not expecting that this ave review will be popular with the people. I'm willing to put Thai-ger room up against any other Thai place on The Ave [for best Thai food]."

It doesn't' have the environment of Thai Tom.
It doesn't have the class of Thai 65.
It doesn't have the crappiness and overall suck-factor of Appethai.

But...Thai-ger room culminates what a Thai restaurant should be about. It's located on the Ave just south of 43rd. The portions are large, and under $7, and their Pad See-euw is food to live by. It is typified by its wide rice noodles. It's one of the only meals that Mike prefers the noodles over the meat for last bite. (Last Bite: the giant bite of all of the best parts of your meal that you shove into your mouth to end your meal; e.g. eating the outside of a hamburger but saving the middle part with that little bit of bacon on it for last bite)

Value:7.5

Taste: 9
Intangibles: 7

Total Score: 23.5 out of 30

Sushi AOI [17]

"What is the thing about sushi? Do girls think it tastes good? Do they think it's healthy?
To me, sushi fulfills nothing in my desires for a meal. My desire to be full after a meal. My desire to eat something delicious. The greasiness I prefer in a meal." - Mike McEvoy

Sushi AOI is located next to Thai Tom on the Ave and 47th. Mike is no self-proclaimed sushi expert, so he can't really compare it to much, but Mike found a meal he enjoyed. He ordered a Bento Box with teriyaki chicken, rice, salad, 1 California roll, and some rice-mound-thing covered in a dead fish slab. It was, overall, a decent meal. The bento Box itself was a bit expensive. He could have gotten a roll of sushi for $8, but he splurged the $11 for the box. He's happy he spent the money on the extra food. Some would rate the taste high. Mike is not that someone. It's above average, but it's no Jack In The Box.

It's a decent place to take a young gal for an evening out.

Taste: 6
Intangibles: 7.5
Value: 3.5

Total Score: 17 out of 30