"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
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
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
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
Thursday, January 22, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
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
"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
Friday, January 9, 2009
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.
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
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.
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.
Monday, January 5, 2009
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
- 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)
Intangibles: 7
Total Score: 23.5 out of 30
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: 9Intangibles: 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
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
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