I know, I know... WHY am I reviewing a chain? Well, I'll tell you... (he's going to tell! he's going to tell!)
Pei Wei is an Asian Diner in the new 29th Street Mall. (map) I love Pei Wei because it's cheap, and it's spicy. How spicy? Well...
Rewind about a year. And let me preface this by saying that I am currently navigating the online dating world. I met a woman online, and for our second meeting, we decided to go to Pei Wei at Lowry. I'd never heard of Lowry OR Pei Wei, so I was excited to try something new.
I forget what she had, but I ordered this dish called "Flamin' Noodles". We sat down, started eating, chatting, etc., when the manager came to talk to us because he and my date were friends.
So we're all talking, yada yada yada, when I start sweating. Not because of the conversation, but because of my Flamin' Noodles dinner. If I had to describe how spicy-hot this dish was, I think I'd say it's like opening a container of granulated cayenne pepper and dumping the entire thing down your throat in a single motion.
Needless to say, I'm completely dying at this point. The funny part is, I knew this was coming... it doesn't matter what kind of spicy food I'm eating--I'm going to start sweating. Oddly enough, I sweat nowhere (from spicy food) except in the most noticeable place available: My Head.
So I'm sitting there saying less and less as to not draw attention to my now extremely sweaty head. I excused myself and headed to the bathroom. On a side note, I have very wavy hair, and sometimes it gets kind of 'fro-ed out if I go for a while without a haircut. While in the bathroom, I start grabbing paper towel after paper towel to try to absorb the eleven pounds of moisture permeating from my scalp. When I was done, my hair was about two inches taller than it had been when I walked in there. Would she even recognize me when I returned to the table? I didn't care. I just went back, sat down, and asked for a box.
That was our last date.
Which brings me to last night... I was feeling a bit bold, so... yes. I ordered the Flamin' Noodles again, and of course: the exact same thing happened. Luckily I was by myself this time, but it's still borderline embarrassing to be a sweaty freak in a restaurant even if you don't know anyone.
Suffice to say, it's hard to judge a restaurant on two visits and knowledge of only one dish, but that's how I'm rolling this time. If you're looking for spicy Asian food that will make your nose run and scare away any afflictions your body may have, Pei Wei should be your next meal destination.
Atmosphere: Red. Very, very red. Both Pei Wei restaurants I've been to have been excessively clean, which is never a bad thing
Food: Asian, hot, hot, hot. I suppose you could get a non-spicy dish, but what the hell would be the point of that? Vegetarian items are available as well...
Price: My meal was less than $8, and I was able to take half of it home to heat-torture myself again later. Can't beat that!
Happy Hour: no info available
Crowd: Sweaty people with smiles on their faces after indulging in very tasty, very spicy food
Overall rating: 8 out of 10
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Southern Sun Pub & Brewery
OK! I've found a new favorite "burger & beer" spot: the Southern Sun Pub & Brewery off Broadway on Boulder's south side. (map)
Why? Because they have great... burgers and beer. Duh. First, there are tons of beers to choose from, and they're explained in detail on the back of the menu and by your server or bartender. I forgot to count, but I'm guessing Southern Sun has about 20 beers on tap. My sampler included IPAs, stouts, a pilsner, and something that resembled hefeweizen (and was totally super great). The prize winner in my sampler, however, was the Old School Nitro Stout. This was the smoothest, best-tasting stout I've ever had on draft. I like Guinness and Beamish quite a bit, but this stout just seemed the like real deal. Granted I haven't been to Ireland for stout, so I may change my tune when I make it there, but for now I need to drive just ten minutes and I'm in Kick Ass Stout Country. And I don't even need a dammit passport.
My dinner was as impressive as the beer. I ordered the Basil Blue Cheeseburger, served with tortilla chips and a pepperoncini. Definitely one of the Top Ten Burgers I've Ever Eaten, and it wasn't one of the enormous burgers you get at a place like Cheesecake Factory that you need a football team to help you finish. There are also quite a few vegetarian items to choose from. You can view the PDF menu here.
For dessert, I had a giant slice of carrot cake that I think I burned off maybe 1/2 of hiking Mt. Sanitas this morning. It was rich, and it was good, and I washed it down with yet another Old School Nitro Stout. That was the right decision. They also have a special cheesecake nightly, but I didn't try it.
Incidentally, the teamwork in this restaurant is unmatched. Every person does everyone else's job on any given night. Your bartender may be flipping burgers the next night. The host may be waiting on your table or washing your dishes next week. Having been in the service industry for many years, I know this is both humbling and educational--you learn how a restaurant functions from the top down, and that's some of the best experience available.
But I digress... the Southern Sun's staff is nothing short of extremely attentive. No less than six people answered my questions and made sure my beer sampler, dinner and dessert were to my liking. They were all extremely polite and knowledgeable.
Observations:
Atmosphere: laid back, brewery atmosphere with couches, books & games! (Yahtzee(R)(TM)(SM), Scrabble(R)(TM)(SM), Sorry!(R)(TM)(SM), etc - do I have to trademark this stuff? Good lord. I hate everything. All right, I'll look it up and trademark it. Sort of. Christ.) Also: SS has outdoor seating
Food: brewery/pub food... burgers, fries, burritos, salads, wraps, grilled cheese, other sandwiches
Price: completely affordable, even for the non-trustafarian crowd
Overall rating: 9 out of 10
Why? Because they have great... burgers and beer. Duh. First, there are tons of beers to choose from, and they're explained in detail on the back of the menu and by your server or bartender. I forgot to count, but I'm guessing Southern Sun has about 20 beers on tap. My sampler included IPAs, stouts, a pilsner, and something that resembled hefeweizen (and was totally super great). The prize winner in my sampler, however, was the Old School Nitro Stout. This was the smoothest, best-tasting stout I've ever had on draft. I like Guinness and Beamish quite a bit, but this stout just seemed the like real deal. Granted I haven't been to Ireland for stout, so I may change my tune when I make it there, but for now I need to drive just ten minutes and I'm in Kick Ass Stout Country. And I don't even need a dammit passport.
My dinner was as impressive as the beer. I ordered the Basil Blue Cheeseburger, served with tortilla chips and a pepperoncini. Definitely one of the Top Ten Burgers I've Ever Eaten, and it wasn't one of the enormous burgers you get at a place like Cheesecake Factory that you need a football team to help you finish. There are also quite a few vegetarian items to choose from. You can view the PDF menu here.
For dessert, I had a giant slice of carrot cake that I think I burned off maybe 1/2 of hiking Mt. Sanitas this morning. It was rich, and it was good, and I washed it down with yet another Old School Nitro Stout. That was the right decision. They also have a special cheesecake nightly, but I didn't try it.
Incidentally, the teamwork in this restaurant is unmatched. Every person does everyone else's job on any given night. Your bartender may be flipping burgers the next night. The host may be waiting on your table or washing your dishes next week. Having been in the service industry for many years, I know this is both humbling and educational--you learn how a restaurant functions from the top down, and that's some of the best experience available.
But I digress... the Southern Sun's staff is nothing short of extremely attentive. No less than six people answered my questions and made sure my beer sampler, dinner and dessert were to my liking. They were all extremely polite and knowledgeable.
Observations:
- Staff says to show up in early-to-mid October to experience the "wet hops" brews. I don't know a ton about beer, but I'll take SS up on its invite, and damn it, I'm going to LEARN me some beer.
- You can buy giant jars of beer in reusable containers. Try the nitro stout! (OK, I'll stop going on about the stout, but trust me, it's friggin' great!)
- Live music Monday nights - no cover!
Atmosphere: laid back, brewery atmosphere with couches, books & games! (Yahtzee(R)(TM)(SM), Scrabble(R)(TM)(SM), Sorry!(R)(TM)(SM), etc - do I have to trademark this stuff? Good lord. I hate everything. All right, I'll look it up and trademark it. Sort of. Christ.) Also: SS has outdoor seating
Food: brewery/pub food... burgers, fries, burritos, salads, wraps, grilled cheese, other sandwiches
Price: completely affordable, even for the non-trustafarian crowd
- NOTE! Southern Sun does NOT accept credit cards, so plan accordingly! At first I was miffed at this since I had $4 on me, but then they pointed me to the on-site cash machine, AND I thought it was responsible of them to promote responsible cash use on the part of Americans who typically live off of credit. Well done, Southern Sun. Well done, indeed.
- M-F, 4-6
- Nightly, 10-CL
Overall rating: 9 out of 10
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Brasserie Ten Ten
Hello! Thank you for joining me for my first restaurant review!
I wanted to start on a positive note, so I picked one of my favorite spots in Boulder: Brasserie Ten Ten on Walnut St. between 10th & 11th. (map)
I love the Brasserie because the place totally kicks ass. Great happy hour, great staff, awesome wine, and even better food. If I could live there, I would. They have indoor & outdoor seating and a bar area that packs up quickly.
Advice: if you're trying to get a spot in the bar on Thursday or a weekend, get there at 4:45. This way you can enjoy an hour and 15 minutes of happy hour at a nice cocktail table or right at the bar in front of a smallish flat-screen TV.
The food has a predominantly French flair, but they do not have "Freedom Fries". If you're looking for Freedom Fries, I hate you, and you should never go to the Brasserie. In fact, if you do need some Freedom Fries, please go to Idaho and just stay there forEVER.
If you're craving French food and you happen to be in Boulder, look no further than Brasserie Ten Ten. Tops on the menu are:
The famous cheese plate: chef-selected assortment
Risotto: just order it
Tomato bisque
Any duck dish, especially the confit
Happy hour hint: the beaujulais is cheap and tasty! I believe it's less than $4/glass, so take advantage!
Dessert: Yes, they have beignets... save some room, because they're to-die-for, and they are not light.
Atmosphere: it looks and tastes like fine dining, but it's pretty laid back
Food: top-notch French cuisine
Price: Go during happy hour to save some cash, but it's still reasonable after HH
Happy Hour: ends at six
Crowd: As in many Boulder restaurants, it's a diverse smattering of white people. They're everywhere! Patron age is typically 30+
Overall rating: 9 out of 10
I wanted to start on a positive note, so I picked one of my favorite spots in Boulder: Brasserie Ten Ten on Walnut St. between 10th & 11th. (map)
I love the Brasserie because the place totally kicks ass. Great happy hour, great staff, awesome wine, and even better food. If I could live there, I would. They have indoor & outdoor seating and a bar area that packs up quickly.
Advice: if you're trying to get a spot in the bar on Thursday or a weekend, get there at 4:45. This way you can enjoy an hour and 15 minutes of happy hour at a nice cocktail table or right at the bar in front of a smallish flat-screen TV.
The food has a predominantly French flair, but they do not have "Freedom Fries". If you're looking for Freedom Fries, I hate you, and you should never go to the Brasserie. In fact, if you do need some Freedom Fries, please go to Idaho and just stay there forEVER.
If you're craving French food and you happen to be in Boulder, look no further than Brasserie Ten Ten. Tops on the menu are:
The famous cheese plate: chef-selected assortment
Risotto: just order it
Tomato bisque
Any duck dish, especially the confit
Happy hour hint: the beaujulais is cheap and tasty! I believe it's less than $4/glass, so take advantage!
Dessert: Yes, they have beignets... save some room, because they're to-die-for, and they are not light.
Atmosphere: it looks and tastes like fine dining, but it's pretty laid back
Food: top-notch French cuisine
Price: Go during happy hour to save some cash, but it's still reasonable after HH
Happy Hour: ends at six
Crowd: As in many Boulder restaurants, it's a diverse smattering of white people. They're everywhere! Patron age is typically 30+
Overall rating: 9 out of 10
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