Flemings - Restaurant Review

If you are wanting a delicious experience, great environment, nice ambiance, a feeling like a million bucks, great service, and the ability to try it anywhere in the nation this is a restaurant for you. They label themselves as a steakhouse and wine bar, however at the location we've gone to and enjoyed I honestly have enjoyed more their seafood dishes more! My personal review of this establishment is based off of the location in Plano, TX in the Shops of Legacy area; so I don't know about the other locations around the nation, I can only speak on behalf of this one.

The first time I went was with my sister for her birthday and we had my oldest (who was very little walking at the time) and I was already pregnant with my youngest. It was the Christmas season and the lobby entrance of the restaurant was beautifully decorated. Not only at this first visit but all others thereafter they always have a nice display for selfies and any group photos that may be desired to be taken; honestly a cool setup they have for before and/or after your meal. Moving on! So I'm not being biased by my oldest has always been well behaved and I make sure she's not one of those snot nosed brats running all around the table or restaurant with parents that always like to say "oh they're just kids being kids!" Needless to say even my knowing how well behaved my kiddo was I was still self conscious because a place that looked this nice made me wonder how the environment and ambiance was going to be, at least towards my kids. The world is cruel and likes to generalize so I was dreading how they might treat us thinking that my kid was like all the other snot nosed kids of the world...The waiter was so patient and even tried carrying conversation with my oldest (who really was just starting to use complete words), truly a calm and delicious meal!

With how lovely the entire evening was of course we returned! We've now gone about five times now and let me tell you! The consistency of their food prep, cooking, and meals are impressionable. Their flavors and menu items are all deliciously satisfying and an experience in themselves. Family members of mine have ordered some of their steak menu items but as I mentioned earlier, I have continually been deliciously satisfied and impressed with their seafood items! Below are the pictures of the items that are my favorites! 😁

I can't express enough how delicious this place is, but don't take my word for it and try it yourself! 😉 whether for an intimate dinner for two, traveling or work and wanting to eat at their bar lounge area, or a special family dinner - they won't disappoint https://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/locations#location-overlay

Here we have the crab cakes as an appetizer:

The next three images are of their seafood tower, mouthwatering delicious and oh so fresh!

This is my personal favorite as an entree, their chilean sea bass!

Their chocolate lava cake

Their cream brûlée

 

Let me tell you that I have been happily pleased and impressed with how phenomenal the staff is from the hostess down to the busboys! Hands down a 5-star feel with reasonable prices for the quality of food and all of their menu items from appetizers and drinks to their desserts and after drinks. More importantly, they are always wonderful, patient, and understanding of my little kiddos every time I bring them in. So to all at the Plano, TX location a HUGE thank you for how you have treated myself and my family at your establishment! Continue that wonderful feel and service! 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Taverna - Restaurant Review

So I've been to this restaurant now twice and as deliciously as it may be, I have to say I'm not really impressed with it. The first time I went it was with a group from work and though the menu items shared between the crew was delicious, I found myself more excited for the drinks and desserts than the entrees themselves. Don't get me wrong they are delicious but I supposed I was expecting more than what I got considering the place wasn't some hole in the wall mom pop Italian spot...So the highlights of this meal were the drink I ordered which was the Lavender Refresher and their dessert of Tortino Al Cioccolato. Actually I lie, I think what was both appreciated and delicious was a pasta dish that was ordered and while the dish was hot, it got rolled into the full cheese truckle. So many flavors in that one bite of the pasta I had after taking a taste...

When a family member suggested it for dinner well of course who am I to say no when I was invited and wasn't going to be paying the tab-however the fact that I grimaced when I heard where we were eating says it all for someone like me. For those of you who know me I'm not some serious food but I do LOVE my food and take appreciation for delicious flavors, textures, and food items no matter what they are. SO for me to have grimaced when this restaurant was suggested, yea was NOT one of my places to frequent nor suggest to someone. Knowing what I knew from the previous visit to the establishment, I went with another food item and played it safe with my kids order with ordering them one of their pizzas. Unfortunately though you can't even really order a simple pizza at their location because they don't have the family friendly ingredients some families might need. Thankfully, my kids are super well rounded and their palettes are eccentric enough that they made due with the pizzas that we had ordered. On this specific visit, I ended up playing it safe and ordered there I ended up ordering their Salmone Ella Capricciosa. Both disappointed in their presentation and their flavors weren't all that great...My salmon was nowhere near the ounces anticipated from what their menu description and image depicts and to make it worse I ordered it medium, only to have received it more charred and crusty than I would have liked. The service that day was already horrible because we literally had to always flag our waitress down for every little thing and since I was hungry figured it was easier and faster to just eat it and then wash it down with my drink as opposed to complaining, waiting for it to come out, and then be able to eat. We didn't know what was up with our waitress but every plate that came out that day (September 3rd, 2022 to be exact) was cold or luke warm. We had better progress when we would waved down one of the buss boys-shoot even for refills for simple water!

What to take away from this are listed: 1)not family friendly or oriented so if you have no control of your kids or their actions this isn't the restaurant for you (you know which of you I'm talking about so don't be shocked that I even said it!) 2)the ambience and colors are commendable and enjoyable 3)with #2 having been said, I would say this is more a good location for single individuals in an event group or just to catch up, perhaps some girlfriends hanging out with wine, couples who like Italian and are looking not to get rushed, or perhaps you're just wanting to try something out solo 3) drinks are pretty good but I wouldn't say a must to go to this restaurant 4) their pasta dishes are impressionable so if you do make it out to their location order a pasta entree to make it worth your while

Otherwise there are better and more delicious joints to frequent in Legacy West and more delicious Italian cuisine spots in the DFW area when you're in Texas. Again it's just me and my opinion though...

This restaurant does have a website with the option of menu items to go. So if you don't want to stroll in for their pretty chill ambiance then try a bite at the comfort of your own home ;) https://www.tavernabylombardi.com/

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Cinnamon Bear - Restaurant Review

If you're craving something delicious, made fresh, and with fresh ingredients at anytime of the day then this is the place for you. Granted its in Virginia, but it's still a worthy pit stop whether you're passing through or in the town to stay-this is a place to frequent!

First off, the owner and chef has a refreshingly humble personality with the patience and conscientiousness of your diet needs. They don't necessarily advertise or publicize that they provide gluten free options, healthy substitutes, and have lactose free options for some of their menu items so if it's your first time trying this quaint little hole in the wall, then make sure to ask.

Second, I don't I can do him (the owner) justice on how conscientious he is of the gluten free items and diet. Lets just say that he has family affected by both the gluten intolerance and celiac disease...so if you're a little timid or cautious in trying their food this should help ease some of that concern, a concern that he's more attentive to than most other restaurants you'll frequent or go to (especially in the Virginia state). 

Third, they did once upon a time have a reward program at their kiosk, that you would enter in your telephone number and the account/profile would be found. Why do I say "once upon a time", well because it's been a while since I've been personally and NO for any of you nay sayers or negative people it's not because I don't like it or that I'm not standing behind me review of their quality of establishment and food. Just personal circumstances-let's leave it at that ;)

Lastly, I haven't even expanded on their actual menu items specifically but know that at this restaurant you don't want to leave without having tried one of their freshly in house made pastries/desserts. And yes for those of you who may be wanting to ask, they even have gluten free dessert options! 

I know I was always excited to try something new or even if I ate my "norm" selection; in case you're wondering, my favorite all time menu items were their gluten free lemon bar, muffins (both blueberry and chocolate chip), their breakfast wrap, their breakfast sandwich but as a wrap instead of a sandwich, tuna AND chicken salad, turkey avocado wrap, Italian chicken breast, with the last of my favs being their pear and gorgonzola salad!

My mouth has literally just watered as I'm typing and reminiscing on their menu items I would eat...as I've said before, don't just take my word for it, go take your palette on an adventure and try it out for yourself!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

J Petal - Restaurant Review

If you're traveling north and going through JMU university city (aka Harrisonburg, Virginia) then you need to put this on the stop for you!

(This is not my image but used after googling “J-Petal”. My pictures from being here are on the blog's instagram page "truthbetoldlifeblog".)

What seems to be a simple family owned restaurant with your typical rolled up ice cream flare that's taking America by storm everywhere, is definitely more than meets the eye! You see we've come to know the owners and their family, who is about 98% of the staff - well it was once upon a time they may have changed that recently but I'm not sure, but regardless that's not the focus of this post. As I was saying, with coming to know the owners well you get to see firsthand how they run their business as well as seeing the quality of what they put into not only their business but their products. Not only are they delicious but the options are unique! The options are not overbearing for someone who is indecisive and yet there is just enough options for someone who comes in craving one thing but contemplating another. Ok before I confuse you with what I'm trying to get at, let me break it down. 

This wonderful place started off with their marketing and go to being the rolled up ice cream, then they ventured into not only the delicious ice cream and toppings but the crepe side of deliciousness! So when cold season rears it's pretty chilly weather, this place has people covered with not only sweet crepes but a twist on seafood and even breakfast style and flavor crepes! Oh but they didn't stop there! By early spring of 2019 we noticed that they were reconfiguring their kitchen area towards the far back area of their entrance meanwhile they had added some delicious drinks to their menu. Granted if they served it with liquor it would've been even more of a delicious surprise, but thankfully their flavors and mixed drinks of flavors and fresh fruits didn't even need the additional boost of liquor. Their mixed drinks were of milkshakes and mixed teas then into some fizzed drinks, etc. All leading into the best thing that could happen to someone, especially someone who loves food as much as I do! They finished their in-house kitchen reconfiguration to surprise all with the poke bowls! I know it may seem that it's a lot for an establishment to do, to become such a versatile one stop shop for a variety of deliciousness, but that's exactly what they did and I was thrilled to see their success when it happened-I'm hoping it continues that way for them! 

The quality of their raw fishes and fresh ingredients never disappointed, their portions/serving sizes were perfect for whatever you're appetite, their lunch specials were becoming legend, AND to top if off inside the environment was so relaxed and chill that it fast becomes your go to spot everyday...from their comfy lounge like open area of couches with tables to the games they provided to those who stayed a while, and warm family that owned it. 

Believe me when I say I wish more of the these locations were this delicious and consistent on their deliciousness while also serving quality with spoonfuls of flavor!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Lola Mo's Delicatessen - Restaurant Review

Whether you're passing through Harrisonburg, Virginia this is a must visit place to eat at in downtown Harrisonburg. Not just for the quaint feeling of downtown itself but for this great deli with your not typical tasting deli sandwiches! Their prices are a little more than your Jersey Mikes, Jimmy Johns, and other sandwich chain establishments but let me tell you that the price you pay for one of their sandwiches is worth EVERY bite! If you're craving something fresh and delicious this is the place for you, if you're craving something like a hot toasted sandwich then this is the place to pit stop at, if you're needing authentic and homemade ingredients incorporated into your sandwich (and we're not talking about just the sauces they may use) then this is a place for you.

Being a gluten free individual myself, you know it's hard to find the places to be able to cater to your dietary needs and I'm happy to say that this restaurant continued to receive a five-star recommend feel every time I eat here! My daughters already aren't your typical children in society but even with their expansive palette they love any and all sandwiches from here. So if you asked me if kids would eat well here, I personally can say yes they will!

So the next time you're possibly going to a JMU game, or perhaps moving into town, or just passing through on your travels and not wanting the norm pitstops then I highly recommend this for you! Don't take my word for it though! Stop by and help this restaurant continue on (even after everything that happened with COVID in this town) because they are worth it! Let me know what you think!

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman 

Meso Maya - Restaurant Review

I came to realize that I have yet to write about one of my favorite places to eat in Texas, specifically in the DFW area. It’s a place my family and I have frequented and I haven’t just gone once or twice…I believe I’m well past the fifteen times marker. So here we go!

I’m not a typical “salad only” type gal (even though recent health instructions have instructed otherwise-but maybe I’ll get into that in another post) but I have to say that this place truly has some delicious salad entree options that are one of a kind. For example, perhaps you’ve concluded that from the two images above it’s two different salads? WRONG! It is in fact the same salad but this is what happened or I should say, this is how I ordered my salad entree meal. 

So for a late lunch on a Sunday, with a high humidity count outside and the cool temps inside, with some rain clouds moving in it was a day my body felt the craving for something deliciously fresh and savory. I ordered the “Ensalada De Ceviche” (which is the first image) as it comes, then I ordered a salmon to be added but on the side (yes and it has to be on the side). So when the salad arrives I scoop onto my fork some of the ceviche that’s on the top of the salad, to get the first flavors because for me that’s how I know how the quality of the rest of the salad will be. It did not disappoint that’s for sure! The seafood ceviche mix was fresh, tender to the bite, and flavorful - not just something they slapped together and decided to add a lot of citrus juice or lemon juice to hide how old or awful the quality of the seafood is. There was a slight fish scent as you brought the bite close to your mouth but upon biting into the seafood mixture you understand why and the slight fish smell immediately leaves your train of thought with the way they’ve mixed their ceviche. I mix the ceviche into the salad and make sure I turn it over at least six times, so that I can get the dressing evenly mixed in so that I get a taste of everything in every bite. Then I do another taste test and everything elevates! Textures, flavors, scents and it comes all into this delicious unique bite. I got a few bites in so I could place on top the deliciously warm and cooked to perfection salmon, hence the second image. It was the perfect blend of fresh seafood, cool temperatures of succulent fruit and vegetation, with a nice ending of warm salmon with the citrus dressing. I honestly know that I’ve never been so satisfied nor so full from a salad before (actually that’s a lie-I’ve been full from a salad only two other occasions) and I would order it again and again, no matter the day! But don’t take my word for it, try it out. Better yet try some of their other dishes as well, because I’ve had a lot from their menu and I have yet to be disappointed from what I’ve ordered and eaten there.

If you haven’t eaten at their establishment, make a trip out to one of their locations for sure. Granted as delicious as they all are, the best location for consistent and substantiated quality is their Dallas location. You won’t regret it! http://www.mesomaya.com/menus/dallas/dinner/

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman

True Food Kitchen - Restaurant

So as a pre-mother's celebration to myself from my daughters (yes that's a thing if a mother wants to), I decided to make reservations and try out a place that I've been wanting to try. Since I'm always on a budget (obviously single mom) I chose to try a place that wouldn't drop the bank, that seemed to have a cool environment, my daughters would also enjoy (because they have quite a pallet), and that it would be a calm yet interesting brunch for us. Let's face it with the gas prices rising adventures or long driving doesn't seem as exciting right now, so thankfully it wasn't too far from us that day. I was excited for the experience and my pallet was ready for the adventure. 

The arrival to the location was obviously filled with people, even for a Sunday but parking wasn't to hard to find considering it was a Sunday - if it had been a Saturday or Friday I'm not sure I would have had that luck. We parked and made our way to the entrance and even though it was nice enough weather for outdoor seating they were either short staffed or apparently their patio seating is only up to a certain time, because when I made reservations to seat outside and we arrived, we were told we couldn't sit outside. Not necessarily a strike but a little bummed, nevertheless we were alright with sitting inside. Didn't wait long and were situated at our table. It was a nice modern and fresh vibe inside the restaurant with a lot of open views towards the outside from anywhere you sat, which was nice. The comfort of the table not so much, but I gave my girls the bench seat. The waitress didn't take long to arrive at our table and she was knowledgeable of the menu and patient with my questions. I ordered the girls a special fresh juice, the picture online in their menu looked refreshing and in a large water sized glass. To my utter disbelief the size of the cup they brought it in was half the size compared to the image on their online menu. At first my daughters kept saying they didn't like how it smelled and then that they didn't like how it tasted. Since I usually tell them to try something once, they were telling me they didn't like it until after they actually did try it. So there I go putting a sip down my throat...an overpriced and not that great tasting of a drink considering how delicious the ingredients are. I ordered a berry mixed drink (easy ice) and three glasses of water no ice on top of the freshly made bad tasting juice/refresher drink...When my daughters didn't like their drinks I ordered some lemons to mix into their waters. My mixed berry drink was disappointing to say the least, but after sipping it a few times I mixed the awful tasting refresher drink into my mixed drink (yes I know it overpowered or watered down the liquor) and ironically made my berry mixed drink taste better, in turn diluting the awful flavor of the refresher itself. 

I would understand the if the restaurant was swamped (only six tables were occupied and two tables at the bar area) or it was a peak time of business or perhaps many members at the table ordering various steaks, but for two small kids burgers and my poke bowl to take as long as it did. My girls were playing with their polly pocket toys and distracted enough until the food came. You may not believe this but because my kids have such special palette and I've nurtured that (along with my family) they aren't used to fast food nor your quick drive-thru window burger so they were excited for the kids burgers that came with carrots and hummus. I ordered their poke bowl - I know I'm not usually a only one dish and completely healthy type person but I was craving seafood and something fresh, besides I was planning on dessert. The girls gobbled up their burgers and mommy definitely licked her bowl clean. My tuna was delicious and the ingredients in my bowl were extremely fresh. As delicious as it was, it wasn't actually worth the wait. For the price they charged I would have preferred to have gone back to the Latin cuisine a few places down the street from this specific restaurant. I was still hopeful though because the desserts looked so fresh and provided a gluten free option in addition to a lactose free slice of deliciousness. I know I jumped ahead by implying how delicious the dessert was, but I was impressed with their dessert. I ordered the girls vanilla bean ice cream with the two chocolate chip cookies while I ordered the cheesecake. 

All in all, it's not a bad place to try or frequent but I personally wouldn't return to that restaurant unless it was only for dessert. 

Sincerely,

A Distinct Woman