8 Overall Rating - Trattoria Il Centro in Oklahoma City, OK 2/28/12

500 West Main Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
(405) 601-5858

Dinner with Don and Karen. This was one of their favorite restaurants in OKC. Unfortunately, just weeks after we we ate here, the restaurant closed its doors.

Ambiance: 8
Open kitchen and dining room. Was surprised of the size and the number of seats in the dining room. I loved the italian opera music playing in the background.
OKC's downtown area...I'm disappointed that I have just experienced this area. Don and Karen were so kind to give me the car-tour driving by the OKC bombing memorial, canal area, bricktown, china town, and midtown. This little city always impresses...

Food Quality: 8
Calamari - wow , be ready because the marinara is spicy!
I had the Pumpkin Risotto Scallops which I'd describe as a savory dish with interesting elements of chopped onion and something else which was a little undercooked. The scallops were just a touch overcooked; they were tough and a little rubbery, but the risotto and sauce were nicely done.
Karen ordered the appetizer meatballs which were delicious!!! She said they were normally spicier but I liked them just the way they were which had a strong presence of black pepper.
For dessert, I had the Butterscotch Panna Cotta which was absolutely divine

Service: 10
Kyle was wonderful! It's always nice to go to a place where they know you (not me, but Don & Karen). He even knew where they were heading next for their trip - it was impressive.

Value: 6

3 Overall Rating - 5 Seasons Brewing 2/25/12

5 Seasons Brewing Company
The Prado
5600 Roswell Road
Sandy Springs, GA 30342
http://www.5seasonsbrewing.com/5/

Greg, Brian, Meredith, Rory, Dave, Wade, Andrew, Trehub, Susan, Christine & Todd

Ambiance: 5
Enjoyed the casual, open space. The table was perfect for our group. The twelve of us were seated in the corner of the bar at a high-top table.

Food Quality: 3
The scallops were cooked perfectly, but aside from the buttery flavor, there were no other flavors which made the dish rather bland.
The spaetzel needed a little more salt, but the onions in the dish were a nice twist. The dish was luke warm when served and then cold by the time I finished it.
The shrimp & grits were bland, but the polenta cake grit was nicely done with a great flavor.
The Ahi tuna seaweed salad was good.
The bread served with the mussels was hard, but the presentation was good. The dish was spicy with black pepper and slightly watered down.

Service: 3
The service wasn't slow through drinks, but it took a long time before our server took our order, then he disappeared after delivering dessert. the kitchen's executions was very fast, however, especially for a large group.
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8 Overall Rating - Nine Street Kitchen 2/19/12

982 Canton Street
Roswell, GA 30075
(678)-682-3222
http://www.ninestreetkitchen.com/home.html

A late lunch with some of my favorite girlfriends...from Lady Smack - Colette & Amy!

Ambiance: 10
Depending on your mood...we came on a rainy Sunday for a late lunch. We sat on the porch, with live music!! Two fellas were playing acoustic guitar and singing - it was the perfect setting for our girls luncheon! There were heaters on the patio and blankets available for guests who wanted them. I loved it!


Food Quality: 7
We started with the Smoked Portabello soup - it was mighty tasty!

The Surf and Turf Quesadilla was loaded with a variety of ingredients, but was surprisingly a bit bland. Both Colette and Amy loved it though.

The Honey Chicken Salad was delicious. Served with a generous portion of chicken and a surprisingly sweet dressing. The dressing may be too sweet for the average person, but I really liked it.


Service: 9
Knowledgeable and perfectly timed. No complaints from me.

Value: 7
$76 for the three of us which included two entrees, one soup and three glasses wine.

No Rating - Cheeky Monkey in Winter Park, CO 2/13/12

http://cheekymonk.boomtime.com/

Bacon Gorgonzola Mussels

6 Overall Rating - Creekside Eatery in Winter Park, CO 2/11/12

Dinner out during Winter Park/Mary Jane ski trip with Greg, Rory, Paul and Susan

Ambiance: 4
Local Western Saloon bar and restaurant

Food Quality: 3
The salad bar was good, stocked well with fresh produce. The sweet potato puree soup was very good, just the perfect combination on a cold night.

The prime rib was just mediocre. My cut had far too much fat on it, but the au jus was good. It's a good thing we were skiing five days to burn off all this food!

Rory's Pork Chop had a great flavor, but it was dry and overcooked.

Unfortunately, Susan got sick from her meal. She had the seafood special which was supposed to be like a jambalaya but it turned out more like a bowl of seafood roux - it was disgusting.

Service: 8
The friendly, local service was great. It made the experience enjoyable.

Value: 8
Great prices for the quantity. $16.99 for prime rib special - salad bar, choice of side and veggies!