Restaurant Review: Marietta Pizza Co

So while we are on Spring break, visiting in Atlanta, we did a lot of sight-seeing and tourist-y things. We didn't do a whole lot of eating out, we'd rather spend our time with the whole family around a dinner table. However, just a few days before we leave, the men were in down-town do "men-things" (aka work) and got stuck down there because Obama decided to visit and shut down all the highways. So, that left me, my sister and all our kids home alone. It was a beautiful day and we didn't want to waste it around the house, so we decided to go down to the "Marietta Square." Its a little part of town, that's shaped like a...well...square...with a whole bunch of little shops and boutiques and places to eat. We enjoyed the fresh air and walk around the...well, square...and decided to eat at the MPC (Marietta Pizza Company).

It was a fabulous and fun place to go, I absolutely recommend going if you're in the area!

MARIETTA PIZZA COMPANY

Marietta, Georgia
5 out of 5 stars

There was a variety of pizza's you could order, plus extra toppings in case there was more you wanted. The slices themselves were HUGE! With a mass amount of cheese I had on mine, there was a significant amount of grease--so don't go in thinking your pizza will be grease-free. It all depends on your toppings.



For kids, just ask for the "kids cut" and they slices the pieces in small squares, easy for little hands to pick up and to eat up! The price, very reasonable! from $2.00 a slice to $3.50 for specialty slices. Your bill could be very small as long as you don't order the drinks. Drinks range from about $2.20 and up. There isn't a "kid" drink, and the cups are huge (worth the $2.00) but just beware of the bill. We could have easily split a few of the drinks!

Almost forgot to mention: All 3 kids at the ENTIRE slice. Not a crumb was left. Those 3 kids were ages 7,5 and 2. Yes, the 2 year old ate the whole slice too. That just goes to show how great the pizza it.

So that is all I can rave about for MPC. Definitely 5 out of 5 stars. When we visit again, it will be on our list to return to!

Restaurant Review: Southern Spice (4/5)

After attending the Chapel on Sundays, we have been going out to lunch with our friends and all the members of the family. We are, after all, one big giant Army family! This past Sunday, it was suggested for us to try out this little hole-in-the-wall place called "Southern Spice."

Southern Spice Cafe

St. Robert, MO

4 out of 5 stars

My husband has been many times for lunch, which is usually served "cafe" style and you buy an actually plate of food, your choice from menu. Well, when we went, it was the 1st Sunday of the month, and they were open and it was just by donations. The lunch was more "buffet line" service, and I was pretty skeptical. However, we loaded all 20 of us in this little restaurant and enjoyed an INCREDIBLE lunch, Southern-Style.

My adorable friend, Michelle, with the "buffet line" behind her.
Isn't she just beautiful? =D

They served fried chicken, mac-n-cheese, green beans, corn and cornbread. I'm telling you, I have NOT eaten a better southern meal like we did this day. It was nothing fancy looking, but the flavor said it all. Not to mention the employees  we so sweet and caring-- like a "gospel church" type of feeling. We loved it. And not one of us had any food left on our plates when we left--even the kids!

My friend Ashleigh is the one in the green shirt--I
don't think she knew I took this picture! LOL
(And my kids are the 2 redheads)

So we WILL be going back to this place, we have a few lunch dates set up to meet there already. You can click HERE to see their web page and it has their hours they are open. They also do catering, and I will totally use them for a Program Day at the Chapel! Whoohooo!

Also, if you don't like being in tight quarters with people you possibly might not know you, just be warned: its a small place. If it was just me and the kids, I probably wouldn't go--however, give me a few friends and I'm all in! (that is why I give it 4/5 stars)

Restaurant Review: Colton's Steakhouse

Colton's Steakhouse

St. Robert, MO

2 out of 5 stars

St. Robert and Waynesville are very small towns around Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. When we moved here all there was to eat in town was a Cracker Barrel, and a few mom-and-pop places. In this past year, we got a Panera Bread, and a Colton's steakhouse. We never went when it first opened, I knew to give the staff time to get in their grove--and I kept hearing bad reviews with food and service.

So my husband has been gone for 3 weeks for a TDY trip, which was also over his birthday. He got home today, so to celebrate his homecoming and birthday, we decided to try Colton's out.

We went at 4:30 to beat rush hour and to be done in time to catch the 6:30 movie on post. We got in, warm welcome from the staff and got seated immediately. No complaints there, what-so-ever. Our waitress was sweet, knowledgeable, kept checking/refilling our drinks. She was even sweet and friendly to the kids, asking their names ect and noted how good my daughter was doing with her cursive.

My complaint goes towards the food. Not the timeliness, that was just right, nothing wrong there. The peanut buckets were fun and a big hit with the kids. The hot rolls were amazing, and actually hot when brought out.

But then it came to dinner. I liked to order steak at a steakhouse (kinda like ordering pasta at an Italian restaurant) and ordered their 10oz Ribeye with fried okra, hubby ordered a hamburger with sweet potato fries, kids got sirloin steak bits with green beans. Right off, visually, it didn't look professional. This "expensive" cut of meat was less than 1/2-inch thick, with no flavoring...not even salt/pepper. I ordered it "medium," but with such a thin steak, there is no such thing other than "rare" or "extremely well done." I took a few bites and that it, couldn't do more. So gross, really...it makes me shudder to think about it again.

Luckily the fried okra was good and crunchy. The hubby's hamburger was fine, nothing special about it. But he ordered the sweet potato fries that came with this great marshmallow dipping sauce--that was extremely good--can't wait to try to make that at home.

And then it came to the kids' food. Their sirloin bites where 10 times better than my Ribeye. Typically, ribeyes are a better cut of meat than sirloin because of the marbling of fat that breaks down during the cooking. It looked like the chef switched up the steaks. The sirloins also had a wonderful seasoning on all sides. BUT, when it came to their green beans, I couldn't have been more shocked. On my daughter's plate, it looks like green beans out of a can, and my son's plate had "the right way" cooked green beans. Made at the same time, why so different?

Even my daughter (who is 7) knows the difference, and didn't eat more of 2 of hers. And for a restaurant of any size, I don't think this is anything acceptable.

So, overall, I don't give this place more than 2 stars (out of 5). And the 2 stars come from our waitress, the hot rolls and the peanuts. I will not go back to this place. If it was just one thing, I would try, but this was too much for me to even want to go back.

Restaurant Reviews: HEMINGWAYS

Bass Pro Shop's

HEMINGWAYS

Resaurant

Click here for web site

We spent a good bit of time in Bass Pro Shop while waiting for family to join up in Branson. In other words, trying to kill time. Turned out that they had a whole bunch of Christmas activities going on, and it wasn't hard to spend hours in the shop! But this also gave us a chance to eat at their restaurant in the store. When the kids saw Santa, they got a coupon for free meal. 

I was a bit skeptical at first. In my experience, restaurants in stores aren't as great as others. But I was proved wrong, for sure! They had their huge fish tank for us to watch while waiting for the food--which kept the kids occupied for a good bit! The prices were actually fairly reasonable and comparable to restaurants like Applebee's and Chili's. 

The food itself....AMAZING! I got the coconut shrimp with sweet potatoes. YUMMM. I'm attempting to figure these sweet potatoes out and make them at home. Not a bit was left behind! My husband got a burger and said it was defiantly one of the better "restaurant burgers." They also have an entire dinner buffet as well, if that's what you prefer.

So I give this place a 4 out of 5 stars. Don't miss a chance to eat there if you get one!

Have you eaten there before? Tell me about it!

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Click on image below:

Restaurant Review: Sybill's in St James, MO

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Click on image to go to Sybill's Web Page

I was highly recommended to check out this restaurant for a "farewell" dinner for a wonderful friend. I checked it out online and got really excited!

Click on image to see the review site from Urban Spoon

First impressions gave me high expectations! Beautiful "house" with a wrap-around porch and flowers everywhere--perfect atmosphere for (what I would imagine) a wedding rehearsal dinner. Its out in the middle of no-where, Missouri, which really makes this place a gem!

There is a really fun gift shop right "next door" to the restaurant. It has a lot of antiques and boutique-ish items and such charm! We all ended up taking something home--you just can't help yourself!

After being seated with the most politest and sweet people, we were greeted promptly by our server, of which she TOTALLY knew her stuff. She shared the daily specials and answered any question we had on the menu.

There was a lot to choose from, and the 4 of us ended up getting 4 different dishes, and shared a bit to each other. We order the bread with olive oil and s&p for appetizer, and the bread was fantastic. I almost wish we didn't, because it didn't leave that much room for the rest!

I ended up ordering the filet mignon with blue cheese stuffed shrimp and bacon wraps. What a mouthful! The food was brought out in a timely manner and we chowed down. EVERY bite was worth the $32 dollar plate. The steak melted in your mouth and the flavors all complimented each other. We thought the same for all 4 dishes! I gave my compliments to the chef as well.

"side salad"

Each meal comes with a side salad, but the daily special was this homemade mozzarella cheese with home-grown tomatoes--so we had to try! I was in heaven. I've never had "homemade fresh mozzarella" and now I want to try making it myself. the sauce was perfectly sweet as well. Too good!!

Filet Mignon with Shrimp

I didn't touch the potatoes much, they were delicious, but I wanted to save room for the rest of my food.

I read a lot of reviews ahead of time, and the majority of them said to try the "chocolate gooey butter cake"

German Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake

We were so full, so we shared one order between all of us. I didn't read anyone's review saying it was "german chocolate.." and when I read the description, I just about died. That's my favorite cake of all time! Now how perfect--in a gooey butter form! Save room for this--you won't regret it.

Sybill's web page states that reservations are appreciated, and even though we did, it seemed there is plenty of room for walk-ins. Because of the reservations, they did kindly greet us by name. it adds a flare for the place on top of everything else.

I also highly suggest not to bring young children. Its atmosphere is very "A-list" -ish and if you have "loud" children, you might get some dirty looks. However, I did see a few children that were very well behaved, so its not that children aren't welcome. The restaurant is also set up in "rooms" in which I'm sure they try to keep different parties separated for maximum enjoyment.

So besides the price (I'm not a fan of expensive food), everything exceeded my expectations. I defiantly give this a 5/5 stars. Even just passing through this part of Missouri, take the time to stop. Do plan ahead though, its a small exit and can easily be missed. The web site has the menu posted as well if you want to plan that much ahead! And don't forget to ask for the daily specials!

I gave this review from my own personal opinions, and by no ways did Sybill's restaurant compensate for my review.

Resaurant Review: The Cave Restaurant and Resort

My husband and I were looking around for things to do on our "kid free" (grandparents took them!) weekend. We decided to go to Haha Tonka state park for hiking and exploring. On the way there, we passed by "The Cave." I was actually told to go here a few times, but had no idea it was our our route. So on our way back home we stopped. What an excellent place!

"The Cave Restaurant and Resort"
[Click on image to go to their website]

When you get there, you have to park in a little lot and a "shuttle" comes and drives you to the big cave. Its an adventure, for sure, climbing up 2 stories of rod iron stairs...don't go if your afraid of heights!

Once inside, there is a little "gift shop" to get souvenirs, a bar to get drinks while you wait (if you have to wait) and even a little gold fish pond that can entertain the kiddos.

We got there at 5:30pm and were the beginning of the "dinner rush." The restaurant seats 250 people, so if you do have to wait, it wouldn't be for long. The staff is very welcoming and personal, I was quite pleased by the service!


The menu has great choices and a nice variety of food. I ordered the "Cave Chicken"--I asked the waitress what she recommended, and this was it. While we waited for our food, the waitress brought our warm home-made bread and butter, as well as our "soup/salad choice" that came with our meal. [I ordered the potato soup] It was the perfect thing to eat while waiting for the main course. The soup had the best home-made flavors--like the one I make! Delicious.

While waiting for the main dish, you have time to look around in the cave. The "decorations" are nice and its fun to find hidden things in the nooks and cranies of the cave walls and ceiling.

Our meal arrived and I dove right in. This cave chicken was positively the best. So moist! It came with noodles [home-made?] and a side of veggies. The chicken was mixed with mushrooms, prosciutto, and a white wine sauce. My compliments to the chef! This is a must-try dish!

I can't wait to bring my kids back to this place. Defiantly a kid-friendly, family-friendly, everything-friendly, must-go attraction! And there is so much more to this place, so check out their web site!

Oh, and don't forget to bring a sweater/sweatshirt. It gets a bit chilly inside. =)