Archive for the ‘Restaurant and Bar Reviews’ Category

Vasilis’ Take Five

Saturday, July 7th, 2012

In April, Vasilis’ Take Five took over the space once occupied by the Corner Store on Willy Street. I think it’s a nice addition to the neighborhood, and with friendly service and tasty Greek food, it has a chance to succeed.

Let’s start with the staple, the lamb gyro ($5 at lunch, $7 at dinner). I liked the slightly grilled pita, the tender meat and the fresh tomatoes. The cucumber sauce was milder than I would like, and the gyro was topped with red onions instead of white (not necessarily a bad thing). I would rate this gyro higher, but I have to say that I am biased: I know that owner Vasilis Kallias also ran the Mercury Cafe, and those gyros were better in my opinion.

To this plate I added the house side salad ($3, $4), which was surprisingly good. It had just the right amount of onion, feta, cucumbers and tomatoes. I love a lot of dressing on my salads, and this one was doused in vinaigrette, though I realize not everyone shares this affinity.

I also added the house-cut fries ($2, $3) to my plate. They seemed to need some kind of seasoning, but they were just fine otherwise. The rest of the menu–which is quite small–includes items such as Greek fisherman’s shrimp ($9, $15) and braised lamb shank ($10, $15).

Take Five also has a full bar. I ordered a flavored martini from the long list of martinis, and it was very sweet and refreshing on a hot day, but it wasn’t worth $8 for such a small serving.

My server, by the way, was super friendly and attentive. That was good, because I came in annoyed since the staff had forgotten to unlock the front door when they opened, and I had to frantically get someone’s attention.

Although the website says reservations recommended, you probably don’t need one unless you have a large group. In fact, while I was there, a person called to reserve a table for three, and the server said it’s just first come, first serve. Take Five is open Mon-Sat for lunch, dinner and carryout.

Vasilis' Take Five: Vittles and Vices on Urbanspoon

PC Kitchen

Sunday, July 1st, 2012

Now open for three months, PC Kitchen doesn’t seem to have its identity set. First, it’s supposed to be an offshoot of Pancake Cafe, but it doesn’t draw nearly the same size of crowd. That may be because of its location in a strip mall by Woodman’s–it’s just weird to go to one to eat.

The name also is confusing, as it sounds like the place either fixes computers or is politically correct. Finally, the restaurant took over for the former New Town Pub, so there’s still a big bar in this family-friendly establishment. Overall, the food is good and the staff is welcoming, but will it be enough to overcome its inherent obstacles?

I tried the Homemade Biscuits & Gravy ($6.99), which comes with two eggs and hashbrowns. The biscuit was wonderfully soft; so many places give you a rock-hard biscuit. The gravy was rich and creamy and topped with slices of sausage instead of sausage crumbles, a nice touch. I would have preferred my hashbrowns crispier, as they didn’t have enough brown to them.

The Spinach Omelette ($6.99) is made from three eggs and comes with choice of cheese, hashbrowns and mushroom dipping sauce. It was really big and would have been tastier had the cheese been spread out a bit better. The mushroom dipping sauce was creative and helped boost the flavor of the omelette.

On a future visit, I’ll probably try the Bacon Pancake or Bacon Belgian Waffle ($5.99 each), both stuffed with bacon. The lunch menu is mainly comprised of sandwiches and burgers, such as the PC Kitchen Burger (Canadian bacon, American cheese and a sunny side up egg with red pepper aioli for $8.99).

PC Kitchen is open 365 days a year for breakfast and lunch. I hate when restaurants take cash only, and this is another such place, so be prepared.

PC Kitchen on Urbanspoon

Paul’s Club

Sunday, June 17th, 2012

Earlier this month, Paul’s Club–tree and all–moved a few yards up State Street to the former Jack’s Shoes. The  new space is much bigger; it’s still narrow but has more depth and couch space.

Besides the fact that the layout is the mirror opposite of its previous incarnation, with the bar on the left side as you walk in, I couldn’t help but notice how bright it was inside (bring your sunglasses to the bathroom). To me, this disappointing feature gave Paul’s Club less of a bar feel. I can only hope that management comes to its senses and returns the darkness version 1.0 had.

Also lost during the change was the coziness the couch areas previously had. It’s almost as if the seating areas were an afterthought. I think moving the seating areas closer together and adding some decor would be a helpful start.

Still, it’s the people who make the bar, and on a recent weekend night, even with school out for the summer, Paul’s Club was packed. With its prime location across from the Overture Center, it makes for a nice pre- and/or post-show watering hole.

Paul’s Club is open daily. The nearest parking ramp is on the same block; enter on Dayton Street.

    North Italia Urban Air

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