TravelValue: Restaurants Across The U.S.: house

Showing posts with label house. Show all posts

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Vancouver, WA: Petra House Dropped The Ball, Earning A Spot On My "WALL OF SHAME"

Petra House

1900 NE 162nd Avenue

Vancouver, WA 98684

Prices: $$$$

I will not waste too many brain cells on Petra House because they have zero business acumen and I refuse to spend my time or yours on a business that has such poor customer service. Long story short ...

I would not have even known about Petra House if not for a Groupon email that arrived in my inbox yesterday, so I bought one knowing that it was our anniversary and my wife loves Mediterranean cuisine even though we were planning on going somewhere else that night.

Groupon - Note that it states "Only valid for traditional MENU", not traditional "DISHES"

Being a business owner who has used Groupons, I know that businesses lose money on the deals (40% percent off in this case PLUS a hefty 40%-60% commission for Groupon on the purchase price). The only reasons for a business to use Groupon is to let people know they are there and get them in the door, win them over as future customers, and hope many purchasers do not use the Groupon at all (which happens more often than you would think).

I saw that the table next to us was having a problem with their Groupon (he was extremely irate) after we had ordered , so I decided to check and see what the problem was. The server, Simone, explained that their Groupon (and ours apparently) was good only for the "Traditional Menu" as it clearly states on the Groupon. What they MEAN is that you can only order off of the menu page entitled "Traditional Dishes", so our orders did not comply (like the other table). I told her that there was obviously confusion regarding the terms "menu" versus "dishes" (see my menu photos and Groupon) and that we thought there was a "Special Menu" other than the regular (traditional) menu that we had ordered from, asking to reconsider her position. She staunchly refused, stating that "the manager isn't here and I can't make a decision like that". Are you telling me that here is no manager on the premises who can resolve customer issues? Who the hell is in charge here? Needless to say, we cancelled our dinner order, ate and paid for the appetizer we had ordered, and left.

Traditional "Dishes", Not Traditional "Menu"

I refuse to frequent businesses with poor or non-existent customer service and there was absolutely no reason for this business not to make an exception to policy (which they have the ability to do) based on the language confusion in the Groupon. I told Simone that they had lost two customers (the other table and us) that night and that I would be cancelling the Groupon, which I did the following morning. Instead of winning customers over with a positive first impression, Petra House dropped the ball and lost two customers plus all of our friends and acquaintances who will be hearing about our horrible experiences. So much for our anniversary dinner.

CombatCritic Gives Petra House 1 Bomb out Of 10 And A Spot On My "WALL OF SHAME" ... More Bombs Are Better!

One Bomb Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Fucked Up Beyond All Repair"

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Portland, OR: Can You Say Biscuits And Gravy? Sure Ya Can!

Gateway Breakfast House

11411 NE Halsey Street

Portland, OR 97220

Phone number (503) 256-6280

Website: gatewaybreakfasthouse.com

Prices: $$$$

President Obama ate here in 2012 with a couple of veterans and there is a photo on the wall to prove it. A bit of a dive, the decor could definitely use an HGTV makeover, probably the first since 1985 from the looks of it. Do not expect anything fancy here and you will not be disappointed, just good, abundant, reasonably priced breakfast fare. The place was packed at 1:30PM on a Saturday, having to wait 15 minutes for a table.

My wife had the Pick Three ($7.95), selecting a pancake, French toast and hash browns (other choices: waffle, sausage links, eggs, biscuit and gravy, bacon, toast or English muffin). Plenty o' food for less than $8, she was satiated and content with her choices.

I ordered the Country Breakfast ($11.45), coming with two eggs over-medium, country fried steak (other options: bacon, sausage, ham, burger, pork chop or German sausage), hash browns (pancakes, French toast, waffle, or toast also available) and a biscuit and gravy. The country fried steak was smothered in country gravy and the hash browns plentiful. My only complaint being that the gravy could use a bit more seasoning, otherwise the breakfast was plentiful and tasty with the eggs cooked to perfection.

All-in-all, this was the best breakfast I have had in quite some time and, without a doubt, I will be Barack.

CombatCritic Gives Gateway Breakfast House 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

Monday, August 28, 2017

Sherwood, OR: Pizza Schmizza - The Only Good Thing About This Place Is The Beer

Schmizza Public House

15982 SW Tualatin Sherwood Road

Sherwood, OR 97140

Phone number: (503) 925-8093

Website: schmizzapublichouse.com

Prices: $$$$

Not good. We filled our pie holes and left satiated, but otherwise it was a very forgetful experience.

The place is not inviting, bright and laid out in a strangely open arrangement with relatively few tables. They were playing a trivia game when we entered and received many strange looks, as if we were somehow not welcome. We gave a hint (the answer) to the metrosexuals next to us for an opera question they obviously had no clue how to respond to, the answer to which was "Carmen". They basically ignored us, looking like they had never been to an opera in their lives, but celebrated gleefully when they found out that their (our) answer was correct. Grow a pair girls and thank your knowledgable and compassionate neighbors for your victory. Anyway, ...

My wife had another unimpressive $14 Mac and Cheese, boring and severely overpriced, and I the Tuesday Street Tacos Special ($11). The mac and cheese was flanked by two pieces of garlic toast, adding a little flavor to the otherwise tasteless dish. The tacos (shredded beef) were attractive to the eye, but mediocre to the palate with little beef, more lettuce, a dusting of cheese, and a very thin slice of avocado (great idea, sad execution). The cheap tortilla chips on the side were straight out of the bag and disgusting.

The best value of the night was the cold pint of IPA ($5), so go for a beer and head down the street to the OSF for lots o' pasta.

CombatCritic Gives Schmizza Public House 4 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Four Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17 - 650,000+ Views A Year

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie - Over 1,890,733 Review And Photo Views

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Title: Sherwood, OR: Pizza Schmizza - The Only Good Thing About This Place Is The Beer

Key Words: Schmizza, pizza, Sherwood, Oregon, beer, pub, public, house, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato

Translation for Civilians: "Bend Over, Here It Comes Again"

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Manhattan, KS: Not Quite A Star, This Aggieville Pub Is Decent And Cheap

Keltic Star Public House

1215 Moro Street
Manhattan, KS 66502
Aggieville
Phone number: (785) 320-7456
Website: kelticstarmanhattanks.com
Prices: $$$$

Claiming to be a Welsh pub, Keltic Star offers traditional pub food (Cornish pasties, shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, curry, fish and chips, and lamb stew) as well as appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, and an assortment of drinks from the bar.

Located in Aggieville, an area of bars and restaurants near the Kansas State campus, it was "Funday Sunday" the night we were there, so tap beers were $2.50 for what they refer to as a "pint". A true Imperial (British) pint is a little over 19 ounces and, as we all know, a U.S. pint is 16 ounces. These were neither, being closer to 12 ounces than 16 or even 19, but for $2.50, who is to complain?

We started with a Welsh Rarebit ($6) which has nothing to do with rabbit as many people falsely assume. Coming on five small slices of baguette, the seasoned cheddar cheese was broiled then topped with a few slices of green onion. It was pretty good, but at $1.20 per piece, a tad overpriced, likely costing less than $1 to make (all five).

My wife ordered the Cornish Pasty ($8.50) which is not Welsh at all, but as the name implies it is a specialty of Cornwall, an area in the southwest of England. A pasty has a savory filling, in this case ground beef, potato, carrots, onion, and rutabaga. The dish came with choice of one side dish, so she chose mashed potatoes and gravy. There was also a small cup of brown gravy for dipping the pasty in. The pastry was flaky and the filling tasty, and having had pasties in the UK, I have to say fairly well done.

I decided on the Pub Platter ($14.95), a combination of small servings of shepherd's pie, pasty, banger and mash, and fish and chips. The shepherd's pie was very small but good, obviously made with traditional minced lamb, carrots, peas and topped with a dollop of mashed potatoes. The pasty, as I said before was flaky and good, as was the banger (sausage) and mash, coming with sautèed red cabbage and covered with brown gravy. Everything was good, except for the fish and chips which were very greasy, likely pre-fried, stored, then tossed in the deep fryer a second time right before serving. The fish was flaky and the batter crisp, but both the fish and the chips (fries) were soaked in oil as you can see in the photo below. Otherwise, everything was good and portions were just right as to be not too filling, but not leaving me hungry.

The place has somewhat of a pub feel with an obligatory red British phone booth and other decor you might find in an English or Welsh pub. The service was efficient and friendly. In all, not a bad meal.

CombatCritic Gives Keltic Star Public House 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Six Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Read Chris S.'s review of Keltic Star Public House on Yelp

Keltic Star Public House

Title: Manhattan, KS: Not Quite A Star, This Aggieville Pub Is Decent And Cheap

Key Words: Keltic Star Public House, Keltic, Celtic, star, public, house, pub, bar, Manhattan, Kansas, state, Kansas State, Aggieville, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato

Translation for Civilians: G2G = "Good To Go"

A published author, combat veteran and retired Air Force officer, he studied psychology for 30 years, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a National Certified Counselor.

He served in four combat zones, spending 25% of his career supporting Operations JOINT ENDEAVOR, ALLIED FORCE, SOUTHERN WATCH, and ENDURING FREEDOM, retiring from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel.

CombatCritic has lived in five countries and visited over 43 countries in the past 18 years. He is a well know chef, having been trained professionally in Italy from 1998 to 2001. His specialties are Italian (obviously), German, French, Thai and Mexican. Having dined in the finest restaurants in Paris, Rome, London, Brussells, Tokyo, Dubai, and many other cities around the globe, his palate is varied, well-defined, and discriminating. If CombatCritic tells you "It's the bomb", you will know he can be trusted.

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Sunday, May 20, 2018

Vancouver, WA: Petra House Dropped The Ball, Earning A Spot On My "WALL OF SHAME"

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Portland, OR: Can You Say Biscuits And Gravy? Sure Ya Can!

Monday, August 28, 2017

Sherwood, OR: Pizza Schmizza - The Only Good Thing About This Place Is The Beer

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Manhattan, KS: Not Quite A Star, This Aggieville Pub Is Decent And Cheap