Pendleton, OR: Saddle-Up For A Trip To Hamley And A Taste Of The Wild West

Hamley Steakhouse

8 SE Court Avenue

Pendleton, OR 97801

Phone number (541) 278-1100

Website: hamleysteakhouse.com

Prices: $$$$

A friend told me that Hamley Steakhouse was an absolute MUST when visiting Pendleton, so I decided to give them a try. In the center of historic downtown, Hamley's has large rooms, high ceilings, and lots o' wood, copper and brass, their western motif is warm and inviting.

 

The prices are a bit on the high side, $20 for Meatloaf, $23 for Country Fried Steak and $56 for a 14 oz Rib Eye for example, but the food did not disappoint. The Cowboy Cordon Bleu ($21), a fried chicken breast stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese, then covered with a rich and zesty red pepper and mushroom cheese sauce, was savory and succulent. The homemade mashed potatoes were abundant and tasty, also having been topped with the same cheese sauce, and the accompanying green beans were fresh and hot. An extra $4 got me a side Cowboy Caesar Salad, bringing the total to $25 even (no sales tax in Oregon) plus tip.

The service was excellent, the food plentiful and tasty, and the environment comfy, having been a nice diversion on a long road trip home from Colorado.

CombatCritic Gives Hamley Steakhouse 7 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Seven Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Shits & Grins"

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Read Chris S.'s review of Hamley Steakhouse on Yelp

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Title: Pendleton, OR: Saddle-Up For A Trip To Hamley And A Taste Of The Wild West

Key Words: Pendleton, OR, saddle, Hamley Steakhouse & Saloon, Hamley, steakhouse, saloon, steak, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Portland, Yelp, Zomato, Google, Facebook

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Lawrence, KS: Not "America's Best Philly", But A Contender For "Lawrence's Best Sandwich"

PepperJax Grill

919 Massachusetts Street

Lawrence, KS 66044

Phone: (785) 856-4529

Website: pepperjaxgrill.com

Prices: $$$$

Trying to find a decent sandwich in Lawrence is like trying to find the veal cordon bleu in an MRE box, ain't gonna happen, not until I tried PepperJax Grill.

While far from the best sandwich, in general, or cheesesteak, in particular, I have ever had, PepperJax' cheesesteak was the best sandwich I have eaten in Lawrence. Their menu is very limited with cheesesteaks, rice bowls, burritos, nachos and salads, all in the $7.29 to $7.99 range, as well as several sides including fries, chips and salsa/queso, and mandarin oranges. The combination of cheesesteaks and Mexican fare is a bit odd, but the cheesesteaks are decent.

Having eaten "real" cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, PepperJax claims theirs' is "America's Best Philly", but I do not concur. There is ample diced beef sauteed with peppers and onions and the 10-12 inch roll was soft and fresh. The cheese was a nondescript American variety, not the traditional Cheese Whiz found on Philadelphia cheesesteaks and mushrooms, not green bell peppers, would be a more Philly-like addition. The sandwich was tasty and filling.

I also ordered two sides of fries ($2.50 each) , but the guy behind the counter talked me out of one, telling me "they're really big, so you may want just one", so I followed his advice. Turns out they were not as big as he had said and were just barely enough for two of us, but they were fresh, hot and crispy, a nice accompaniment to the cheesesteaks.

There is also a condiment bar with four sauces (au jus, chili sauce, and two others as well as the usual catsup, mustard, napkins, and plasticware. 

Overall, I have to say that PepperJax was worth the visit and a decent value. If in the mood for a Kansas cheesesteak, we will definitely return.

CombatCritic Gives PepperJax Grill 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Six Bombs Equates To:

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Title: Lawrence, KS: Not "America's Best Philly", But A Contender For "Lawrence's Best Sandwich"

Key Words: PepperJax Grill, PepperJax, grill, sandwich, Philadelphia, Philly, cheesesteak, Cheese Whiz, cheese, steak, Lawrence, Kansas, CombatCritic, travel, value, restaurant, menu review, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Zomato

Translation for Civilians: G2G = "Good To Go"

Tango-Uniform: Doe's? Don't!

Doe's Eat Place
2806 S Walton Blvd
Bentonville, AR 72712
Phone: (479) 254-8081
Website: doesnwa.com

Prices: $$$$

There are so many things wrong with Doe's, I am having difficulty finding any positives ...

Tamales and Chili - $10

1) The salad was soggy

2) The tamales were bland and overpriced ($10 for 6), the chili boring

3) You cannot order a steak under 1 1/2 to 2 pounds for one person unless you want to pay $33 for an 8 ounce filet mignon. I went without a steak because I could not eat 24 ounces of meat and refuse to pay $66 a pound for a steak. The smallest steak porterhouse, sirloin, or t-bone you can get is 1 1/2 to 2 pounds and they refuse to sell anything smaller. How many people can eat 24-32 ounces of meat in one sitting? 

4) The gumbo was disgusting. Tomatoes, okra, and hot dogs instead of andouille sausage ... barf!

5) $7 for a 14 ounce beer, $8 for a well drink ... in Arkansas ... really?

6) The menu is extremely limited. They have steak, shrimp, tamales, something they call gumbo and corn and crab bisque (which they are always out of apparently) ... that's it!

On the positive side, I tried some of the French fries and they were hot and decent. Our server was also friendly and efficient. Otherwise, I saw few redeeming qualities in this roadside dive in Walmart's hometown.

CombatCritic Gives Doe's Eating Place 2 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

UPDATE: After my review was posted on Yelp, the business owner, Matt Huson, left a very unprofessional public comment attacking me personally and defaming my character for my less than stellar review:

10/31/2015  Just to clarify a few things.  We are leaving this reply public so that you can decide for yourself of the validity of the review.

First and foremost we do sell only 100% USDA Prime Beef, but you are lying about the prices.  Our most expensive steak is $24 per lb. NOT $66 per lb..  Since you are blatantly lying about that I will allow readers to decide if they trust the rest of your scathing and shady review.  

And as a Gumbo connoisseur, I'm very surprised that you mistake andouille sausage as "hot dogs".
Maybe sizzler would be a more suiting place for your refined tongue.   We get that we are not for everyone, but to lie and make assumptions as you have is not disliking our food, it's ridiculous.

Owner/Management is always on staff and happy to answer any questions or concerns our customers may have.  If you were having a bad experience we are happy to help, as it is our job.

To which I replied:

Dear Matt,

First, in regard to your unprofessional and insulting comment:  

"Our most expensive steak is $24 per lb. NOT $66 per lb..  Since you are blatantly lying about that I will allow readers to decide if they trust the rest of your scathing and shady review",  

you need to brush up on your math Matt. Here's a word problem for you ...

Q: If an 8 ounce petite filet mignon costs $33 and there are 16 ounces in a pound, how much per pound is a petite filet?

A: $66 per pound

Am I a liar sir? Do the math if are able.

Second, in reply to your comment:

"and as a Gumbo connoisseur, I'm very surprised that you mistake andouille sausage as hot dogs", 

I apologize. Your "andouille sausage" merely looks and tastes like hot dogs as I and the rest of my party of 16 agreed. Our mistake. We still could not finish more than half of the disgusting concoction, "andouille sausage" or not.

Finally, about the "Sizzler" comment (yes, it is a proper noun and is capitalized), I have no response to such a absurd, vengeful, and unprofessional comment.

I am a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, combat Veteran, and disabled Veteran and I do not appreciate you or anybody else calling me a liar and insulting my character. My review was not a personal attack on you or your establishment, merely my opinion about my experience on one particular evening. I am sorry that you cannot accept constructive criticism well and must resort to vicious personal attacks on your customers when you receive a negative review. 

I am not new at this and have tens of thousands of faithful readers who enjoy my detailed and objective reviews here, on my blogs, and elsewhere. Think about incorporating feedback, positive and negative, into your business plan rather than biting the hand that feeds you my friend.

Respectfully,

Chris S aka CombatCritic

Matt Huson, obviously not the nicest or most intelligent guy in Bentonville (or the planet for that matter), then responded: 

"Now they will know you lie"

As the say, the proof is in the picture:

Petite Filet - $32 (Now $33) Per Half-Pound (8 Ounces Matt)

Here is a recent Yelp review on Doe's Eat Place from another customer:

"... there are a few things like the gumbo that a person might want to avoid. 

The gumbo was not much more than tomato soup with some okra and hot dogs cut up.  I showed our server several full bowls of gumbo that had hardly been touched and was told "some people like it, some don't." 

Tamales are pretty flat until you light them up with the chili sauce that is provided.  By the way - the chili will also light you up.

Service was okay - overall a bit pricey for what they deliver."

Rick H. 

Cape Girardeau, MO 

2 Star Rating (Out of 5) - 10/28/2015

I will not respond further to Matt's unprofessional and vengeful banter and will let you decide for yourself who is more credible ...

Matt Huson - "Owner" of Doe's Eat Place

Or ...

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - "Elite '14/'15"

TripAdvisor - "Top Contributor" 

Tabelog - "Official Judge (Bronze)

Zomato - "Super Foodie"

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Title: Doe's? Don't!

Key Words: Doe's Eating Place, Doe's, doe, does, eating, place, steak, shrimp, bar, dive, Bentonville, AR, Arkansas, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, TripAdvisor

Translation: "Tango-Uniform" - Tits Up (Dead)