Posts filed under 'reviews'
If you were to meet me on the street, you might get the impression that I’m a snob. I’m really not; it just takes me a long time to warm up to people, and it takes even longer for me to establish a long-lasting friendship. Even so, I had a sudden urge a few weeks ago to meet new people and make new friends; thus, I invited myself to my friend LFro’s book club at Well Fed Head Books .
In college, I did a really good job of faking what I read by listening to class discussions and responding intelligently, but I actually wanted to do the “assigned reading” for this.
Continue Reading June 25th, 2008
I have a stack in my office that is entirely dedicated to books I need to read. This stack rarely shortens because as I read one book another replaces it in the pile. David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons’ book unChristian has been in that pile for at least six months, and I finally picked it up last week. I am so glad I did.
Continue Reading June 17th, 2008
Chris and I had a date last night! I can’t remember the last time we had a real, live date on the spur of the moment. Before starting Financial Peace , we went out every week, but since we’ve tightened our purse strings, the dates have been fewer and farther between.
But I had been in a funk all week—I still don’t its source—so we decided to go downtown. No, not downtown Nixa. Downtown Springfield !
Continue Reading May 15th, 2008
Chris and I love Asian food, hanging out with close friends, and trying new restaurants, so Saturday night was the perfect opportunity to check out Springfield’s latest Chinese restaurant. We met our pals Colby and Lyndsey for dinner at 5 Spice China Grill (5SCG), the newest restaurant from Johnson and John Tan, owners of Springfield’s popular Ocean Zen (OZ).
Continue Reading May 5th, 2008
I first reviewed Kai, Springfield’s downtown Asian fusion restaurant, in September, and Chris and I ate there again with friends in December to celebrate graduation. For Valentine’s Day, Chris surprised again with a date there. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t review a restaurant twice, but last night’s experience warrants one.
Bar none, Kai has the best sushi in Springfield, and the rest of its food is high on my list of favorites; furthermore, the atmosphere is unmatched. But all of that was ruined last night for three reasons:
- The worst table in the restaurant. If you want a table at Kai on any given weekend, you must have a reservation or resort to eating in the bar, so Chris had the foresight to make dinner reservations for Valentine’s Day in mid-January. To me, it makes sense that those who make the first reservations would get the better tables, but when we arrived just before 7 PM, we were seated at the worst table in the place: in the doorway from the main dining room to the banquet room where customers, hosts, servers, and managers all came and went. If Chris sat normally at the table, it was impossible for anyone to get from one space to another, so he had to scoot his chair in and away from the center of the table to let people pass through semi-unobtrusively. Clearly, Kai was trying to get as many people crammed into the restaurant as possible and didn’t consider how uncomfortable it would be for the customer who was sitting in that seat. The entire evening I prayed that no one would spill water or sushi down my husband’s back.
- A one-hour wait for our entree. We arrived right around 7 PM and were seated promptly. Kai had a set menu for the evening: appetizers of cucumber and clear noodle salads, a sushi sampler, and a meat sampler; an entree (we selected sea bass with wasabi risotto); and a dessert of cheesecake and banana/chocolate egg rolls. As soon as we ordered, the first appetizer stage (the salads) came right out, and the second and third stages promptly came out once we were finished with the prior stage. Because of this promptness, we expected our entree to come quickly, too; however, it didn’t come until 8 PM. We didn’t check to see what time we wrapped up our appetizers, but we’re sure we waited 30-40 minutes for our entrees. By the time they came, we were digesting our appetizers and were ready for dessert!
- No compensation or apology from the management. Now I’ve worked in food service, and though the restaurant wasn’t as upscale as Kai, I learned that servers should alert the manager of any problems with a table. I give our server credit for apologizing for our entree delay, but he should have notified his manager of our wait time, and the manager should have come to our table and apologized. Our server should have also noticed that I left more than half of my entree uneaten. I have a horrible head cold and the flavors didn’t mesh well with all the phlegm in my system (which is not the restaurant’s fault), but when a customer hardly touches her food, that should raise a red flag to the server, and the server should notify the manager, so the manager can make sure everything was OK. The managers/owners walked past our table several times during our meal but didn’t take any notice of the unhappiness on our faces.
Including the tip, we paid well over $100 for last night’s dinner, but based solely on last night’s experience, I wouldn’t return to the restaurant because the bad experience outweighed the great food and atmosphere. I won’t say that we’ll never return because we really do love the restaurant, and we have been treated well on prior visits (during our visit in December, my pal Lyndsey and I were comped our desserts simply because we had just graduated with our Master’s degrees), but we’ll reconsider spending our money there for a special event or on a busy night again.
Please note: I hate writing bad reviews, but if you search for any variation of “kai springfield sushi” in Google, my original review appears on the first page of results. That post is also one of the most popular pages on my blog, so though we didn’t (and maybe should have) complained to the manager last night, maybe this will compensate.
February 16th, 2008
I don’t intend all my restaurant reviews to be of the Asian-fusion variety, but Chris and I had an anonymous gift card (evidence suggests it was from Chris’s bosses) to Ocean Zen, a 2006 Best of 417 winner. We also wanted to celebrate the completion of my thesis’s first working draft, so I made reservations for the hubby and I on Friday night.
We were greeted on the other side of the enormous wooden doors by friendly hosts. Our table wasn’t quite ready, so we waited in the foyer. This gave us time to take in the decor of the dining room. Another review I read referred to the interior design as having an “under the sea” theme—and not of the Little Mermaid persuasion. I really didn’t catch that theme until I read that review; the use of wood, metal, fire, and water made me think of zen-like feng shui.
But enough about the decor. I mean, as cool as it was, that’s not why we were there. The hosts seated us within ten minutes of arriving, and we had a seat right next to the kitchen in a half booth-half bar top table. Now, if we had planned a romantic dinner, this was not the ideal table; however, I happen to like being in the action, and we could see the kitchen, the bar, and the dining room from our vantage point.
Our server greeted us right away, but we had to remind him a second time to bring Chris’s iced tea. Our Blue Crab and Cream Cheese Stuffed Crispy Wontons were promptly brought to our table. These rich pockets of heaven are arguably the best in town and could easily be mistaken for a dessert rather than an appetizer.
Chris ordered the Mongolian Barbeque Glazed Grilled 12 oz. Ribeye with Szechwan-style Asparagus, Bacon Cheddar Smashed Potatoes, and Peppercorn cognac Cream Sauce. Chris says, “The ribeye was good but was a little disappointing. I expected it to be a little better, but part of that was my fault; I ordered it medium rare, but it was a little too rare for me. The glaze was fantastic and had a sweet, subtle kick to it. The steak was tender—not tough. It was a good piece of meat, but it wasn’t the most flavorful steak. The asparagus was quite possibly the best I’ve had—it wasn’t stringy or limp or soggy but was crisp, fresh, and flavorful. The smashed potatoes were also great. They had a good texture and were infused with real pieces of bacon that added a rich flavor, which complemented the steak. All together, it was a great dish.”
I ordered the Sesame Nori Crusted Seared Rare Ahi Tuna with Lobster Mousse Stuffed Shrimp, Wild Mushroom Risotto Cake, and Balsamic Lobster Glaze. The tuna was excellent at first bite—hot and seared on the outside and warm and rare on the inside with a subtle tuna flavor. The risotto cake was the best risotto I’ve ever tried; it’s flavor was rich with flavor yet light in texture. The shrimp was rich with the lobster mousse and was wonderful. Actually, the flavors of the risotto and the shrimp outshined the tuna. And perhaps I’m a slow eater, but by the time I reached the last of the tuna and risotto, they had lost their warmth and weren’t very yummy to eat anymore.
This was our second visit to Ocean Zen since its move to the Battlefield location, and so far the service and food has been consistent. Friday night, from our booth near the kitchen, we witnessed the teamwork of the staff, which was fun to watch. We’re excited to visit Ocean Zen again and see how its service and food continue to improve, and we can’t wait to pick out a favorite OZ dish.
September 29th, 2007
I’m sorry for all the reviews this weekend, but what can I say, we’re actually relaxing this weekend. Besides going to Kai Saturday night, Chris and I also went to the Moxie to watch Michael Moore’s Sicko.
If you’re not one for late night television, you might not have heard much about this film, but I’d like to think you’re familiar with Michael Moore and his other work (Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine, Roger & Me, etc.).
Anyway, Sicko is Moore’s commentary on the United States’ health care and insurance systems. We really don’t hear from any of the 50 million people who don’t have health insurance; instead, we hear from those who do have health insurance and their trials in getting their health care needs approved. Moore paints the picture of the problems with our health care, namely that it’s privatized and that despite some efforts by our government to return to public health care, health care companies pay millions of dollars to buy the votes of our lawmakers.
Once we understand these problems, Moore takes us to Canada, Britain, France, and Cuba to let us see how happy the Canadians, British, French, and Cubans are with their respective countries’ health systems.
Clearly, the purpose of Moore’s movie is to sway us toward publicized health care, and he thoroughly convinced me to think about the future of health care in the U.S. Besides asking Chris if we could move to Vancouver during the intermission, I was ready to march into the street and do something to make this problem go away.
After sleeping on it and discussing it with my compadres, I’m ready to do my own research. I want to know the other side of the story, and I want to know what candidates in the upcoming election are doing to address the issue.
Every American, regardless of their health insurance status, should watch this movie and consider what Moore presents. Sicko shows at the Moxie for the last time on Tuesday, September 4, at 7 PM and is already available on DVD.
Here are some other reviews for you:
September 4th, 2007
In an effort to do nothing over Labor Day weekend, I sat down with a book on Saturday. My pal Lyndsey recommended it to me a number of months ago, but it was in circulation among our friends, so I just got it a few weeks ago.
Same Kind of Different as Me is the true story of Ron Hall, an international art dealer; Denver Moore, a modern-day slave; and Debbie Hall, Ron’s Spirit-sensitive wife who brought the two men together.
The story begins with Ron and Denver telling the stories of their early years, and we see how similar these men are though they lives worlds apart. More than anything, we see how God is shaping their lives to come together decades later.
As the story deepens, we are introduced to Debbie and her devotion to the Lord and to his children. Her love for the poor and homeless in downtown Dallas and Ron’s love for her bring them to serve at the Union Gospel Mission. Without spoiling the story, Ron and Denver vow to be lifelong friends and they change one another’s lives.
The first item of note in this book is the style. As a reader, I didn’t feel like I was reading a book; instead, I felt like I sat down to coffee with this men and listened to them share their once separate, now common story. For one, Denver admits that he cannot read or write so his sections have been transcribed from his verbal narration. Lynn Vincent, who also contributed to this project, did an excellent job piecing these stories together and propelling the story along while moving the reader to continue on this journey.
The second item of note is the authenticity of the writers. They wear their hearts on their sleeves, and we hurt when they hurt, laugh when they laugh, and cry when they cry. Yes, this book made me cry—several times actually—but with good reason (you’ll understand when you read it).
When I closed the book for the final time, I understood that we’re all different—God has created each of us to be unique contributors to the earth he created—, but we’re all the same—we need love, not just from God, but from one another.
Check out what others are saying about this book:
September 3rd, 2007
Last night, my hubby Chris surprised me with a date to Springfield’s newest Japanese restaurant, Kai. According to GO Magazine, Kai is owned by the same folks who own the popular sushi bar and grill Haruno in southeast Springfield, so I had high expectations for their cuisine. (If you’re not a sushi fan, don’t fret—Kai also has steak and seafood.)
Referencing Kenneth G. Henshall’s 1988 book A Guide to Remembering Japanese Characters, kai can mean “sea” or “shellfish,” appropriate definitions considering the restaurant’s fare. Of the twenty or so definitions of the word, another caught my eye; kai can also mean “to meet.” As the restaurant is set in downtown Springfield and has an inviting bar, this definition is also appropriate.
But enough about semantics, let’s talk about our experience. Chris and I were unable to make reservations because of our late-made plans, but the hostess was able to seat us immediately in the bar (the main dining room is upstairs). We were impressed by Kai’s modern Asian fusion atmosphere, which included chrome accents found in everything from our chopsticks and two-top bar table to the array of disco balls and wall hardware. Chris was enamored with the LED wall that seemed to dance with the rhythm of the trance music booming in the background (in general, Chris loves most interior and concert design that involves LED—especially the LED curtains flanking the stage on U2’s Vertigo tour).
Chris started with an iced tea; the GO Magazine reviewer said it was the best in town (quite an accolade considering that McAlister’s has held the long-standing honor for as long as I have lived here). After taking a sip of it myself, I agreed, as it reminded me of some tea I had at a Japanese restaurant in China a few years back. We didn’t sample the alcohol menu because we’re not big drinkers, but from my glance at the drink menu, there are as many drink options at Kai as there are sushi options. And if their bartenders are as good as their chefs, you won’t be disappointed in the alcohol department.
We started our meal with the Kai Gyoza appetizer. As we’re both fans of the Japanese dumpling, we were not disappointed in the subtle texture and flavor of Kai’s. They were served with a just-spicy-enough sauce that kicked their flavor up a notch without scaring off my hubby’s taste buds.
Our nigiri arrived next and was my favorite part of our meal (strangely, I like nigiri more than I like sushi rolls—most people seem to be the other way around). Nigiri is an oval-shaped sushi that includes a piece of raw fish over a bit a rice. We ordered two types: salmon and albacore tuna. When you place a sample of nigiri in your mouth, you’re awakened to the simple, yet unique, flavor of each fish. The rice cleanses your palette in preparation of your next bite. Whereas cooked fish often has more robust flavor from its juices, the nigiri requires its taster to look for and pay attention to its flavor.
Our “Memoirs of a Geisha” roll arrived last to our dinner table. The Geisha is an inside out roll where rice encases the roll rather than seaweed. Inside, the Geisha was laced with crab meat, cream cheese, and avocado; outside, the Geisha was garnished with a variety of roe (fish eggs). Though it’s a simple roll, the combination of flavors boded well with our palettes.
Our only “complaint” about Kai was our server. It’s not much of a complaint because he was fairly attentive, but he wasn’t super personable. We asked for recommendations from the sushi menu, and he offered a handful, but he didn’t seem too enthused about them.
For anyone who enjoys downtown Springfield, good sushi, or excellent interior design, we recommend Kai, but make reservations a head of time to get a seat in the dining room. Holistically, our entire experience was excellent, and we’re excited that downtown Springfield has a fun, new restaurant for us to frequent.
September 2nd, 2007
As much as I like pizza, I generally don’t eat it more than once a week, but San Francisco Oven released their new California Aloha pizza on Tuesday. I could hardly wait the four days to try it. First, I love SFO and have loved all their other pizzas (you’ll get those reviews later, I’m sure); second, Hawaiian pizza is my favorite, and I’ll try any variation.
The California Aloha is topped with spicy ham, fresh pineapple, cilantro, and sweet smoked BBQ sauce. All together, they’re a great combination, but I would’ve liked more ham and pineapple on my pizza.
The spicy ham had good flavor (and I’m not generally a ham person) but it was a little tough. I’m not sure if the toughness was due to the brick oven baking or if it was just the nature of the ham. The ham pieces were a little large and were hard to bite through, so when I tried to just bite off a bit of the ham, I took the rest with me. If they’d been smaller, SFO could’ve added more and they’d have been easier to eat.
The pineapple was fresh and tasty; most Hawaiian pizzas I try have canned pineapple. Again I would’ve liked to have more on the pizza.
This was the first pizza I’ve tried with cilantro, and I liked the kick it added. Usually, I associate cilantro with Mexican food and homemade salsa, and I forgot about the great flavor it can add to a dish.
The BBQ sauce was tasty, too, though I had to explain to Linden, who was eating with me, why BBQ sauce is good with pineapple. It’s a lot like math: If a=b, and b=c, then a=c.
If pineapple + ham = tasty, and ham + BBQ sauce = tasty, then pineapple + BBQ sauce = tasty.
As I said above, all the toppings in combination were excellent. The cilantro and ham gave the pizza a spicy kick (this probably isn’t a pizza my husband wouldn’t like), while the pineapple and BBQ sauce countered the spiciness with a bit of sweet.
Perhaps it was the lack of Internet (my computer is a crap top) while I worked this afternoon, but I’d like to attribute at least part of my productivity to the California Aloha, which helped me complete the background chapter of my thesis and crank out two-and-a-half (single-spaced) pages of my lit review.
September 1st, 2007
Previous Posts
