Route 62 Barbecue

The definition of the word “barbecue” means a lot of things to a lot of different people. For some it’s all about the sauce. For others it can be summed up in one word – smoke. And still others aren’t quite sure what it means. Like a toddler who has a favorite corner of their blanket, they can’t seem to put into words exactly what it is they like, all they know is that they like it…a lot.

You can imagine my skepticism when I had heard rumblings that a barbecue place was cranking out ‘cue that surpasses that of City Barbeque (my favorite in Ohio). Since opinions on this particular subject are so passionate and varied, there was really only one way to verify such a claim – go there and try it for myself.Since Regina was involved in a certification exam all weekend, I had pretty much all day to drive around and try places that I had meaning to try.

On this warm Saturday afternoon my first stop was going to be Route 62 Barbecue in Johnstown, OH (located about a half hour or so from Easton Town Center in New Albany). As I pulled up to my destination there were a number of “good barbecue place” hallmarks. The first thing you notice is the line that already existed at 11am. As I parked my car near the back I noticed two monster Ole Hickory Pit smokers. The building itself is just a stark block building that was built to be used as something other than a restaurant. This, too, I consider to be a good sign as it shows there is one reason why people are lining up to get in – and it ain’t the ambiance.

Ole Hickory Pit Double Trouble

There are picnic tables out front and about 15-20 seats inside the small front area of the restaurant. As far as eating at the restaurant, it’s a clean brightly decorated space with pictures of family, reviews, and barbecue related items on the walls.

As I waited in line I realized that most of the people were there to pick up catering orders for the Ohio State game that started in an hour.

I don’t say this very often, but looking at the menu on the wall, the prices seemed a little low. If I had glasses, I would have taken them off to clean them when I saw “Baby Back Ribs - $10”. Tough, chewy, inedible ribs from a chain don’t cost ten bucks. What’s the going rate for the best? How much for a death row slab? I was becoming skeptical; Route 62 was defying the law of good food vs. price, and it was making me uneasy. Good food, relative to its competitors, is typically not cheap in comparison (example Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream).

I ordered the smoked turkey sandwich with a side of baked beans and coleslaw. If Route 62 was going to win my heart, they were going to have to trump City Barbecue’s baked beans straight away. I realized after I placed the order, that a small bit of coleslaw actually comes with each sandwich. I was a little pissed at myself because I could have tried three sides instead of two. Dammit, I wanted to try the skillet corn!

I sat down at the table and opened up the container. Whoosh! The smoky scented steam rolled off the turkey and up my nostrils opening the flood gates in my mouth known as salivary glands.
The turkey is smoky.

The turkey is moist (for some reason women hate that word).

The turkey is going to make me drive two hours each way from Cleveland to Columbus on Thanksgiving Day. It’s that good. No sauce, no gravy, no anything necessary. Their turkey is a natural beauty – absolutely no makeup required.The baked beans were also very carefully crafted. Comprised of about five different beans, not the ketchupy brown sugar type (I normally gravitate toward), no chunks of meat; I thought this thing was going straight into the trash. Wrong! The textural differences of the beans combined with the brown gravy-like sauce were very different…and absolutely delicious.

The coleslaw reminds me a lot of the stuff that they serve at KFC. I actually prefer it chipped into smaller pieces, especially if it’s on a sandwich. It isn’t the shredded kind containing the tough strands of cabbage, or even worse, the bland kind with pepper on it.

So much food…so little stomach room…so far from Cleveland. The prices are awesome and the food is mind blowing.

Fact: Owners Jarid Blinsky and Brad Jalovec have the total package in Route 62 Barbecue.

Fact: This is the best I’ve had in Ohio.

Fact: The menu defies the laws of delicious food.

Update May 1, 2010

The food is as good as ever. Jarid let me take a picture of a suckling pig he was smoking for a regular's graduation party.

Suckling Pig a-roastin'

Where there's a smoke ring, there's flavor!

Route 62 Barbecue

580 W Coshocton St
Johnstown, OH 43031
(740) 967-2462
www.62bbq.com

Barcelona

A well designed outdoor space can make all the difference when it comes to deciding on a place to eat. Here in Ohio, especially if you live in Cleveland, beautiful weather for eating outside a very few. When I do get those kinds of nights I, and everyone else, look to take advantage of restaurants with nice patios.

Before we even knew if there was going to be a beautiful night or not we made a reservation at Barcelona in German Village. We had driven past it numerous times in the past, but kept driving because we were broke college students at the time. Word on the street was that Barcelona has the best patio in the state capitol.

As it would turn out, the wonderful patio experience had to wait. It was raining pretty hard when we arrived and continued throughout the whole meal. If we had wanted to wait a half an hour we could have actually eaten outside under the roofed area. I didn’t feel like eating in the cold wet air.

The patio design was extremely well thought out. One of my biggest pet peeves is brick pavers or rough uneven pavement under my chair. Here the have a smooth finish with a slight roughness to it (like a tennis court), that you can actually slide your chair in and out on. The pavement also doesn’t give you a wobbly chair or table. There is no absence of privacy. A tall fence runs the perimeter of the area with plants everywhere to help soften the starkness of the fence. Finally, there is a whole row of tables that are under a roof so that it provides protection from the hot sun or the rain.

The interior of the building is no slouch, either. Housed in the typical German Village brick commercial building, Barcelona has seating the length of the restaurant down the right wall. A bar is on your right as you walk in, and then seating extends all the way to the back of the dining room. One of the neat touches I noticed was curtains that had been slung over the central duct work along the ceiling. It appeared that they could be brought down to separate different tables for privacy.

When I think of Spanish food we immediately think of Amada, in Philadelphia (if you’re ever there you’ve got to go). While Amada is more of a pure tapas restaurant, Barcelona offers a mixture of tapas (served as simply appetizers), soups and salads, and entrees – two different approaches, both Spanish, both delicious.

Regina ordered the Tapas Tasting Menu, which was comprised of eight separate items. Most weren't more than a few bites. I thought it was an excellent way to sample the range of the menu, and not have to order just one thing. For her, the corn salad, pan seared scallop, smoked trout salad, and deviled eggs were the most memorable. The tapas tasting runs $30.

On the servers recommendation I opted for the ever popular Paella Barcelona - basmati rice, chicken, spicy chorizo, shrimp, squid, clams, mussels, sofrito, roasted peppers, and peas. What can I say other than it was a gorgeous dish. The flavors were really popping in this thing, not to mention the monster portion. If you come here somebody has got to order this dish, it's absolutely fantastic (and it reheated very well).

Needless to say, there was no room left for dessert. For us, Barcelona is certainly a Top 10 for Columbus. While this is Spanish food, I would think there really isn’t much here that is way out in left field. I have to believe that most everyone would be able to find something to eat of this menu. If you’ve never been, you have to try it.

Wouldn’t you know it, as we left it stopped raining. Oh well, maybe next time we can sit on the patio.

Barcelona
263 E Whittier St
Columbus, OH 43206
(614) 443-3699
www.barcelonacolumbus.com

G Michael's

German Village is chock full of absolutely delicious restaurants. In terms of really good independents, this small historic neighborhood has the market cornered. G Michaels Bar & Bistro is guided by Chef David Tetzloff, specializing in Italian and low country inspired dishes. All I have to hear is “low country” and you can count me in.

On this particularly comfortable night, we were lucky enough to get a seat outside. If the weather is at all nice I would make a request to sit in the patio section. Our server was very animated and excited about everything they had started serving on the new menu.

Knowing that we were coming here I was all about getting the low country boil. Every year I volunteer at the tournament in Augusta; they cater a buffet on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night for the workers and volunteers. The low country boil, shrimp and grits, and peach cobbler (to name a few) are out of this world. When I looked at the menu I was crushed to see that it wasn’t on the freshly printed summer menu (the low country boil).

To be honest, though, I would have eaten anything off of this menu, it’s that good. I decided on the “Low Country Seafood Trio”, which consisted of black-pepper and sesame crusted tuna, grilled bbq jumbo prawns, and a lump crab cake served on creamy Carolina Gold rice, shrimp enriched hominy, and stewed okra. Without going into a full page rave review, it was as if I had just been teleported to Charleston, SC or Savannah, GA. The G Michael’s idea of a “jumbo prawn” is the size of a newborn puppy. It reminds me off something you’d see in Jurassic Park. It was huge! I would have gotten an entrée portion of any one of these elements of the trio.

Regina had the Pan-seared Alaskan Halibut with a Shiitake mushroom, fingerling potato, sausage, and Vidalia onion hash, asparagus, lemon buerre blanc, and poached shrimp salad . The fish was perfectly cooked, but the shrimp salad that was on top stole the show. My guess is that someone at the restaurant is going to be getting an email begging them for the recipe for that salad.

If you’ve not been, you have to go. If you have, you already know how good it is. While I realize low country isn’t for everyone, I’m a huge fan. I think part of the allure is the low key vibe that the food and the service have. No pretense or much fanfare, just good straight forward food.

G Michael's
595 S 3rd St
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 464-0575
www.gmichaelsbistro.com

Best of the Wurst

While down in Columbus we were staying down at The Lofts across the street from the Hyatt. As a result, we decided to walk down to North Market for lunch both days. I have a tendency to lock onto a certain place and not let go.

Since I love hot dogs I knew what my NM stop was going to be.

A Gold Star for a Cool Sign

The last couple of times I had been there The Best of the Wurst was either closed or had too many people in line. This time I went on both Saturday and Sunday and they were open and had only a few people in line.

It’s a smallish hot dog stand that is run by three people (a girl that was taking orders and two guys that were cooking, one cooking dogs and the other on buns and toppings).

On Saturday I ordered the Italian Sausage. I was a little pissed at myself because there wasn’t really anything about it that blew me away, but why would it? It’s an Italian sausage!

Sunday was much better, I decided on the Blue Cheese Hot Dog which was very good. Topped with blue cheese and horse radish sauce, this is exactly the kind of thing I had hoped for the first time around.

Best of the Wurst is no Hot Doug’s but for Columbus it’s a viable alternative.

Best of the Wurst
59 Spruce St
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 469-8778

On the Fly

We decided to take a trip down to Columbus for the Fourth of July weekend. We got down to Columbus at about 1pm and decided we needed to just get something light for lunch.

Located on the corner of King and Neil is On the Fly, the take-out arm of the wildly popular Dragonfly Neo V. My wife (the falafel queen), scoped this spot out awhile back. They have a simple objective: serve organic, kosher, vegan, meat free street food. Although it's a basic concept, I think it's pretty unique.

But how good could it possibly be? Vegan? C'mon.

In a word - great.

Even though there were other choices such as chili, portabella vegetarian steak, street food salad, and empanadas, we both opted for the falafel. I got mine with the suggested hot sauce. Regina, who doesn't do heat, decided to forego the spice.

The falafel itself, while not the best I've ever had, is not overly "cakey" or greasy. What is really good is the abundance of other ingredients that come with it. From other reviews I've read, they go with whatever is in season. For us it was thin strips of yellow squash and zucchini, as well as the traditional tahini and hummus. The pita looked liked it would be bland, but we were wrong. It had a chewiness that balanced out the crunch of the veggies. The only con was that they wouldn't give my wife extra hummus.

We enjoyed our falafel while sitting outside on their patio that faces King Street. Our experience at lunch, and further research revealing the critical acclaim of their sister restaurant Dragonfly Neo-V, has me thinking we'll be reviewing a dinner there upon our next trip to Columbus.

On the Fly
249 King Ave
Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 298-9986

The Refectory

Like most everyone else, we didn't have a whole lot of money when we we're in college. Our idea of fine dining was going to the Champp's over at Olentangy Commons. Although Regina and I had driven past the Refectory a thousand times during our years down in Columbus, we'd never actually eaten at the place.

When we went down to Columbus (where we got married) to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, we figured this was the perfect time to give it a try. People always speak highly of the dining experience when eating at The Refectory.


As we pulled up to the parking lot I wondered to myself what the surrounding landscape must have looked like when this building was constructed. With a indoor racket club on one side, parking and access roads on two sides, and very deep road cut (to allow cars to go under the railroad), this building is literally levitating above suburban wasteland.

The outdoor patio

The first thing I noticed when we walked in the lobby was that it had a very dark interior (very Spanish Tavern-esque). Since it was a relatively warm and sunny day we opted for the patio. The busy street that sits on the other side of the patio fence is, thankfully, not that audible due to the fact that it's about 15-20 feet below you.

Refectory Crab Cake

For appetizer we decided on the Refectory Crab Cake with mild smoked red bell pepper veloute. What I liked the most about this appetizer is that they didn't skimp on the crab. Large chunks of crab were found throughout, and was not at all greasy or full of a lot of bread crumbs.

Bison Strip Steak with Country Butter

I ordered the Bison Strip Steak with french country butter. Normally I wouldn't order bison because it's a leaner cut of meat that generally ends up getting overcooked. What the meat lacked in fat was accounted for with the country butter. This dish was also served with a small portion of potato gratin, artichoke, carrots, and asparagus.

Lemon Rosemary Duck Breast

Regina had the Lemon Rosemary Duck Breast with sour cherry bordelaise. An abundance of perfectly prepared duck breast with a restrained cherry bordelaise that carefully straddles the line of being too subtle and overpowering.

WARM CHOCOLATE TART

Pecan Praline, Milk Chocolate Sauce, Mint Julip Ice Cream

FROZEN PISTACHIO CHARTREUSE SOUFFLE
with strawberry coulis

The chocolate tart was very good, but the frozen pistachio souffle absolutely stole the show. This creation from the semifreddo family is a playful interpretation of a souffle. Highly recommended. I thought this was a great way to end the dinner.

My overall opinion is that this is a great place to eat in the summer. The interior space is in need of an update. It takes me back to an era of dining that we haven't seen in some time. But is that really the reason why we go out to eat, though? To sit in a beautiful space and eat mediocre food? No, the world has plenty of those.

If you go, request the patio. During dinner it will most likely be completely shaded so take a sweater or jacket.

Thankfully, the food is as modern as the interior is not. Every aspect of our dinner was impeccably executed. I thought the portions were appropriate, the desserts were inventive, and the service was excellent. The patio solves the interior problem and the food is fantastic.

The Refectory
1092 Bethel Road
Worthington, OH 43220
(614) 451-9774
www.therefectoryrestaurant.com

Northstar Cafe

Last Friday we went down to Columbus for our anniversary. Since we were just coming down for the day we figured we'd do lunch and dinner.

Refectory was the evening's destination so I didn't want an overly heavy lunch (City Barbeque or Katz's Deli). Northstar Cafe has been getting rave reviews for the last few years, but somehow we never managed to get there.

What a mistake.

When we walked up to the Short North location and thought we thought we were going to beat the lunch crowd at 11:45 - wrong! Every seat was taken in both the inside and outside dining areas (from a food standpoint this is a good sign).

Outdoor Dining Area

As we made our way through the line, I was really impressed with how well thought out this place was. There was a magazine rack against the north wall that sold eco and food related magazines (with a copy to read while you were eating). There were bar style tables for those who were solo, couch areas where people could sit and drink coffee, as well as movable tables for multiples of two and four.

Magazine Rack and Lounge Area

The kitchen is exposed to the front of the dining room behind the cash registers. Northstar has a wood fired oven for pizzas, coffee drink machines (they also serve wine and beer), and the requisite work area for sandwich and salad making.

Dining Area with the Kitchen in the Background

Northstar is dedicated to supplying as much locally produced organic and artisanal food that they can find. You won't see styrofoam carryout containors or plastic forks here, either.

That's all good, but what about the food?

Obviously the other stuff doesn't really matter if the food isn't any good. Let me tell you - the food does not disappoint.

Pulled Pork with Wild Rice Salad
(JB King's Ohio raised)
Given to me for free because they made an extra one.

Smoked Turkey with Wild Rice Salad (Turkey is, or was, local)

*vegetarian* Northstar Burger (beets, organic brown rice, and black beans)

If you live in Columbus, or are going to be in Columbus, you have got to come here for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Northstar makes Panera look like White Castle. There's really no comparison. I think it even blows away Così (which is a favorite of ours). The vibe is great. The philosophy even better. The food is top of the heap.

Two thumbs....way the hell up!

Northstar Cafe (Short North)
951 N High St
Columbus, OH 43201
(614) 298-9999
www.thenorthstarcafe.com

Thurman Cafe

Walter Dad and I took a roadtrip to Columbus this past Sunday. I had a couple of things I had to do while I was down there, so it was a perfect opportunity to catch some food at the same time.

I knew that when we got down there that I wanted to take him to Thurman Cafe in German Village. Since it was the weekend I figured lunch was going to be packed; so I planned on a midday visit to avoid any major wait.

We got to Thurman Cafe around 3 and there was about a 5-10 minute wait. It's kind of like Melt in the sense that there is a waiting room on one side, and the bar and dining area on the other. On the plus side, the waiting room offers free popcorn while you wait.

Here's a tip: go at off peak hours. At dinner and lunch the wait can sometimes be measured in hours. There comes a point where the wait isn't worth it. It is an old bar space so (as you can see from the photo below), space is very limited.We sit down and the first thing I notice is that it's much more pleasant to eat here than the old days due to the absence of cigarette smoke. It had been the first time I'd been there since the smoking ban was put into law. Very nice. Looking around the bar you can still see the nicotine patina that coats the walls and ceiling (the smell however is gone.)


I ordered the Jonnie's Special which is a 1/2# burger with blue cheese, horseradish cheese, and bacon served with fries. I can't remember what Walt got but it was massive (pictured below). However, his burger was not as big as the Thurmanator which was the centerpiece of a Man vs. Food episode (a hamburger with a half a pound of ham on it.)


The burgers here are great. Like most things, the best ever is a relative term. I would say Thurman Cafe rates toward the top of the list for most people that have been. The big complaint is going to be the wait. As I said before, do yourself a favor and go at the odd hour - you'll be glad you did.

Thurman Cafe
183 Thurman Ave Columbus, OH 43206 (614) 443-1570 www.thethurmancafe.com

Goin' Corporate in the Capitol!

Last week I had to go down to Columbus for a conference. If you spend any time in our state capitol’s restaurant scene, you’ll soon figure out that its landscape is dominated by corporate entities. For a relatively large city, Columbus’ fine dining options are especially corporate.

On the one night I spent there I was eating at Cameron Mitchell’s Martini Modern Italian, in the Short North. Located across from the Columbus Convention Center, Martini does a massive business from events held across the street.

I first noticed two things:

1) The place was packed to the gills.
2) Where there are many people, there is much body heat. It was absolutely sweltering in the upper dining room.

So I sit down with my friend Danny (seated with a party of about 15 other people) and partake in a few drinks. Passing on the appetizers I dove straight into Caesar’s salad. It was big and it was, well, a Caesar’s salad.

I chose the Garlic Crusted Salmon for my entrée. My first impression was that, from the top, it looked like a grilled cheese sandwich. The skin side (with the skin off) had a garlic crust on it. Since it was the flat side, it looked like a grilled cheese sandwich because the crust was on top and maintaining that flat firm surface. I was skeptical to say the least. Just then Ed, who was sitting across from me said, “I had that last night. It’s good. Don’t you think it looks like grilled cheese?” If you look here you’ll see it pictured in the banner in the upper right hand corner.

All I can say is that it the garlic crust is where it’s at. It tasted damn good. The funny thing is that the salmon looked like a piece of Coho or Sockeye (not particularly thick and a very deep salmon color), but it was perfectly cooked. Looking at the piece of salmon I thought, “Man, this is going to be dry as hell.” However, the crust and the sauce really pulled the whole together to create a really good dish.

For dessert I had the Tiramisu, again not your typical presentation. Expecting the “same old same old”, it came out served in a chocolate cup. The tiramisu itself seemed to have more of the creaminess and fewer of the lady fingers. I would jump on this dessert again in a heart beat.

Was it corporate? Sure. Was it free? Yeah. Thanks Danny. If there weren’t a number of new restaurants I haven’t tried in Columbus I would go there again. Other than the overwhelmingly high temperatures inside (in the middle of December no less), I really enjoyed my dinner here.

Martini Modern Italian
445 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 224-8259
martinimodernitalian.com

Exceptional Pizza in a Vast Pizza Wasteland

There are few things in life that insite feelings of nostalgia more than Ohio State's campus. It always amazes me when I see all of the changes that have taken place since my last visit. While the campus might change quite a bit, it's High Street's business landscape that takes the word visceral to a whole new level. Stores and restaurants come and go in a span of months. The only independent mainstays still standing are Buckeye Donuts, Bernie's bagels, and my favorite Flying Pizza.

I've often wondered,"Why does this place have staying power and the others simply fail?" I think the answer is pretty simple really. I think the requisite elements for college students is cheap, quick, and convenient. If you'll notice I didn't mention anything about taste. This was college and I was broke as a joke.

Flying Pizza has the fourth dimension the others don't...deliciousness. What? I can buy it by the slice at $2 a pop? I get it 3 minutes after I order it? It's centrally located on High Street AND it tastes awesome? No way!

Flying Pizza classifies itself as New York style. I would say it's more like a modified New York Style just because it looks like a NYS but the slice is not thin enough to fold over. I feel that this is what makes it so tasty because it is so crispy underneath the cheese. I would say the crust is definitely NYS. Even though Columbus, Ohio is an absolute wasteland for pizza, think Donato's. Columbus is a thin crust hell. I will say that Youngstown based Belleria opened a couole of outposts 3 or 4 years ago.

Maker's Mark and ice cream anyone?

While visiting Columbus this weekend, we finished dinner and had to decide where we were going to have dessert. I fully expected to be hit with the "Hey let's go to Graeter's!" reply. Instead I got "Let's go to Jeni's."

Jeni's? What's this Jeni's stuff. More importantly, when did she move to Columbus?

I have a pretty good handle on what goes on in Columbus' food front. This, however, just broad sided me. I had initially thought it was this place that was in Worthington (which I didn't like). Josh said they had one in Grandview and Short North. Well this weekend was Comfest. There was no way in hell I was going to Short North. So off to Grandview we went.

Let me start by saying the line was out the door, albeit a short one, out the door nonetheless. From my view on the sidewalk it appeared to be the best decorated ice cream parlor interior I'd ever seen. With milk bottle lights, modern color schemes, and well tied together concept the outward appearence was very smart. It reminded me a lot of Capagiro in Philadelphia, but even nicer.

The line actually moved pretty fast. So I get inside and take a look at the flavors. Hmmmm. Thai Chili? Reisling Poached Pear Sorbet? Coriander Rasberry? Maker's Mark Buttered Pecan? C'mon, man. How do you come up with Maker's Mark Buttered Pecan? Well, that was it. That's what I was getting. After paying we all went outside with our booty and dug in. I can say that it was a very, very creamy ice cream. I could definitely taste the bourbon in the ice cream, but it was strangely tasty. It's like when Andrew Zimmerman bites into {insert animal}'s testicle and says, "Very nice! You wouldn't think it would be that good, but it really tasty!" It was surprisingly tasty. Columbus really does have some good ice cream places like Graeter's, Jeni's, Brewster's.

What I like about the whole experience is that you have someone who has really thought out the flavors they have put together. In most cases you go to an ice cream shop and it's pretty much the same flavors with slight alterations. At this place you're really trying some unique combinations that go well together. Not just being different for the sake of being different. In terms of ice cream this just might be the most unique thing I've seen. But don't take my word for it, if you're in town try it. It's a pretty unique experience.

This is what I believe to be the best BBQ in Ohio

During my weekend swing through the state capitol I went to my favorite lunch spot, City Barbeque in Upper Arlington. I'm not going to go too far into the subject of barbeque because, frankly, it could end up being a very long post. Most people have varying degrees of passion about how how much sauce there should be, how long it should cook for, etc. I personally prefer the Carolina BBQ myself, but will eat it if it's from Kansas City, Memphis, Texas or whatever; I just love to try them all.

This is one of the places that was discovered while being broke going to school. I knew I could always get people to go with me because it was cheap, and more importantly very good. Whether it was classamates or coworkers at Scioto CC we could always round up a posse for dinner. My Dad would call it "food that sticks to your ribs". I think this place would be a huge hit on the west side of Cleveland.

Smoked for 14 hours, City runs the gammit whether it's pork, chicken, brisket, turkey, or Texas sausage. If your not a vegetarian, there's something for everyone's taste.

The sauce has a vinegar zing to it that just really agrees with the palatte. This, too, is incorporated in the baked beans (that have sizeable chunks of brisket in it) that are unmatched. I have actually tried a number of recipes to try and recapture the magic and have been very unsuccessful. The sides are the usual BBQ fare. While I can't say that I've had them all, the one's I have had have all been good.

Everyone I've ever taken to this place always walks away happy.

While I don't typically have dessert when I eat here; I have a friend who absolutely loves the banana pudding with 'nilla wafers. After gorging myself on one of the full slab dinners, I tapped out. My buddy Doug decides he's going to get a pint of the banana pudding. I thought there was no way he was going to get all the way through it. As I looked over not only has he polished off the pint, he went back up to the counter and order a quart sized container and finished that as well!

"Did you like it?", I asked.

"Damn dude, that's good stuff."

Good stuff. That pretty much sums it up.