The Venetian has become one of my favorite casinos to visit on the Las Vegas strip. It just seems like it has the best-of-the-best when it comes to shops, restaurants, and ambiance. One afternoon, I needed something cold to soothe my palate. What I found was Cocolini, an Italian gelato counter in the heart of the Grand Canal Shoppes in St. Mark’s Square in The Venetian casino.
I admit, the price for the small cup threw me for a loop. EXPENSIVE! I could have bought a pint of Ben & Jerry’s at the CVS near my resort for what I paid for the scoop of sorbet I ended up ordering. But I was craving and this was what I wanted. And Cocolini had quite the selection of flavors in both gelatos and sorbets to choose from. I had my work cut out for me.
It took awhile to finally get someone to wait on me. There was really no order to how people walked up to the counter, and the staff just picked who they felt like serving next. But when I finally voiced that I was next, I ordered the sugar-free strawberry sorbet. Not only is sorbet lactose free, but it’s fat free as well. WIN!
I paid the exhorbent price and went to take a seat on the steps looking out at St. Mark’s Square. I admit, the sorbet was good. It was creamier than a sorbet should be, however, but still…the flavor was what caught my attention. Rich, despite being sugar-free, and exploding with a fruity burst in each taste. That’s not always easy to do when something is sugar-free. I give Cocolini major props for that.
Since then, however, I have had a real Italian sorbet, and in comparison, Cocolini doesn’t even come close to the correct texture for this sweet treat. Yet, going into this blind, I enjoyed my sorbet, letting each scoop I took of it melt down on my tongue and allowed the flavor to linger as long as it could. It was one of the best sugar-free strawberry treats I have ever eaten, to be honest. Full of flavor and packing a WOW-factor punch to the untrained Italian palate.
The cost of the small cup I received, however, was definitely a minus. While I found the product they offered to be up-to-par taste-wise, I didn’t like the wallet-busting cost it came with. Definitely worth a try if you are seeking a cool, tasty treat while in Vegas…but know that it does come with a price. Next time, I think I’ll go to a more authentic gelato/sorbet shoppe and put my money into a more genuine experience.
Mr. Lucky's 24-7, inside the Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Vegas has amazing food strewn throughout the city. So, what was it about the quaint diner tucked away inside the Hard Rock Hotel that brought me back for another filling breakfast? Well, my first experience there had been so mind-blowing, that I had to see if a subsequent one could exceed all expectations. I should have known with Mr. Lucky’s 24-7, I would not leave disappointed.
On a previous visit, I was treated to the VIP dining experience at Mr. Lucky’s 24-7. By VIP I mean I alerted my server to a food allergy and he went to inquire with the chef about how something was cooked…and the chef sent him back with the list of ingredients of the butter the hash browns were cooked in so I could be certain my dining experience was going to be safe. No other restaurant I have eaten in has taken that level of precaution or attempted to ensure that level of security in what I was going to order. Leave it to a dive-y diner inside a resort casino to bring that level of comfort to a simple customer so early in the morning.
But, it was what made me want to go back. Why take chances with any other place when I knew the quality of food at Mr. Lucky’s…as well as the care in which it would be prepared for me? A safe bet, perhaps. Not stepping outside of my foodie-comfort zone…perhaps. But, once again I was not led astray by my decision to eat somewhere I already had been.
When you find a good thing, don’t mess around with it.
I did, however, opt for something else on the breakfast menu, forgoing my usual safety net of the omelet. I was on my last day in Vegas before heading out to California and seeing two of my best girls who I hadn’t seen in four years. So, paying homage to one of them, my fashionista Mexican mamacita from the Fresno area, I went out on a limb at breakfast and in her honor…ordered the Huevos Rancheros, which were two fried eggs served over corn tortillas with black beans, monterey jack cheese, ranchero sauce, pico de gallo, and guacamole (no sour cream for this girl!) with a side of hash browns.
Judging from the size of the omelet the morning prior, I knew I would be in for a treat. What I didn’t realize was how these were not just Huevos Rancheros. When the food reached the table, I realized I had been given desayuno épica…EPIC BREAKFAST!!
This was my first time ever having Huevos Rancheros and what a way to start out. The flavors meshed so well. The texture of the beans with the corn tortillas and the over-easy eggs blended well with the spice of the sauce, the sweetness of the pico, and the coolness of the guacamole. I topped it all off with a healthy drizzle of Cholula hot sauce (aka: the best hot sauce EVER!). When I say epic…I’m not kidding. I was in a food coma after eating the entire plate of food, including my hash browns, but every bite gave me a new blast of flavor. It might have been full, but it was so pleasing to my palate I had to keep eating. I only wish I had ordered that on my prior visit so I could have eaten it twice. Yes. I think Huevos Rancheros need to be added to my ‘need to order whenever it is on the menu and served with corn tortillas’ list. I savored every bite.
Vegas does have a lot to offer. Buffets, fast food, little dives, celeb chefs. But when it comes to breakfast done well and breakfast done right, get over to the Hard Rock Hotel and pull up a booth inside Mr. Lucky’s 24-7. Order something that you normally wouldn’t and be amazed and enticed by the food you get presented with. Savor it. Or gobble it down. Either way, it’s a filling meal for a good price. Better still…it’s guaranteed to be good!
Bouchon, located inside The Venetian, Las Vegas, Nevada
Bouchon. Very French, oui? That’s the brilliant thing about Las Vegas…it literally has a little of everything. And thanks to the extraordinary culinary mind of Thomas Keller, one of the most renowned chef’s in the world, Vegas has a touch of French class with delicious bistro food.
I knew little about French food coming into this restaurant. What captured my attention was the name attached. Thomas Keller. Foodie nerd…that’s me. Pair that with an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” where he visited Las Vegas and ate at Bouchon, raving about the frites (fries)…and I knew…next time I was in Sin City, I had to try this place out.
Bouchon's homemade bread and toasted pistachios
My friend and I were seated immediately upon our arrival for our reservation. Our table was beautiful. Simple. Understated. But illuminated by the natural light of summer in Las Vegas. Nothing was overdone. And that was part of the beauty of it. Our server came over and poured us water. As he did so, he inquired if we would be interested in any wine. Neither of us are wine drinkers, and while the experience would have been amazing, we passed. He unfolded our menus for us (they are paper and guests are allowed to take them with them upon leaving) and told us of the specials that night. It was then that we alerted him of my food allergies and dietary restrictions, and he assured me that I would have no problem finding something. That being said, he pointed out that the soupe du jour that night was vegan – roasted potato leek soup with a black truffle oil. The very description of the soup was enough to win me over, so both my friend and I unexpectedly ordered the soup as a starter.
The rest of our order was taken and we eagerly anticipated our first taste of food from one of Thomas Keller’s restaurants. The food nerd inside me was squeeing with delight. As we waited, we were brought homemade bread and a small bowl of roasted pistachios to wet our appetites while we waited. My friend threw herself on the bread, and I enjoyed the nuts.
Bouchon's Soupe du Jour: Potato & Leek Soup with Black Truffle Oil
And then…the soup arrived. It look fantastic. Most soups with any sort of potato base are heavy, but not this one. It was light and the swirl of truffle oil added just the right about of flavor without overpowering the essence of the root vegetables in the soup itself. In fact, the truffle oil made the soup the perfect trifecta of seasoning and taste. One spoonful and Thomas Keller and his restaurant won my heart. Each ingredient melted on my palate and I soon polished off the bowl. My friend used the bread to mop up every last drop. Yeah…it was that amazing. And that was just our starter!
Since I am a vegetarian, there was only a few items that I could order on the menu. Pair that with a gluten-intolerance, and quite a bit more got knocked out of the running. Never fear though. Restaurants normally have a salad that will work and that held true for Bouchon. My entree of choice that night was the Salade Maraîchère au Chèvre Chaud, which consisted mixed greens with red wine vinaigrette, warm goat cheese and herbes de Provence. I ordered it with a side of the much raved about Pommes Frites…because whenever Anthony Bourdain says the fries are better than the ones from his restaurant, Les Halles, you know they have to be amazing. I certainly wasn’t going to miss out on trying them. My friend, following Bourdain’s lead, ordered the Steak Frites, which she has henceforth deemed one of the best medium-well steaks ever made for her (it was still juicy, while being cooked to an actual medium-well) and topped with a shallot-butter that she wants to baptize her children in. Apparently, it was mind-blowing.
Bouchon's Salade Maraîchère au Chèvre Chaud
When the entree was brought out, I already knew that, despite being a salad, it was going to be a good one. The thing with salad is, they don’t always have to taste alike. Salads can be a mishmash of amazing flavors that tantalize and tease taste buds. Or they can be bland. While this salad was minimal as far as ingredients go, the flavors were WOW! The goat cheese practically melted in my mouth. The herbes de Provence provided a bit of flair to what would have otherwise been a rather bland pile of mixed greens. And the red wine vinaigrette was the right hint of tart to marry the flavors together. Salads can be boring, or they can take “rabbit food” to the next level. Bouchon takes it to the next tier.
Bouchon's Pommes Frites
As for those much-raved about frites, Anthony Bourdain was right on the money. Thomas Keller trained his chefs at Bouchon right. Because fries are fries…in most cases. They can either be really good…or really bad. Most of the time it has to do with the cut and the how they are cooked, or how long for that matter. I do not like mushy fries. Steak fries are not my favorite cut. Neither are curly, nor crinkle-cut. Shoestring fries are generally my favorite because they come out with a crisp crust on them that lends bite to the potato. At Bouchon, the Pommes Frites were above and beyond any other fries I have ever eaten in my life. And I LOVE my fries. Bourdain is one of my culinary heroes for a reason. He has good tastes in deep-fried potato-y goodness. Bouchon doesn’t just serve up a sizable portion of frites on the side, they do a damn good job of cooking them to perfection. The waiter thought there was way too many frites on the table between my friend and I, but we polished them all off. Not one went to waste. Normally, I don’t finish my fries because there are so many of them…but that wasn’t the case here. I almost wished I had more. You think you’ve had fries…then you eat at Bouchon and you realize they set the bar for french fry standards and those waffle fries from Chick-Fil-A will never equal what you just consumed. Considering the paragraph on the Pommes Frites is now longer than that on the soup and the salad…just believe me. Try it for yourself and no other restaurant fries will ever compare. Nowhere. No way. No how! It isn’t a pompous French thing to call them Pommes Frites and serve up average fries. No…these have every right to be pompous and French. They earned it.
Bouchon's Marquise au Chocolat
Despite being full, dessert was a must. The dessert menu was presented to us and after a bit of discussion, my friend and I decided that we would split Marquise au Chocolat, a dark chocolate mousse with burnt orange cream. The dessert won my heart with dark chocolate. The orange cream was an added bonus. And when it arrived, we couldn’t have been happier with our decision. It looked like a slice of cake, laid out and surrounded by dollops of edible-orange goodness. Picture-perfect. And the taste…manna from heaven. Everything paired perfectly. The citric bitterness of the orange cream paired with the smooth dark chocolate and the melt-in-your-mouth texture of the mousse. It was fantastic. Down to the last bite, which was smeared through the last of the burnt orange cream so that nothing went to waste. I finished off the evening with an after-dinner cup of tea that just polished off the perfect meal.
Bouchon's hot tea
There is French bistro food and then there is Bouchon. Thomas Keller set out to do something amazing in Vegas, and he succeeded. Bouchon, tucked away in the Venezia Tower of The Venetian in Las Vegas, is one of those must-go places. When I return to Vegas, I will be making another reservation for a dinner there. Despite all of the culinary treats that are hidden away in Vegas, I can’t help but think of what new treats might be served up on the menu here. And I can’t wait to sink my teeth into those Pommes Frites once again. Make a reservation. Dress up. Dine. It’s a feast so pleasing to the any palate that there is literally something for everyone. Even this gluten-free vegetarian. Amazing food outweighs the celebrity name and the Michelin stars any day. From the moment you step into Bouchon, you feast upon great ambiance, great service, and great food. How can it get better than that?
Mr. Lucky's 24-7, inside the Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
While on vacation, I always like to fortify myself for a busy day with a hearty breakfast. Sometimes a lunch isn’t guaranteed so something filling and delicious is what I seek out. Not wanting to wander all the way down to the strip before eating, I took the elevator from my hotel room in the Hard Rock Hotel down to Mr. Lucky’s 24-7, a 24-hour diner-style restaurant that has been recognized as one of Vegas’ “Best Late Night Snack Stops” since 2003 in the Las Vegas Weekly Reader’s Choice Poll.
Okay…so it’s good enough for the drunk…but so is Taco Bell. But, how does Mr. Lucky’s 24-7 measure up for the most sober person in Vegas…bright and early (6 a.m. early – I was still on Eastern Time Zone time, I swear!) on a Wednesday?
We were seated immediately, beside a huge mural of Jim Morrison. Already the ambiance was to my taste. The menu was classic diner-style with a little of everything. Breakfast foods ranging from egg dishes to pancakes to baked goods (muffins, bagels, toast). They also have salads, soups, pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, pastas, fajitas, nachos, a variety of appetizers and even some desserts. The menu had a little of everything and a little of something…for anyone…or a group to share. Whatever you preferred.
With my food allergies, eggs are usually a safe gamble for me. So I stuck with that plan and ordered off the breakfast menu. I opted for Veggie Omelet done with egg whites. Since I couldn’t have the toast or English muffin that came with it, the server gladly substituted watermelon for me. I was thrilled because I LOVE my fruit. And…since my roommate is my acting food deputy, she inquired as to whether the hash browns that come with it were gluten-free. Since the server was unsure, he hurried back to the chef to inquire. He returned shortly after with the ingredients to the butter the hash browns were cooked in…the one ingredient in question when it came to the hash browns. Both my roommate and I inspected them and it passed. So, I was totally getting my hash browns! And this made me stupidly happy because I love my breakfast potatoes like no one else!
The food arrived in short order and I wasted no time diving into it. Even after the delicious food the night before, I was ready for some food. The melon was absolutely ripe and delicious! So happy to have a server suggest that as a substitute without me even having to inquire. I can’t do that around where I live. No one understands a gluten intolerance. Out West…they get it and they work with you! The omelet was AWESOME!! The vegetables were perfectly done. Nothing too wilty. Nothing runny. Delicious…especially when topped off with some hot sauce. Nothing goes better with eggs than hot sauce. I swear…it’s one of my favorite things! And the hashbrowns were perfect. Brown and crispy…yet still soft inside. The perfect hash brown.
The portions were HUGE…and not over-priced. So you really get a good deal here. And yes…I ate it all. Like I said, lunch wasn’t guaranteed…and in fact, we didn’t actually have lunch that day. So the big breakfast was just what we needed to get us going and energized for another full day on the Vegas strip.
Not only was this restaurant very careful with my food and mindful of my allergies…they worked with me and even took the extra precaution of sending out the ingredients in something so I could make sure it was safe. That’s not just awesome, that’s rockstar! And once again, after eating here…we decided the following morning we’d return to try something else off the menu.
When it demands a return, then it’s gotta be good. This diner-style restaurant did everything right with its food and service. Yeah…there is a reason it continues to receive accolades in Reader’s polls. It really is that delicious. Even when sober…even when eating breakfast…the food was dine-in delicious!
Mr. Lucky's 24-7 Veggie Omelet (made with egg whites), hash browns and watermelon
I just returned from an amazing culinary excursion of the West. If there was good food to eat, I was going to find it. And this trip proved my instincts to be right on par.
My culinary vacation began with a dinner at the world-renowned Nobu restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada. Located in the Hard Rock Hotel, this beautiful restaurant is tucked away in a quiet section and you immediately feel the difference upon entering. My roommate and I had reservations for 7:00 pm. We showed up about 15 minutes early, and were immediately seated. The first thing the waiter did, after unsheathing our chopsticks was to ask what we knew about the restaurant. Since we were Nobu-newbies, he went through the history of the restaurant briefly, then offered suggestions from the menu, including Nobu’s signature dish: Black Cod Miso. We alerted him to my food allergies and he assured me the kitchen had gluten-free soy sauce should I need it, as well as any sushi dish could be done vegetable style. He left us alone as he went to fill our drink order and we pondered the menu for a moment.
Nobu's Mushroom Soup
Upon his return, we placed our orders. My roommate went with one of the recommended dishes: the Miso Soup followed by the Rock Shrimp Tempura with a Creamy Spicy Sauce. I was craving vegetarian sushi. So I put in for the Mushroom Soup and a cut roll of the Vegetable Sushi and a cut roll of the Oshinko Sushi.
The soup arrived first. And this was going to be it. Our first taste of the much-raved over Nobu food. I picked up my spoon, eyeing the floating bits of mushroom in the broth before taking my first sip. And it was good. Beyond good. While most vegetable-based soups can run bland, this exploded with flavor, without being overpoweringly earthy. It was fantastic. My roommate gave it a try as well, although her favorite soup is still the Miso. We finished our soups and had time to let it digest before our dinners arrived.
Nobu's green tea - proceeds from the sale of their tea went to help with Japan's earthquake relief
The cut rolls were absolutely stunning. The Vegetable Sushi roll was cut in circular slices, stuffed with rice and a variety of vegetables. The Oshinko Sushi roll (pickled vegetables) exploded with flavor. This one was cut into smaller, square pieces and all displayed against a dark green banana leaf with ginger and wasabi on the side. Their ginger, by the way, was awesome. And I normally don’t like ginger. I opted to try the vegetable one first and took one bite and immediately fell in love with it. It was the best vegetarian sushi I had ever tasted. Packed with flavor…not bland or dull. But the real treat was the Oshinko. The pickled vegetables packed a powerful punch that played well against the rice. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever let cross my palate. It alternated between the two throughout the meal and polished off each roll, savoring every bite.
Nobu's Bento Box dessert
With the appetizer and main course down, we decided that since we were on vacation we’d treat ourselves to dessert. With my gluten intolerance, this can sometimes be a challenge. But, not at Nobu. We ordered the Bento Box, a flourless chocolate cake with a white chocolate sauce, shiso syrup and green tea ice cream. Was that ever worth the splurge. I have never, ever had a cake melt in my mouth before, but this did. Like butter. It was soft, creamy, dreamy, chocolate goodness paired with a green tea ice cream that paired so well with the gooey chocolate cake that it was an unbelievable party in my mouth. My roommate commented upon finishing that if it wouldn’t go against all dining etiquette, that she would lick the box it was served in. I also tried their green tea with my dessert and it was warm and delicious. All proceeds from the tea sold went toward helping Japan. A worthy cause…delicious tea.
Nobu was more than a splurge. It was a dining experience. No one should visit any city one of these restaurants are in without going. The tastes, the food, the ambiance…it all plays into one of the most amazing dining experiences. And the food…well, that’s a culinary vacation all its own. And one so good, that my roommate and I cancelled our Thursday night dinner reservation to return. But that is another blog…
Nobu's Cut Roll Sushi: Vegetable (round) and Oshinko (square)
Back in February, I was told that I have a gluten intolerance. This was…heartbreaking. I’m a girl in love with her carbs. Bread, pasta, pancakes, pizza, pretzels, muffins, bagels, donuts…all delicious and, sadly, all very glutenous. It has been a challenge taking on a gluten-free lifestyle. Expensive too. Sometimes I just can’t justify spending money to try out a product that I might not like. Granted, gluten-free products have come a long way over the years, but sometimes the trial-and-error method doesn’t work into my budget. And, not surprisingly, there are times all I crave are things that I can no longer easily have. One such thing was cookies.
That was until I was entered into an online contest during May’s Celiac Awareness Month on Gluten Free Networks. Just for being a member of the site, you were entered into drawings for gluten-free prizes all month. It just so happened that I won.
My prize was a box of gluten-free cookies from Enjoy Life. They had just rolled out their new line of crunchy cookies. I was going to receive one of four flavors: chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, crisp sugar, or vanilla honey graham.
My box arrived in the mail not long after and I received a box of their crunchy chocolate chip cookies.
I knew what dessert was going to be that night so after eating dinner, I broke into my prize and pulled out the cookies. On the box, despite being listed as crunchy, they still look very raised and soft. The cookies are pretty flat when you see them. But…sometimes cookies baked at home are like that. Let’s let the taste buds do the talking.
Now, my roommate does not have to be gluten-free, but she does eat that way sometimes because I’m the chef in this apartment and I refuse to cook things two different ways. So, I handed her a cookie and got my own. I was nervous about the first bite, but after taking it, feeling the crisp cookie break away and dance across my tastebuds…I was sold.
Not only did these taste like homemade cookies, they were really delicious! The crunch was just the right kind that I like with cookies (despite that I much prefer soft-bake…but Enjoy Life makes those too and might be worth a try). The chocolate chips were perfectly sweet and paired with the sweetness of the cookie base. I admit that I even reverted back to being five years old at one point and dunked the cookie into my glass of almond milk. A pre-packaged product that tastes like a homemade cookie isn’t an easy find, but I found it in this box. The rest were devoured throughout the week and I savored every bite.
If a grocery store out this way ever starts carrying these delicious treats from Enjoy Life…I’ll buy them up. I’m now dying to try the other flavors. Gluten-free tastes oh, so good again!
Sweet Molly Malone’s. Located in the Highlands of Louisville, Kentucky (with satellite restaurants in St. Matthews and Covington), this pub was one of the first local Irish pubs that I went to upon moving here. Since then, I’ve made friends with the men who go there to watch rugby, sat in during the World Cup, and taken friends there for trip planning, catching up, and…birthdays. Oh yes…this is one of those places that you just want to brag about.
It can’t get much more authentically Irish than this. Molly Malone’s is owned by a gentleman who hails from County Cork, Ireland. The chef…is also from Ireland. They serve, *gasp* Irish food. Shepherd’s Pie, Fish & Chips, Irish Lamb Stew, Bangers & Mash, Corned Beef & Cabbage…it’s all on that menu. Along with some pasta dishes (one is vegetarian), burgers (one is vegetarian), and sandwiches (one is a vegetarian Portobello mushroom sandwich!).
Irish food that not only is authentic but delicious. And no one can beat the selection this pub has on tap, including Magners…my favorite cider, which I was introduced to in Ireland back in 2007. Molly Malone’s has it all. And that is why I continue to go back there. It’s my go-to pub. My hometown bit of Ireland. Granted, Louisville has a plethora of Irish pubs to choose from. Yet, in a pinch, Molly Malone’s is where I would go. The food is good, the atmosphere rocks, the staff is awesome, and the price is right. Two pubs in downtown Louisville on Fourth Street are twice as much in cost as entreés at Molly Malone’s.
On a recent stop at Molly’s for lunch, I placed an order for the Black Bean Burger, their homemade veggie burger patty consisting of beans, nuts and grains. It comes with lettuce, tomato and red onion with a Cajun ranch sauce, and served on a Kaiser roll. Being one who can’t have bread, I ordered it without the bread. I didn’t even miss it. Piling it high with the veggies, I sliced it up, poured a bit of the dressing over it and ate it like that. It was delightfully spicy. The right amount of kick – not too much. It was soft, warm, and matched perfectly with the spicy dressing. For one who normally would have gotten the Portobello sandwich, this was going off the reservation for me…and now it might be what I always get there. I’m in love with the combination of flavors and the way each hint of spice plays off the other. SO delicious.
Louisville has a lot to offer when it comes to Irish food. There are so many Irish-themed pubs in the vicinity of the city that it could make anyone’s head spin. But, trust me…Molly Malone’s is far superior to all of them. Not just in the quality of the food, but the cost too. And you will find this pub’s regulars very engaging and very inviting. That speaks highly of this establishment.
Good Irish pub grub…amazing suroundings…alive, alive, o!
If you couldn’t tell already, I go to a lot of pubs. All sorts. Scottish, English, Irish…it doesn’t matter. Pub grub is a guilty pleasure of mine. And given that my roommate enjoys a good fish and chips order more than anyone I know…pubs are often first on our list when we visit an area and are looking for something to eat.
While in Columbus, Ohio, we stopped in for an early dinner at The Old Bag of Nails Pub, a pub aptly named because the first one was opened in an empty warehouse store. The pub has come a long way since then. The outside of this place is beautiful, but the inside was spacious, well-lit and reminiscent of those dark-wood pubs of long ago.
We were seated near a loud group of drunken college boys watching one of the many sports games up on the televisions. But, it’s a pub and to be expected – especially on a Saturday. After looking over the menu, I debated a little on what to order. I had two possible choices: the Grilled Portobello Mushroom Sandwich or soup and salad. I opted, after much debate, for the sandwich, which was to come out with chips and salsa, so I asked to substitute those for the fries.
Our meals came out and I inspected my sandwich. It was simply a giant Portobello mushroom cap topped with provolone cheese and a sun-dried tomato mayonnaise. It came with lettuce, tomato and red onion on toasted ciabatta bread. This mushroom definitely had not been grilled up to perfection like the one I had in Tennessee. In fact, the bottom slice of bread was soaked in the juice of the mushroom. I ended up only nibbling on bits of the bread, to keep the gluten-intolerance at a minimum. Mostly I ate the mushroom, cheese and vegetables. It was a decent enough sandwich, the runny mushroom not withstanding. Did it blow me away? No. It didn’t offer me anything different from any other Portobello sandwich I have eaten at pubs. The steak fries were a bit soft as well. And, even though I substituted them for the chips and salsa, an order was brought out to the table regardless. So we enjoyed those as well with our meal. My friends, naturally, got the fish and chips.
I wasn’t blown away by the food here. But this has the disadvantage of also being a chain pub. These tend to lack in quality what the independent pubs have. It wasn’t bad…but I think next time I’ll go somewhere else. Perhaps a quieter atmosphere. Perhaps with a wider range of vegetarian options. I’m not saying I wouldn’t go back to The Old Bag of Nails Pub; I’m just saying it’s not on the top of my list.
The Old Bag of Nails Pub's Grilled Portobello Mushroom Sandwich
Sully’s Irish Pub in Medina, Ohio is truly one of those restaurants I revisit every time I am in the area. No joke. I once even drove up from Columbus, Ohio when I was there visiting a friend just to take her there for dinner. Then we drove back afterwards. Yes…worth the gas, worth the time, and worth the drive. Because as far as Irish pubs go in the United States, this is, by far, the absolute best I have been to.
On a recent visit, which was just before the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon 5K I was running in, my roommate, friend and I stopped in for dinner. Prior to this, however, I contacted the restaurant to inquire about some of the ingredients in the food. It was important, especially before a race, not to eat something that might ignite a reaction to my gluten allergy.
The owner of Sully’s e-mailed me back. I had asked if I could bring in my own wrap to have with my usual, the Leprechaun Wrap, as normally this mix of grilled sliced Portobello mushrooms, red and green peppers, red onion, tomato, romaine lettuce and a balsamic vinaigrette glaze, comes in a flour tortilla. He said that I could bring my own wrap and they would be happy to use it for my vegetarian dish. As I also inquired about the appetizer my friends I always get, the Guinness Cheese Dip, which is served with boxty potato cakes, he looked into that as well. After telling me the boxty was, in fact, made with flour, he said I could bring in an extra tortilla and they could make me up some wedges to fry up for the dip. And then, almost immediately, he replied back again saying that since the dip actually had Guinness draught in it…it wasn’t gluten-free. Absolutely correct. And a good catch there. Still, here we have an owner willing to bend over backwards for a patron. Kudos to John Sullivan and his pub, Sully’s, for that.
Sully's cup o' Tomato Basil Soup
I did end up bringing my own wrap to dinner. While my friends enjoyed the Guinness Cheese Dip, I got a cup of the Tomato Basil Soup. It was warm, rich, and delicious. Definitely not the Guinness Cheese Dip I had previously enjoyed on prior visits, but definitely made up for not being able to have that appetizer. It was just enough to wet my palate for the entrée.
As this is a pub, and I am a vegetarian, the Leprechaun Wrap is one of the best choices on the menu for me. I ordered it, sans the wrap, with the french fries. I love the fries at this place, so I wasn’t going to pass that up. I didn’t send the wrap back this time, but next time I will so that it is warm and pliable, but the kitchen whipped up the insides of the wrap and placed them in a dish, serving them alongside my order of fries. I wrapped up my vegetables and dug in. And, yes…it was just as good as before. And, as is usual with my two friends…they split the gigantic fish & chips dinner…and savored every bite of the haddock filets and “chips.”
Since none of the desserts there are gluten-free, we passed on dessert this time and left, quite satisfied once again. The food has always been amazing. But what really makes Sully’s Irish Pub stand out in this small-town outside of Cleveland is this – the people who work there. I give big kudos to John Sullivan for working with me and my food allergies. Not every owner will take the time to not only offer suggestions, but double-check ingredients and quickly reply. I also have to give major props to Barb, our waitress who we’ve had three out of the four times we’ve been there. She’s awesome. She always keeps up on our orders, makes sure our drinks are refilled, and just makes us feel at home there. She has since our first time we at there.
If you happen to be venturing up to Cleveland, Ohio or find yourself near Medina, Ohio…do me a huge favor. Stop into Sully’s Irish Pub. This little place offers up a whole lot of Ireland not only in atmosphere, but in their menu, their drinks, and their staff. When I say this place is somewhere I return to often, I’m not kidding. I’m already looking forward to my next visit there. Sully’s really does stand heads and tails above the rest when it comes to Irish food and Irish pubs in the United States. And it’s in small-town Medina, Ohio. Go. Feast. Drink. Enjoy.
McCreary's Irish Pub and Eatery, Franklin, Tennessee
It doesn’t look like much on the outside. In fact, it’s your basic hole-in-the-wall restaurant on a street packed with a variety of eateries and shops. The entryway is inviting, nonetheless, but it’s one of those ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ places along the strip of Main Street in Franklin, Tennessee.
I am talking about McCreary’s Irish Pub and Eatery. Located in the historic downtown area of Franklin, Tennessee, this place is literally a hole-in-the-wall. But size isn’t everything, so don’t let appearances deceive you. Step inside this pub and you find a cozy, friendly environment. My roommate and I stopped into McCreary’s on the way home from Alabama for some lunch. We were seated near the bar at the back and enjoyed hearing snatches of conversation wafting from the locals and customers around us.
McCreary's Irish Cheese Chips
With a long drive ahead of us, however, alcohol wasn’t what we sought. After getting our Diet Cokes for us, the barmaid – a woman who looked like a roller-girl with tattoos, dark hair, and an attitude to match – took our order. We decided to split an order if their famous Irish Cheese Chips, a basket of Irish chips piled high with cheddar cheese and chives (the original comes with bacon and sour cream but the vegetarian in me axed the bacon and neither my roommate nor I like sour cream). They arrived piping hot and fresh and after one bite, we realized why they were so popular. They are the perfect drunk food. And every last bite of them was delicious. We polished off the basket just as our entrees came out.
By now it should be no surprise that my roommate ordered their fish and chips…and enjoyed every bit of them. Thankfully, McCreary’s offers a Vegetarian Special, consisting of a sauteed Portobello mushroom cap topped with white rice and served with sauteed veggies. It looks a bit of a mess upon arrival. Nothing special. Nothing notable. The vegetables were full of flavor, however. The rice…cooked just right. And the mushroom…it was the first time any Portobello meal I ordered had sauteed it properly, so the juices weren’t spilling out all over the place. It was fantastic. I ended up moving the mushroom aside so I could enjoy it last. Yes…that delicious. That good. And this little pub was the first place to do it right. I never would have expected it. But I love unexpected surprises.
We went without dessert this time, as we were stuffed full from the appetizer and the entrees, but we left more than satisfied with not only our meal but the experience there. Very friendly staff. Very warm environment. Lots of talk. Lots of happy customers. Many of them regulars, you could tell.
I love trying new places when passing through an area…but McCreary’s may become a usual stop. I can’t wait to see if the next time I get their Vegetarian Special if it lives up to the standard it set. I hope so…because this pub is among the best I have been to in the United States. Don’t pass by the Franklin, Tennessee exit without stopping in for a bite. Trust me…you will not regret it.
The Celiathlete 