New Way To Eat a Waffle

Breakfast used to be so simple.

Eggs, bacon, toast, maybe some hash browns. There weren't weird combinations or loaded omelets it was just the old fashioned stuff.

Now however, things are changing. There are breakfast burritos, chicken biscuits and McDonald's infamous McGriddle.

Dunkin Donuts has also joined the club of offering unusual breakfast items. Check this out: waffle, egg, bacon and cheese all on one sandwich. Maybe this is their way to satisfy the craving of the often times over weight America. Instead of coming up with something completely new they just take everything we already love and put it all together.

I was intrigued from the moment I saw the new Waffle Breakfast Sandwich. While I like all of the items separately I was doubtful of them tasting good all together.

Right now Dunkin is promoting this new item with a medium coffee for $3.99 (or about the same price as a Grande drink at Starbucks). Watch out though...this is a promoted price and it will go up slightly once the promotion was over.

I was nervous ordering it. But, I was desperate to try it. For the past week I have seen the commercial 50 times every night and I couldn't take it anymore.

The sandwich is smaller than I imagined, however it smelt amazing. I figured the waffle pieces would be soggy and soft however they were crispy around the edges and only slightly soft in the middle. The waffles have a hint of a taste of maple syrup in them, but it's not to over-powering that makes it too sweet.

Believe or not....the combination is fantastic......and it is a little weird to eat. Who eats food stacked between two waffles? I wasn't a huge fan of the bacon...it took away from the rest of the sandwich. The egg tasted some what fresh (as fresh as it could be at Dunkin) but the main thing is that it didn't taste like styrofoam and the cheese (which is always a good addition to any menu item) added to the experience. The thing I was most impressed with is that it didn't make me feel "stuffed" like some other breakfast places do.

I would venture to say that Dunkin's bagels are better than the Waffle Sandwich (and more affordable as well) but the sandwich was WAY better than I ever expected. Sweet, kinda crunchy waffle, bacon, egg and cheese all stacked up into a sandwich form is a good way to start the day.

If you feel like splurging , The Waffle Sandwich and Dunkin would be a good place to start.

(Just order no bacon)

Kentucky Fried Liars

I hate when I'm fooled or tricked.

Brands seem to trick us a lot lately. One example is the Sunday Target ad with a $500 flat screen TV on front....after a visit to the store you might find they only had 1 TV to sell and they sold it when the doors opened.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I was recently scammed by KFC as well. Take a look at this commercial.

It's promoting KFC's new Value Menu. At first glance you might not notice in the commercial the very fine print of "starting at" 99cents.

Sometimes it's hard for the average Joe to process the fine print of commercials in just 30 seconds. Even if we see it 3, 4 or 10 times it's likely we will still interpret the commercial in the way we first saw it. I've seen this commercial probably a 100 times and never noticed the most important information: "starting at" 99cents.

When KFC first rolled with this new menu I was looking forward to checking it out as on my last visit I was disappointed when I pulled in the drive thru and they didn't have a 99cent item at all.

We went to KFC yesterday to pick up something from the Value Menu. I was shocked when I arrived and realized that not everything on the Value Menu was 99cents.

I was enraged! I've seen the commercial! I know that all of the choices are 99cents. But, they weren't....I had been fooled by slick advertising. How many items does KFC have that cost 99 cents? Two out of ten.

None of the 99 cent items even looked worth it so we went with something far more appetizing: the Mashed Potato Bowl for $1.99. It was more than I was planning on spending, but it sure sounded good. Who wouldn't like mashed potatoes, corn, deep fried chicken, gravy and cheese all mashed up in a bowl?

All things considered.....it tasted absolutely amazing. All of the ingredients work in harmony for a fantastic bowl that reminded me of traditional Thanksgiving dinner. The corn is sweet, the chicken crispy and the melted cheese tops it all off to make this bowl of mush completely wonderful. Don't even ask how many calories it has.

However, that doesn't change the fact that KFC pulled a quickie and led me to believe that everything was 99cents.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I should stop complaining....after all I did get a bowl of mush for $1.99. (Although two cheeseburgers at Wendy's for the same price would have been better.) When things like this happen though I just can't seem to ignore the fact that I feel like I was lied to.

Maybe you've experienced the same thing.....have you been at a restaurant or store thinking something was one price and then getting there only to discover the price is completely different?

I suppose I can't throw too much of a fit. After all, they do mention it in the fine print. But - don't you think that every company out there should work on being honest, getting our business and keeping it? The strategy of, get as many customers as we can and not care if they ever come back again will eventually lead to disaster. Take me for example - they got my $2 but they didn't get my loyalty.

Pei Wei has Mojo

If was I Panera, Chipotle, Moe's or any other fast casual restaurant, I would be scared of Pei Wei.

They have mojo.

If you have never been to Pei Wei before, it's a hip Asian diner owned by P.F. Chang's. (Basically it's the cheap version of P.F. Changs. Same quality food for about half the price).

I haven't been in a while but last night we were craving teriyaki so we decided to hit them up. When you first walk in you would be surprised to find out it's a fast casual restaurant. The decor is upscale and sophisticated...high booths, cool lighting and a really unique ceiling. To top it off they have an open kitchen right by the register where you can see, hear and smell the food being prepared.

We spent awhile looking at the menu and as we were debating an employee came out from behind the counter and asked us if we were ready to order. Whoa. This is a huge change from what I'm used to.

You know the crowd at Panera that stands awkwardly right at the front entrance and they think they're all in line but they actually aren't? Then you know the Panera employee who starts shouting from behind the register "NEXT IN LINE PLEASE!" (They don't have those kind of employees at Pei Wei.)

After we ordered we took a seat at a booth with our order number standing up on our table. We ordered Spring Rolls as an appetizer (yes Pei Wei has appetizers). The food runner brought them over to our table with plates before our entrees came out. Hot and delicious I could have had about 6 more. Not to mention they serve you like it's a real restautant....appetizers first then entrees.... you get the idea.

Then a few minutes later our entrees came out. I got Orange Peel Chicken and my wife got ateriyaki vegetable bowl. Served up on real plate ware you have the option of fighting to eat with chop sticks or using real silverware. In an attempt to be much more sophisticated then I actually am I tried with chop sticks until I decided I actually wanted to eat my food not just play with it.

The Orange Chicken was very spicy and served with the soft brown rice it was truly awesome. Both of our portions were huge in fact my wife ended up taking some of hers home in a to-go box (yes they have to-go boxes).

When we were finishing up a food runner came by and took our dishes away for us. Wait, you mean I don't have to take them over to a trash can and put them in myself? Hmm....revolutionary.

The only thing I didn't really like was the hard plastic cups. Instead of just giving you a to-go cup they offer a dine in plastic cup. Unless I'm drinking from a to-go cup I prefer to drink from real glass. However, the orange flavored tea with orange slices to squeeze in made up for it.

Remember that food runner who took our dishes? After I asked how to get a to-go drink he came back with two cups, lids and straws for us.

As we sat and finished our last drink I watched the other food runners: wiping down tables, sweeping the floor and waiting on customers. None of which I have ever seen at any other fast casual restaurant. Can you imagine if every place you ate at was like this?

The whole experience cost me $22 with tax. Initially, I thought that was little much. Most entrees are priced $7-$9 and appetizers are $3 - $6. But then I remembered what I have spent at Panera and Chipotle recently....about $20. At these other places though there is no food service, no rich atmosphere and they don't come pick up your dishes from your table. Pei Wei has created a whole new category of fast casual and taken it to the next level.

So Panera, Chipotle, Moe's and everyone else out there: jump on it. Pei Wei has mojo and the'yre not afraid to use it.

Find your Pei Wei location here.

Starbucks Watered Down in an Instant

Do you drink instant coffee?

Maybe I'm out of touch but I have never even considered it. Why have instant coffee when I can have the real thing? Hot, fresh brewed with the amazing aroma.

It might surprise you then that Starbucks latest attempt to rebound is in selling instant coffee mix called VIA (no I have no idea what a "via" is or means).

Starbucks instant coffee mix? It seems a little unusual don't you think? Why take a powerful and romantic experience and then try to bag it into an instant mix?

Starbucks claims this is what people are looking for, since consumers have become more and more mobile and they want more Starbucks. Hold on a second, isn't there a Starbucks on every corner of the world.....why do we need more of you? Don't we already have enough access?

To me this seems entirely wrong. First, I have high doubts that instant coffee is as good or better than a fresh brewed cup. Second, Starbucks was built on an experience not on taste or convenience. Third, Starbucks should be worrying about how to fix what they have without adding on additional baggage. People don't want instant Starbucks, they want the Starbucks they once knew back again. They want that feeling Starbucks once gave us.

Howard Schultz CEO of Starbucks made this statement today when announcing VIA: "At Starbucks there are no sacred cows -- except one. I believe that it is crucial, and I think our customers agree, that we remain true to our core values. To adapt is essential in order to survive, to walk away from our founding principles -- the very reason for our being -- would be reckless."

I would venture to say this move is reckless....the watering down of a timeless brand and experience.

Pause for a moment and think. What's better instant pancakes or homemade? instant chocolate chip cookies or homemade? What stands for quality? Not instant.

I could be wrong. Maybe VIA is revolutionary and will change Starbucks forever. Here's the good news, you can get a free sample of VIA by filling this form out here and can judge for yourself.

The Traveling Cup

Maybe you haven't done it. Maybe you have. Or maybe you've never even thought about it.

I have been known on several occasions to turn my "to-go beverage" from Chick-Fil-A or Panera Bread into a traveling drink. It starts like this...

It's a Saturday afternoon, we're running errands and we stop at Chick-Fil-A for lunch. As we're eating I go up and get a few refills (have to get my money's worth). When we're finishing up, my wife tells me that we have to go to the mall. I pause and think - is there a Chick-Fil-A at that mall? Yes. Sweet.

I save the cup and take it with me to the mall where I proceed to get another refill (sometimes twice). When we're leaving the mall my wife tells me we have to go to the other mall (of course) because the mall we were just at didn't have what we needed (obviously, why did we come here in the first place?). I pause and think - is there a Chick-Fil-A at the other mall? Yes. Sweet.

I keep the cup a little longer and after this mall visit I have turned one drink purchase into about 8 refills. I have also done this with Panera Bread cups and taken them to different Panera Breads (only on the same day).

Technically speaking I believe this is completely legal. I purchased the drink, therefore I am entitled on the day of purchase to unlimited refills.

Some of you may think this is evil, others may find it to be rather genius.

I'll let you decide.

Bahama Breeze Used to be Sexy

If I had to pick one restaurant restroom to sleep in it would be at Bahama Breeze.

When Bahama Breeze first opened in Tampa years ago it was the sexiest place in town. Located on the water it was booming every single night. They had complimentary valet (unheard of back then), a huge patio, hip music and a new twist on "island food." It was the place "to be". They had a 2 hour wait every weekend and people waited without even thinking twice about it.

I remember the first time I went I was glowing with excitement. The experience was phenomenal but I really didn't full comprehend how sweet this restaurant was until I went to the restroom.

What do you expect in a normal restaurant restroom? Florescent lighting. Everything is wet. The stall doors are hanging off the hinges. Someone has written a series of foul sentences that all end with a fake phone number on the wall. It usually smells.

Bahama Breeze's restroom was fit for a king. Extremely clean with hip lighting and a welcoming smell. The stalls were like individual caves all with their own full sized entrance door and tile walls that went from floor to ceiling. The urinals were tucked away in a separate room off to the side and when I went to wash my hands my breath was taking away by the moisturizing soap, thick towels, hand lotion and mouth wash.

I believe the heart of the restaurant is in the restroom. It's a sneak peak into the inner workings and management of the restaurant and tells you their priorities. If the restroom isn't clean how do you think the kitchen looks?

I visited Bahama Breeze a couple weeks ago. It had been years since I was last there.

It was during lunch but for the most part the place was completely empty. We were the only ones sitting in the lounge and there were a handful of tables full throughout the dining room.

Service was great. The food was flavorful (they have a great Cuban, but it costs $10 with a side of fries) and the restaurant was fairly clean. As you might imagine, I had to go to the restroom and was pleasantly surprised when I walked in and it was just as I remembered it. Clean and sparkling with all of the extras.

Service was great and the same as always. Food was good but a little pricey. Restaurant and restrooms were both clean and the atmosphere was warm and inviting.

Hmm.....so why was it empty?

The sex appeal was long gone. The restaurant never changed.

They didn't update or try to stay current with the times. It's likely they thought they could keep riding on what they had and that more of the same was a good solution.

The results however are paralyzing. An empty and unchanged restaurant, no matter how remarkable all the elements are is never a good thing.

So if you want to visit an amazing restroom, Bahama Breeze is the place to go (yes I really would sleep there). But, if you want to visit the sexiest restaurant in town you better look elsewhere.

Ocean Prime

It's sexy. It's new. Anyone who is anyone has been there.

It's a brand new restaurant that just opened called Ocean Prime. Positioned as the new "modern American Supper Club," I have slowly been watching the restaurant being built for over 6 months.

The restaurant is huge and in a premiere location in Tampa. My anticipation has been building for weeks now itching to try it because the exterior is so clean, beautiful and elegant. In addition to watching it being built, when it opened the entire city was buzzing with an out-pouring of love like a long lost child had finally come home.

After checking out the menu online and driving by and staring I decided I finally had to bite the bullet and give this so called wonder of a restaurant a try.

The second you step within 10 feet of Ocean Prime you feel like royalty. A red carpet awaits you, and after walking through a tropical oasis to the solid glass front doors a group of very professional hostesses will take you to the luxurious dining room (pictured above).

The booths are all half moon shaped and extra comfy. They face a wall of windows which overlooks a large patio and pond.

As you might imagine, after all the hype and anticipation I expected our service to be world class. We sat and looked at the view and talked about how gorgeous the inside of the restaurant was for a solid 5 minutes before the server finally showed up.......what good is a restaurant palace if the service is as good as eating at a diner?

While I wasn't initially impressed he did somewhat recover. My tea was served in a glass along with a miniature glass pitcher so I could refill it myself....but I ran out of ice quick.

We were there for lunch (thank goodness because the dinner prices are through the roof). It was hard to decide. Ocean Prime has a variety of great seafood, chicken and steak entrees. However I ended up going with the Park Farms Chicken with asparagus and a side of truffle mac and cheese. (I think the mac and cheese is what sold me).

As we waited the server brought more free bread (amazing) and after I got tired of waiting I went to the front and asked the hostess to give me a tour of the restaurant.

She took me through the 3 private dining rooms, into the elegant lounge and out onto the spacious patio. The highlight of this mini-tour was the blue flame stones. In the restaurant and also on the back patio are blue stones in a pit that are powered by a propane tank to give off powerful flames. Quite simply one of the coolest, simplest things I have ever seen in a restaurant (pictured left).

When I got back the food was there. The chicken was juicy, moist and tender, however I probably could have just gotten the truffle mac and cheese and been just as satisfied.

After we were all finished I sat back and thought about this experience.....the hostesses were outstanding, the manager stopped by our table to greet us, the food tasted good, the service was mediocre and the atmosphere was phenomenal.

Then I asked myself this question: how would I feel if I had this exact same experience in a different restaurant?

It's likely it wouldn't have been as exciting or sexy. When I visit restaurants I expect the hostesses to be knowledgeable and enthusiastic, I expect the service to be outstanding, I expect the manager to stop by and I expect the food will be delicious.

I guess what I'm saying is: take away the building and Ocean Prime really isn't that spectacular. Don't get me wrong, it was a wonderful experience! But, at about $20 a person for lunch and $50 a person for dinner I'm not sure I'll be back. Some things are more important than a restaurant building, even if it's built like a palace.

You can find a location near you here.

Cheap Eats for Valentine's Day

I'm no love Doctor.

I don't advise lost and confused men on how to meet and lure women and I don't know much about "romantic destinations". But I did somehow manage to convince a seriously hot babe to marry me a couple years ago so I guess it's ok for me to give "Valentine's Day Advice"

The fact of the matter is, times are tough and no one has any cash. Here's the problem....she doesn't care how poor you are, she's still expecting something.

The good news is, you have a lot of options. A variety of restaurants have risen to the occasion and are offering great deals so you can take her out, without emptying your piggy bank.

Here is a list of restaurants you may want to consider:

Tijuana Flats: On 2/14 buy an entree and get a free beer (something for her and for you)
Moe's: $4.99 Joey Jr meal AND just announced $5.99 Moe Monday deal on Valentine's Day

If you're in the mood for a steak dinner check these out:

LongHorn: $11.99 Parmesan Crusted Sirloin
Outback: $9.99 6oz Sirloin
Applebee's: $9.99 Steak Dinner
TGI Friday's: Buy one Entree, Get One Free coupon click here. (Not valid on V-Day, but would be good to have any way
Texas Roadhouse: Bundled meal of $31.99 that includes appetizer and two entrees

If you are really feeling thrifty you might also consider the always delicious Taco Bell or Chick-Fil-A. I would also like to remind you that Valentine's Day is a "day long celebration". That means that you can take her out for breakfast or lunch and it still counts.

No, none of these options are timeless or passionately romantic but if you're on a budget they aren't bad choices. Not to mention your date may be more impressed with your smooth skills in finding a tasty, affordable meal then those $75 flowers you were thinking of buying her.

Feel free to comment to add any additional restaurants offering a sweet deal this weekend...

BRAND SPANKIN' NEW!

Does something look different?

Over the past week the Green Eggs site went through a complete transformation. New design, layout, logo and features. This has been a work in progress for several months and I'm very excited that it's finished! Woo hoo!

The re-design was done with you in mind. The idea was to make the site easy to read, navigate and share. The top navigation allows you quick access to Classy Eater, Free Stuff and some of the most Popular Posts from the site.

The right and left panels give you the ability to search, contact me, subscribe, share the blog and check out other blogs and articles. If you scroll to the very bottom you will see a list of recent readers and where they have been coming from along with a featured free download of the latest eBook, 27 Thoughts for Restaurants.

This revolutionary designed was created specifically for Green Eggs by a magnificent web design team: April and Luis Reyes. You can check out some of their other work here or contact April at april@aprilreyes.com. If you need any design or web work done, I highly recommend you contact them. They have a unique and passionate outlook on design and their work is nothing short of remarkable.

Spend some time, click around and let me know what you think of the new look!

Good Bye Bussers, Hello Dirty Restaurants

Oh! Oh! I have an idea...

Since no one is visiting restaurants any more because of the current economic condition, let's just cut all of the Bussers and leave the Hosts and Servers to fend for themselves. That should save all of the restaurant owners a TON of money! Right?

Eh, not really.

In this article from the Wall Street Journal, restaurants such as Bob Evans and TGI Fridays have recently removed the Busser positions in their restaurants as a cost savings measure.

Direct quote from the article:

" 'The busser is a luxury that, in this environment, is very difficult to justify,' says Mark Godward, president and founder of SRE, a Miami consulting firm that has advised several restaurants to cut busboys.

In many states, it's cheaper to keep servers on the clock than bussers because of a loophole that allows restaurants to pay servers who earn tips less than the minimum wage -- as little as $2.13 an hour. Bussers must be paid at least $6.55 an hour."

Ok wait.....so having a busser is now considered, "a luxury". I was unaware that having a paid worker to clear tables in a restaurant was so magnificent. Now if you said that white table cloths, unlimited amounts of alcohol or complimentary appetizers was a luxury I could possibly agree. But a busser? No, that is a standard.

More or less Friday's and Bob Evans believe that by cutting these select few from their staff they will be saving their business. I tend to disagree, in times like these we don't need less, we need more.

More and better service, more innovative products, more attention to affordability and pricing, more renovations and updates, more clean restrooms.

Less staff and less attention only results in one thing: less customers.

Be wary of the restaurants that cut bussers, you may find that you will have to fill the bus tub yourself.

The Best $5 Deal

During the $5 Showdown we had one goal: find the best $5 deal.

Things didn't go exactly as I had imagined.....Domino's was better than I thought and Quizno's was worse than I ever dreamed. However it was amazing to discover how far $5 can go. Below is the final list ranked in order from best to worst.

1. Moe's: This was the surprise of the week. With the recent launch of the $4.99 Joey Jr. they offer the best $5 deal. A full sized portion, above fast food quality and the only restaurant that offers a complete meal with burrito, drink and chips.....and for the first time in a long time splurging on queso doesn't feel like a rip off any more.

2. Domino's: Also a shocker as I anticipated this to be far below my expectations, especially with all of the recent hype of how they beat Subway in a national taste test by 2 to 1 (actually now that I think about it, beating Subway really shouldn't be that hard). This sandwich is hot, stacked with meat and tastes delicious. If you don't want Mexican food this is the next best choice.

3. Subway: They come in third based on portion size alone. Although the Foot Long isn't awful tasting it doesn't taste that amazing either....especially in comparison to Domino's. All things considered the portion size can't be ignored, the Foot Long fills is big and fills you up.

4. Arby's: It's an awkward choice for $5 but if you feel like a little variety and want to mix and match different items all for $5 it's not too bad. I recommend 4 servings of those crispy fantastic curly fries all for $5.

5. Quizno's: If Quizno's was free I'm not sure I would eat there again. They are in dead last.

There it is! Save up your $5 and go get some good food.

Hate to Love Arby's

Don't ask me why I like Arby's.

I don't really have a good reason.

Maybe it's those tasty curly fries

Maybe it's the juicy roast beef

Maybe it's because I used to go there as a kid.

Whatever the reason, I like them even though my intuition tells me I'm crazy.

To finish up the $5 Showdown I hit up Arby's tonight to give their 4 for $5 menu a try. It has probably been a good 5 years since I last visited Arby's, however as a kid I remember going there all the time to get the kids meal, so I have fond memories.

Stepping into Arby's tonight however was like a journey through the Twilight Zone back to the 1970s. I assume it was just my particular location, but except for the menu board nothing had changed since my last visit.

The floors had ugly tile, the tables and booths clearly haven't changed since the restaurant opened and the lamp shades hanging from the ceiling topped the whole experience off. The staff was really no better, shirts un-tucked, wrinkled, unshaven, but happy at least.

When looking over the menu I realized that the 4 for $5 was the only thing I would ever considering ordering at Arby's. The rest of the menu items are extremely expensive. Many of them upwards close to $7 - higher than any of their fast food competitors.

It was difficult to pick 4 options. However I landed on the Jr. Roast Beef, Jr. Arby's Melt, Jr. Curly Fries and Small Drink....all for $5. Don't be fooled by the quantity. The key word here in all of the items I bought is, "Jr." and trust me they were Jr. portions.

The cup was about the size of my daughter's sippy cup, it was roughly a handful of fries and I could have easily fit both sandwiches in the palm of my hand. I filled up my tea (the iced tea container was just sitting on the counter by the register) I put my off-brand sweet and low in (that's all they had, but at least they had something) and I went to sit down at one of the not so luxurious booths.

Man those stupid curly fries are so good. What I should have done if I was thinking was just gotten four orders of those and forgotten the sandwiches all together. It may seem odd but when it comes to Arby's I'm very boring. I just like good old fashion roast beef with nothing extra. I hate to admit it, but they are just plain good.

The atmosphere was awkward at best, but I got my refills, ate my cheap food and was done in a few minutes. When I asked where the restroom was the employee told me it was "round back outside." Ok......why is the restroom outside in the back of the building?

As he grabbed the key to walk me to the restroom he explained that this Arby's used to be a gas station. When I got in the restroom I wasn't surprised. It smelt, looked and felt like a gas station restroom and I left feeling dirtier than when I came in. The best part? It was so small the door hit you when you opened it in order to get out.

So....Arby's. Why the heck do I like them? This time I think it really is all about the food, although I doubt I'll be back for another 5 years....maybe then they will have updated their atmosphere.

P.S.: What the heck is an Arby?