Wanted: Friendly Server

When it comes to the "blogging world" I don't usually get involved in offering my thoughts on other people's blog posts, after all we're all entitled to our opinion.

However, after recently reading this post about "restaurant bonding" I feel the need to share my opinion and ask you what you think as well.

Ami, the author of the post writes about her frustration because of "friendly" restaurant service. Throughout her idiotic complaining she shares that servers who sit down in booths, kneel to take the order and "announce that they are taking care of the table" annoy her and make her feel uncomfortable.

Apparently she has even gone as far to try and block servers from sitting down by putting her jacket on the booth. She continues to share that servers' jobs are "just to bring the food", not to befriend her and create a bond.

Here is the most disheartening part: there are 94 comments on the post, all of which agree with her saying that friendly service is uncomfortable.

Am I insane or has something dramatically changed in society without me noticing?

Last time I checked people WANT friendly service. We WANT someone who cares, who takes the time to acknowledge our existence, who REMEMBERS what we want.

We DON'T want a lifeless "order taker" who can't do anything aside from writing our order down and delivering it to our table.

The server owns the entire restaurant experience. Sure the food has to be good but unless the service is remarkable the whole dining experience suffers. Why the heck would I want to be served by someone who doesn't care about their job or their customers? Why would I want someone who was unfriendly and miserable?

Personally I want the server to become my friend. If the server becomes my friend and becomes part of my experience it only results in one thing: BETTER SERVICE.

So you tell me: do you want friendly service? Do you want a server who will sit down in the booth or kneel to take your order? Or, would you prefer a lifeless drone who writes down your order and brings your food to you?

The Toasty Torpedo

It sounds more like a toy for the bedroom than Quizno's latest sandwich creation.

After all, the name "Toasty Torpedo" may not be the best way to promote a 12inch sub. It creates a lot of opportunity for endless sexual jokes that have nothing to do with sandwiches.

On my last visit to Quizno's I swore I would never return. Poor service, unaffordable pricing, and low quality. I even went as far to claim that they shouldn't even be in business.

However, after seeing Quizno's promote their Toasty Torpedo for only $4, I figured it couldn't hurt to give them one more chance. Who wouldn't want a bite of a Toasty Torpedo?

They are promoting this item as "over a foot of Quizno's flavor on slim, sleek cabiatta bread."

One thing is definitely for sure: the bread is extremely thin.

When the employee pulled the bread out from under the counter, my immediate reaction was "how the heck are they going to fit any meat on that bread?" It's like an Olive Garden bread stick split open.

There aren't many Toasty Torpedo choices, so I went for the Italian. The employee gently put my meat on the 1 inch wide bread and then carefully put it in the oven. The most entertaining part of this experience was watching all of the employees handle the Toasty Torpedo. They carried it like a newborn baby in order to keep the thin bread from tearing or breaking.

After the toasting process was complete the next employee attempted to put some toppings on. However, he didn't have much success. The "bread" could barely close and when it was finally time to wrap it up it probably would have been better if he just would have dumped it in a bowl. He tried putting the bread stick sandwich in that ridiculous Toasty Torpedo wrapper (pictured above) but after watching him try 2 times I told him to just wrap it up normally.

I really wanted to hate this sandwich.

I had already determined before I got there that I wasn't going to like it. But when I took my first few bites I couldn't help but admit that it's actually pretty good. Although I think the bread on the Toasty Torpedo is way thinner than it should be, I also hate when there is more bread than meat. With this sandwich there is plenty of meat for the amount of bread and you feel like you're getting more because the sandwich is packed full.

The bottom line is that this is Quizno's best sandwich by far. It's tasty and cheap....really cheap (only $4)

I only have one issue: the advertising (like most ads) is a lie. This sandwich was designed to compete with Subway's $5 Foot Long. It's promoted as "over a foot" (technically it may be 12 inches but it's about the size of a 12 inch pencil).

If you are truly looking for a Foot Long sandwich that's a large portion then the Tasty Torpedo isn't for you. It's called a "torpedo" for a reason, because it's a thin sandwich that's about 1 inch wide.

Here's what's interesting...there is a Subway across the street from the Quizno's I visited. On their sign they are promoting something new as well: $3.99 Ham or Turkey Foot Long.

Now what Quizno's?

The sandwich battle continues....

(Get a coupon for a Free Torpedo with purchase of a combo here....you have to "play the game" first before getting the coupon).

Food Porn

This is Hardee's latest commercial.


Can't see the video? Click Here.

It's interesting because while this commercial might turn a lot of people on, I wonder if it will turn them on to buying Hardee's new burger.

Hmmmmm...

Qdoba Copied Chipotle

It only took a trip half-way across the country to get me to try Qdoba Mexican Grill.

Several readers have been asking me to give it a try for quite some time now, however the timing was never right. There was either a Chipotle to close by, or the Qdoba was farther than I wanted to drive.

When I got off a plane at the Indianapolis Airport yesterday and saw a glowing Qdoba right in front of my face, I decided I couldn't put it off any longer.

People get strange when trying a new restaurant (or I do at least). I walked awkwardly in and peered over the glass to look at the food and much to my surprise it looked identical to Chipotle. The cheese, meat, salsas, and set up was the same...they even smelled alike.

I asked the employee if she had ever been to a Chipotle. She answered no (clearly the reason why she was working at Qdoba) but she did tell me that people say to her all the time that Qdoba copied Chipotle.

I walked out of the restaurant. For some strange reason I felt like I was cheating on Chipotle.

But....it looked good.....the prices were right....and I was hungry.

I went back in to look over the menu and discovered they offer the same products as Chipotle (no surprise there): "Naked Burritos" (aka, Burrito Bowl), Tacos and Burritos. Interestingly enough they also have breakfast items which looked good on the menu.

I got a naked burrito with my usual: half chicken/half pork, rice, salsa, corn salsa, LOTS of cheese and sour cream.

When the employee got to the cheese station I said, "I want A LOT of cheese." She said, "No problem." With pride should dug her hand deep into the cheese pan and came up with a fist full of cheese. There was no sprinkling here - she dumped it on joyfully and went in for another helping.

This as you know is a huge difference between them and Chipotle. Chipotle sprinkles on cheese like it's gold and they're stingy on the meat portions as well.

I shook up my naked burrito to mix it all and dug in. It tasted great. The salsa was a little less chunky than Chipotle but still had good spice (she also told me their salsa isn't homemade, hence why it was more runny). The chicken isn't as good as Chipotle. It had a different type of seasoning that was more spicy. However the pork and cheese tasted the same.

Basically in a blind taste test I would know the difference, but they taste just as good. It's just like Coke and Pepsi - I know the difference, I prefer Coke, but I can live with Pepsi. The same goes for Qdoba.

I like Qdoba. It's far superior to Moe's, not quite as perfect as Chipotle (assuming they give you the portion you deserve).

However the bottom line is Qdoba literally copied Chipotle right down to every single detail. Even the decor is awkwardly similar.

So - who do you prefer? Are you for Qdoba or Chipotle?

Jar of Quarters

We all want to have outstanding service when we go out to eat.

In most cases, the service is more important than the food. However, unfortunately the service experience is completely out of control.

Until now.

Servers are motivated usually only by one thing: tip money. They work hard to get good tips. What if a server knew how much tip money they were going to make from each table before the experience was over? Would they work harder?

In college I had a professor who used a revolutionary tool to make every dining occasion a perfect one. Every time he went out he would place a jar of quarters at the end of the table. The quarters in the jar would add up to a designated amount of somewhere between $15 - $20. (Not a bad tip depending on where you're eating out).

When the server greeted the table he would tell them that the jar of quarters had $15 (or $20) inside and it was their tip. However, every time they messed up, or didn't provide service up to his standards he would remove a quarter (or quarters) from the jar.

If the server did everything perfectly they would walk away with a very good tip. If the server messed up or didn't give great service they would receive a tip that was less than what they had hoped for. It was completely in their control. My professor claims he never had a bad experience whenever he did this.

It's pretty crazy to put a jar of quarters at the table and demand amazing service. Was he completely out of his mind or a genius?

You decide.

Starving at 30,000 Feet

Imagine this:

You go out to a restaurant, walk up to the hostess stand and ask for a booth in the corner.

The host replies: "That will be $25 extra."

You want the booth, the extra room and the privacy so you pay the $25.

When you sit down the server comes over and tells you that you can have one drink with no refills. She also mentions that if you want to have music on while you're eating in the restaurant it will be an extra $2.

Obviously by now you're thinking this sounds like the worst restaurant on earth.

However, if you look a little deeper this scenario may remind you of a trip you might have had on an airplane.

Airlines have come up with a pathetic strategy: cheap flights with no perks.

They believe that by taking everything we love away and giving us cheap flights it will make us want to fly more. The sad part is that it isn't really cheaper at all, they just charge for EVERYTHING now.

On a trip this week I checked in online and wanted an Exit Row....it was $25 extra. Since when is an Exit Row worth charging for? When I got on the plane I was informed that on my 3 hour flight no food at all would be served (not even peanuts) and that we could have one beverage (don't worry I begged for a refill). If we wanted to listen to music we could purchase headphones for $2.

Why do we let airlines get away with this sort of treatment? How come the rules completely change just because we're 30,000 feet in the air?

Just think of the customer outrage if restaurants tried to treat us this way. We would be shocked, appalled and would all be calling customer service demanding something for free.

Back in the days airlines were significantly smarter. They understood that flying was an experience...and most importantly it was an "eating experience".

10 years ago the best part of flying was the anticipation in getting the meal. They brought it out in little carts, gave you a choice and it was pretty good. Before the flight was over they would come back through, give refills and also hand out "snacks to take with you".

An airplane, aside from being a means of transportation, is a restaurant. (Well it should be treated like one at least). Think about the impact airlines could make. An airplane is essentially a group of trapped, angry, hungry people: FEED THEM! You have the staff, you have the capabilities - what's holding you back!?

Wouldn't it be remarkable if airlines featured food we know and love. "Today we're serving fresh sandwiches from Panera" or "For breakfast this morning we have bagels and donuts from Dunkin Donuts."

What an opportunity!

Wouldn't you pick an airline based on the food they were serving? Don't you think it might be worth the extra $20 on your ticket for this type of experience?

Airlines have it all wrong and eventually people won't stand for it any longer. Unnecessary rules, extra fees and neglect for customers never pays off in the long run.

Jumbo Krispies

This post isn't about a restaurant, but it is about food. I hope you're not too horribly offended that I've gone slightly off track. I have discovered something though that I feel very compelled to tell you about.

This story has a humble beginning. It starts with a baby.

My wife saw a commercial for the new cereal Jumbo Krispies on TV several weeks ago. Jumbo Krispies are three times the size of normal Rice Krispies.

When she first told me that she wanted to buy these new Jumbo Krispies for our baby (good munchy food) next time we're at the grocery store I didn't really care. I mean, I cared I just wasn't too interested in all of the details.

Next time we're at the store we find the Jumbos and head on home.

After a little deeper analysis of the box (because the cereal box is the view into the soul of the cereal) I decided that these Jumbos might be worth a try.

I never liked Rice Krispies (unless they were in a "treat form") when I was a kid therefore I was skeptical as I poured my bowl one morning while my wife and baby were still asleep. They smelled good though so it seemed safe.

A couple bites in I was convinced that I had just discovered the best cereal on earth. It was so good I had a little milk left in my bowl so I poured more in. The giant krispies soak up a little of the milk but don't make them soggy, the touch of honey is just sweet enough but not too sweet and simply said, they're amazing.

By the end of the week I had eaten the entire box behind my wife's back, and I've bought two more boxes since then.

Don't tell the baby.

This is Why You're Fat

Since we have been talking about meat sources and health lately I thought it might be a good time to share with you a simply revolutionary food site.

This is Why You're Fat. This site is dedicated completely to telling people why they are fat, and they do it through showing pictures of food you have never dreamed of (or maybe you have).

Foods like: Hot dogs stuffed in Twinkies, Bacon Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks, Spam Meatloaf and Candy Pizza. The best part about this site is that all of the pictures are submitted by users....which means that they had to make these things, and likely ate them.

Check it out here to get a view of some of the most fattening foods on earth.

Where Does It Come From?

This is the great question: where does the food we eat come from?

This is the debate: does it matter?

My last post on Subway's mystery source of their products stirred quite an uproar. Some people commented confirming their utmost disgust with Subway, others shouted that it simply doesn't matter where the meat comes from.

As a society we crave information. We want to know as much as possible about where we visit, what we eat and what's happening in news and pop culture.

In the past 10+ years our "tastes" have also changed with our desire for "information". Suddenly the facts we knew about food before just aren't enough. We want to know the source of the product....how was it made? Where did it come from? Were animals abused? Are the ingredients "natural"?

Many of you might say it doesn't matter where the food comes from, "I just want it to taste good." To a certain extent, I completely agree. It doesn't matter where the chocolate chips came from for my chocolate chip cookie - I just want it to taste amazing.

However, at the same time there seems to be a trend in restaurants taking more responsibility for product offering.

-Chipotle built an entire company on one single compelling idea: Naturally Raised Meat
-Pizza Hut jumped on board with the new Natural Pizza: all natural meat, sauce from organic tomatoes, all natural cheese. (What does "natural" mean?)
-McDonald's recently launched a campaign to create awareness of their quality products, claiming their burgers are made from 100% Real Beef
-Wendy's promoted their "Fresh, Never Frozen" Burgers for months last year.
-Panera uses "all natural eggs" for their breakfast sandwiches.

These are only a handful of restaurants that have made claims about where their food comes from and how they are "high quality."

So what does this all mean? Clearly there are people out there who only eat food when they know where it comes from. There are hundreds of others who don't care and will eat Twinkies until the day they die.

The reality of it is, we don't know. We never will. We don't have a choice except to believe the "stories" that restaurant companies tell us.

Starbucks coffee beans come from the great mountains of Latin America. Maybe? Oh is that why they charge so much?
Chipotle only uses 'naturally raised meat'. Does that mean that the cows only eat grass? Does it make it taste better?
McDonald's Chicken is 100% White Meat. You sure about that?

Unless you have flown to the mountains and watched the beans come back and get delivered to Starbucks, unless you have been on the farms that Chipotle gets their meat from, and unless you are apart of the process McDonald's uses when making their chicken nuggets.....you don't know anything.

We only have one choice - to believe or not to believe. I'm not saying that the stories that restaurants tell us about their food is a lie, I'm just saying we'll never know for sure.

But, the bigger question....without all of the restaurant claims of being natural, not frozen, and real beef.....would we still eat at the same places anyway?

Subway Confession: "Our Meat is a Mystery"

This is shocking. Or is it?

Anonymous commented on: I ate Subway......and Survived

"I am a Subway employee, the smell comes from the fresh baked bread. That is the only good thing I can say about it. Where the food comes from is absolutely a mystery. I've been doing research for weeks, trying to trace back the meat especially.....nothing.

If you don't have a problem eating processed meat and pesticide covered vegetables (they aren't washed very well), then Subway is the place for you. As an employee though, I would suggest not eating there."

March 10, 2009 12:03pm

Wow.

This is huge. For years I have been preaching the fact that Subway meat is a complete mystery.....who knows if it's even meat? The vegetables sound equally repulsive.

Now finally we know the truth: even the employees don't know where it comes from. Sure Subway has great smelling bread and pretty decent cookies....but one thing is for sure: I won't be coming within 5 feet of their meat again. Even if it is $5.

Thoughts please....

Cinnamon Sugar

I don't hardly eat enough Auntie Anne's Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels.

My wife went to the mall earlier this week and she brought one home from Auntie Anne's. After three bites I realized that I have wasted years of my life not eating these sweet creations. Oh sure, I've had a few in my day, but not nearly enough.

They're uncontrollably tempting....you can smell their sweet scent from 100 feet away. The problem is the line is always too long and I'm just to lazy to wait (if you can imagine).

It's a shame that they don't have more locations outside of malls......it's possible I would be there a few times a week.

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels....one of the few guilty pleasures in life.

Are you obsessed with them too?

Pizza for the Soul

Moving out of the town/city you currently live in is a horrible experience for two reasons.

1. Who's going to cut your hair in your new location?
2. Where will you eat pizza?

Fortunately, I haven't moved in awhile but I do remember when I moved to Orlando a few years ago I felt like a lost puppy in the wilderness trying to find a place to get pizza. It took me 6 months to find a place "decent" and then on the weekends would sometimes drive home to Tampa Bay just to go eat pizza at my favorite place.

Something about a local pizza place (not Domino's, Pizza Hut or Papa John's) feeds the soul.

I promise you, it's likely you have never heard of the pizza place I visit....however I'll share it with you now.

RS

I know - weird name.

It's located in a converted "Kwikee Mart" style building in a strip plaza off of Old Coachman Rd. in Clearwater, FL. The building is set deep off of the road and one single sign is in the parking lot - RS This is one of those places you would drive past 4 times and still probably not notice it.

Upon walking in there is a counter to pay. On the left hand side is your traditional gas station style food/drinks/beer to purchase. On the right side however is a glass case full of food that is unbelievably appealing....all cooked fresh in the kitchen that you can see from the front door.

They make subs with Boars Head meat and prepare their own garlic knots, lasagna, calzone's, meat balls, burgers, and of course....Pizza. Really really really good pizza.

Years ago when I first discovered it we used to eat dinner there because if you walk past the kitchen/counter deeper to the right you will enter an Italian decorated dining room with full service. Is this not the strangest restaurant you have ever heard of?

There is a lot of great pizza out there and everyone has their own opinion about it. However, I like mine cheesy, big and juicy.....this is exactly what R.S. delivers. The slices are nice and big, the cheese is poured on top, and there is just enough grease to not make it too fattening, but still taste right.

The atmosphere of a local pizza shop is part of the experience as well and for some reason this place just strikes a chord with me. The owner knows who I am and knows that I order two large cheese pizzas every Wednesday. When my wife was pregnant she didn't want to see any sauce at the edge of her pizza (heavens knows why - she was pregnant and I was scared) so I called him to order and he made sure that the cheese went all the way to the crust and the sauce couldn't be seen.

This is the role of a local pizza place - to feed more than just your stomach.....and satisfy your soul.

I didn't even mention they make homemade donuts....a dozen for about $4. It makes you never want to eat a donut anywhere else again (they dust them with powered sugar).

Visit RS here and get your heart and soul fed.

Better Than Subway, Quizno's, Firehouse and Jimmy John's

I have been driving by Sunset Subs for at least 15 years.

Always curious, I would glance through the windows to see if anything interesting was going on inside. For some reason though I never went in.

Even after my wife's grandparents swore up and down they made the best sub they had ever tasted I still didn't believe them.

Then through a twist of fate we moved a few months ago and now Sunset Subs is literally right across the street. One afternoon we went for a walk and I finally went inside to get a menu (this is always my standard procedure before trying any new restaurant....I have to "shop" the menu first). No they don't offer a $5 Foot Long but, the menu has a ton of options - all priced between $4-$6. After a careful examination I determined it was worth a visit.

From the sights of the inside it doesn't look like it's been updated in a solid 20 years. The employees have been there just as long. The set-up is quirky with old booths, some awkward ceiling fans and little decor.

My wife's veggie sandwich was unlike any other. They took the wheat bread and grilled it on the flat top grill, then chopped up onions and grilled them with the provolone cheese on the flat top as well. When the bread was done they stacked all of the veggies up and then at the very end placed the cheese/onion grilled combo on the top of the veggies. Have you ever seen a veggie sub like this before?

The Cuban I ordered was equally as satisfying - pressed down into an extremely thin sandwich it was only about an inch thick. (The way a Cuban should be).

I'll be the first to tell you, my wife doesn't like trying new restaurants. She views it as "too great of a risk" for a bad experience. With that said, it was a miracle I convinced her to try Sunset Subs to begin with. I was more nervous about her trying her sandwich than she was. I knew that if she hated it not only would she be miserable about her dinner, but I would never be allowed to go back again.

However, after her first bite I knew that it had struck a chord deep within her soul. Never have I seen her more delighted about a veggie sandwich. Frankly, after watching them make it I was secretly jealous I didn't get a veggie as well.

The Cuban was equally delicious.....and both sandwiches left us wanting more.

The next night, we went back again.

This time I tried the Italian and my wife got the veggie again. I requested that my Italian be toasted. Sunset Subs takes their "toasted" subs to a whole different level that really makes Quizno's look even more like a joke. They toast the bread on the flat top and then grill the meat and cheese as well. The combination of toasted bread, grilled meat/cheese and all of the toppings for about $4 blew my flippin mind.

Both nights in a row we ate for $9. Forget the $5 Foot Long, Sunset Subs delivers a far greater product at an even cheaper price.

I haven't even scratched the surface on the menu though. They have burgers, subs, sandwiches, unique creations (like the Cheeseburger Sub), and homemade side items - can you say Mac and Cheese?

About a year ago I went on a search for the Best Sandwich Ever. I thought I found it, but I might have been wrong. Sunset Subs is truly the best sandwich around. With the variety of options, old school employees and affordable prices you really can't go wrong.

[No website available. Sunset Subs is located here.]

The Best Mexican Restaurant

There are hundreds upon hundreds of Mexican restaurants.

Some are awesome, some are horrible. Some are authentic, some fake it.

Doesn't it seem that the "authentic" Mexican restaurants are kind of run down and the service is mediocre at best? At the same time, the Mexican restaurants that are faking it seem to have good service, but the food is awful.

So, unless you want Chipotle - what do you do when you want amazing Mexican food?

I'll tell you - Go to Chico's Wood Fired Grill.

I stumbled across Chico's about a month ago when I was a mission to find a new Cupcake restaurant (whole other story there) that just opened in Tampa, FL. When I was getting my cupcake I couldn't help but notice Chico's which is right next door. There was a sign outside that said, "Taco Tuesday: $2 Fillet Tacos."

Obviously the offer for fillet tacos for only $2 was interesting enough for me to go in and grab a menu.

You know a restaurant is worthwhile when the staff joyfully supports it. As I was grabbing my to-go menu I asked the host and the bartender what the best thing on the menu was. Both shouted at me at the exact same time, "Fillet Tacos" and "No, get the Fillet Chimichangas!"

As you can imagine, I was already impressed so I had high expectations when we went back in to eat. The atmosphere is rich with bold colors, fun lighting and a unique tex-mex decor. We got seated in a booth towards the back and a hip server greeted us with homemade chips and salsa. (Yes it was complimentary).

The salsa was spicy, bold and tasted amazing. I added on the queso for $1.79 because I simply couldn't resist. Ordering was extremely difficult because the menu is extensive with a large variety of appetizers, tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, chimichangas and desserts. I settled on a Fillet/Chicken combo Chimichanga, my wife got a Chicken Enchilada and Aaron got the Fillet Tacos.

The food came out......wrong.

Well, jut my food came out wrong. I didn't get the Fillet/Chicken Combo Chimichangas....I just got Fillet Chimichangas (not a huge error and I actually wasn't that irritated). Before I could even think about complaining the owner of Chico's was at our table apologizing and said he would bring out Chicken Chimichangas.

I thought "Wow, ok he'll bring me a couple of Chimichangas". About 5 minutes later he brought an ENTIRE ORDER out - remember this is in addition to the order I was already eating.

That, is remarkable service.

Not to mention that it tasted phenomenal. The fillet was juicy, seasoned perfectly and the portion was huge. The fillet tacos were equally as good and the chicken enchiladas were cheesy and delicious.

Chico's is authentic, delivers a remarkable product that's priced right, and the service is unpretentious and efficient. In my mind, they are the best Mexican restaurant I have ever been to. Find more info on their website here.

Other Specials That You Might Find of Interest:

Monday: Buy Fajitas get one Free (after 3pm)
Tuesday: All Tacos $2 (after 5pm)
Saturday: Half Priced Sangria (I tried it, it's worth it).

24 Flavors of Soft Serve

You would drive by this place without even noticing.

Off the side of the road in a stark white, slightly run down building....this restaurant is everything but noticeable.

Here, the atmosphere isn't romantic, unique, or modern....but it's authentic. They don't have fancy menus or servers and the restrooms are located outside behind the back of the building.

But, they have something that no one else has.....24 Flavors of Soft Serve Ice Cream.

The restaurant I'm talking about is called Fritzee Freeze and it's located in cozy Dunedin, FL. I discovered this place after several people highly recommended it....telling us they had the best ice cream on earth. My wife and I went and it lived up to all of our expectations.

Upon first walking in, there is a menu on the wall above the register. There are a few tables in a small seating area and patio tables outside. Alongside the register is ice cream coolers and behind the counter the soft serve ice cream machine and grill are visible.

The regular ice cream isn't worth your time. However, the Soft Serve is simply revolutionary. The most challenging part was picking the flavor to get. From Apricot to Tutti Frutti, Fritzee Freeze offers almost every flavor you have ever dreamed of.

I settled on Peanut Butter and my wife got Black Cherry. The flavor was perfect, smooth, creamy and left me longing for more. It was simple, yet fantastic. Never before have I tasted a more perfect soft serve. For two generous sized medium cups the cost came to just over $4. A large bowl of soft serve is only $2.29.....a Banana Split is only $3.99. Have you ever seen ice cream this cheap and delicious at the same time?

Amazing Soft Serve isn't the only thing they have on the menu. They also offer burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, cheese sticks, cheese fries all priced around $3-$6. I didn't get a chance to try any of the regular menu items - but if you're looking for a cheap meal, they have it.

Say good bye to Dairy Queen, Cold Stone, and Ben & Jerry's. You don't need them, Fritzee Freeze is right around the corner and they have your favorite soft serve flavor waiting for you.

[Location: 368 Patricia Ave, Dunedin, FL 34698 or 727-736-3008. No website available]

Going Local!

Typically I don't spend a whole lot of time on local restaurants in the Tampa Bay area.

I have mentioned a few local restaurants in the past but usually I like to provide insight on evil national corporate chains.

Many of you have requested for me to focus on Tampa Bay restaurants and lately I have had some AMAZING experiences at several local restaurants. Therefore, I think it's time to finally shed some light on the local restaurant scene in Tampa.

Over the next week I'm going to be writing about several restaurants throughout the Tampa Bay area. Some are extremely odd, hard to find places and others are simply extravagant. My goal is to give some great recommendations to those of you who live in this area. My other goal is to provide some entertaining stories and small seeds of jealousy for those of you who don't live here.

I won't be revealing the restaurants I'll be sharing with you until we get started this week. However, if you have some ideas or recommendations of places worth checking out, I'd love to involve you in the conversation so leave some comments below.