Restaurant Reviews
I focus on the taste/presentation of the food, the ambiance and the service. In the end, would I recommend this place to a friend? Would I return? With limited restaurant dollars to spend, I want to go back to the place that I felt that I got the best enjoyment value for my dollar spent. Here are some reviews
RESTAURANTS
Chez Collette – Paris
Huey’s -Savannah, GA
Cha Cha Cha – Naples, FL – September 2026
We found this restaurant when we got off of Alligator Alley on our way home to St. Pete from a week-long visit to Key West. But even if you are not on the way to or from someplace on I75, this is definitely a destination restaurant.
When we got there around 5pm there was just us and a couple of other tables, single diners. By the time we left the place was packed with couples, singles at the bar and large groups in the bigger table area.
When I saw the word fusion in the name of the restaurant, I wondered what other cuisine that they were fusing with Cuban cuisine. I don’t think it’s referencing a fusion with another cuisine. I’m pretty sure that we are talking about fusion of Cuban cuisine with an extraordinary creative and brilliant chef.
Our Mango Nojito mocktail was loaded with extremely fresh mint. It was an added pleasure to chew on a few of the tender and juicy leaves. A slice of dried lime added a hint of smokey lime flavor. The mango flavor of the drink itself was not too sweet, not overpowering, just simply mango. A thin strip of raw sugarcane was in the glass as a stirrer.
For dessert we shared the guava infused mousse cake with mascarpone guava ice cream. I can see the Cuban roots of this dessert in the typical guavas (cascos or paste) with side cream cheese that I’m used to at home.
A perfectly made fresh and strong colada and Café Americano closed things out with a great finish.
The decor is amazing. Large wall size, vibrant color and black & white images evoking Cuba and Havana. Unique mix of Cuban music playing in the background. A nice sized welcoming bar.
Complimentary basket of toasted bread with a very nice pico de gallo. Not the typical raw ingredients. All were lightly cooked in quality olive oil.
Two main courses. The Pollo de Valle described to be chicken breast stuffed with garlic-sauteed mushrooms and Manchego cheese. The mushrooms could have been a dish unto themselves. Another chef could have easily just put mushrooms that were plainly cooked in there, but these really were sauteed in garlic. One large chicken breast, rolled, cut on a diagonal and placed one piece vertical and one piece on its side in a sea of creamy spinach sauce. The sauce was just the right combination of spinach taste and cream. The sauce was flecked with tiny micro greens and little purple flower pieces.
Masa de Cerdo was a dish of large, generous portions of juicy seared pork on a bed of slightly sauteed onions. We chose sides of black beans and platanos maduro. The plantains were done perfectly, juicy with some crispy edges, just like my abuela used to make. The black beans were thick. Not adorned with extra onions or other ingredients. But they had the depth of flavor that you know some other stuff went into a likely long simmer to create this final dish.
The attention to unexpected details and creativity… sugarcane, extremely fresh mint, diagonal cut and placement of the chicken, flecks of micro greens and flower pieces in the creamy spinach sauce, the full-length thin slice of a plantain split in two to make a single plantain chip, guava mousse cake, mascarpone ice cream, transcended this entire experience to a higher level than expected from a strip mall restaurant.
If you are getting on or off of Alligator Alley on your way to or from Miami and points south, you must stop here. Even if you are not on the way to or from someplace on I75, this is definitely a destination restaurant. It’s only a little over two and a half hours from where we live, and I’m already planning a weekend trip back to Naples just so that I can eat here a few more times. I’m excited to see what else this chef as in mind.
Pepe’s Cafe, Key West, FL – September 2026
Went to Pepe’s Cafe for lunch. At 806 Caroline St . Established 1909 claiming to be the oldest eating house in the Florida Keys. Not to be confused with El Meson de Pepe at Mallory Square. Definitely go to Pepe’s Café instead. Inside and outside dining available. Inside seemed a little crowded, so we got an outside table. With a bunch of fans all over the place, it wasn’t hot at all.
The main reason that I like coming here is for the black bean soup. It’s got to be in the top three black bean soups that I’ve ever had (or personally made). Plenty of thick cut onions and green peppers and some smaller bits of ham. Served with saltine crackers. I got a cup, but a bowl would definitely do me well for a full lunch.
I got the Pepe steak sandwich. Good sign; they asked how I wanted the steak prepared. Medium rare of course. And that’s exactly how it came out. Large chunks of steak, melted American cheese, mushrooms and grilled onions on a very fresh hoagie roll. Side of the German potatoes. These were small cubed potatoes nicely browned with grilled caramelized onions. Not like German potato salad at all. I don’t know what makes them German. They were more like home fries. There was also a healthy portion of sliced dill pickles which I added as needed. Saved half the sandwich and potatoes for take-home possible lunch or breakfast in the next day or so.
We also got the burger, hold the bun, with onion, tomato, lettuce and a side of coleslaw. Burger came out medium as ordered. Coleslaw seemed home made. Dressed with not too much mayo. Able to taste the cabbage. Very nice.
There is a small bar outside towards the back. It was packed with some very happy patrons. Rustic outside. Inside decor includes a giant original nude of woman with an apple, numerous photos of locals and luminaries alike.
It is interesting that there are no typical Cuban type dishes (Picadillo, Yellow Rice and Chicken, Boliche,etc.) on the menu for lunch or dinner. Not even a Cuban Sandwich. However, a wide range of delicious sounding meals makes me want to come back often and try everything. Maybe get a couple of cocktails at the bar.
Columbia Restaurant
Over the course of many years, we have been to many of the Columbia Restaurants around the state; St. Armand’s Key in Sarasota, Sand Key in Clearwater, St. Augustine, St. Pete Pier (now closed), and of course the flagship location in Ybor City. I was born in Ybor City and so were my parents. Our family has been going to the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor for many years (see photo below of my father in the Cafe in the early forties when he was a teenager). I even saw Caesar Gonzmart play his violin there.
Recently we had lunch at the Columbia in Ybor. We had the ‘Half and Half Combo’ special. I had the half Cuban sandwich and half 1905 Salad. We also had the half Cuban Sandwich and half Caldo Gallego soup. Everything was wonderful. There are many Cuban Sandwich controversies as to what the ingredients should be for a “real” Cuban sandwich, but this sandwich was like the one that I grew up with. Then again, you really can’t go wrong with using Cuban bread from La Segunda Central Bakery on 15th Street no matter what the fillings are. The Caldo Gallego tasted like the one that my grandmother made at home. A pitcher of sangria went very well with lunch. There are numerous versions of sangria everywhere, this is the closest to the one that I make at home, so I really enjoy it. This one is not too sweet at all, nice fruity flavor and the extra kick of brandy.
Probably the thing that I most appreciate about the Columbia Restaurant is their dedication to tradition. They still make the 1905 Salad table-side, even if it’s for a single portion. Same with the sangria; Sangre de Toro, and Torres brandy, all the fruit and fixings mixed right there at table-side. After all these years, they could probably batch this stuff back in the kitchen and just bring it out. But, they don’t . For me, this level of attention to this traditional detail is likely why every time you get a dish here, or at any of the Columbia Restaurants, it is the exact same quality as the last time you were here.
Respect and commitment to tradition means so much. The photos in the menu of all of the different family members throughout the various anniversaries of the restaurants and the various restaurant worker, show how important family and tradition is to the owners.
After the sandwiches, for dessert, cafe con leche as usual and for a change, we got the Chocolate Flan. Nice chocolate flavor, not too chocolaty, and very nice smooth texture. Our server, Brittany, was excellent. Not only was she proficient and friendly, but, she was extremely knowledgeable about all things from a historical perspective as well as the current operation of the Columbia Restaurant enterprise.
The other dish that we got was the Pompano en Papillot. This dish is a pompano filet cooked in a parchment paper tent with a stuffing of shrimp, crabmeat and artichoke cooked in a butter and wine sauce. Again, another tradition is to bring the dish to the table steaming right out of the over and the waiter cuts open the parchment paper and folds it back to reveal the steaming beautiful pompano. This adds so much to the enjoyment of the dish.
On to the postre (dessert). While flan is the usual (and always very good), I decided to go with the Guava Turnover “Carmita”. The crispy turnover was stuffed to overflowing with guava paste. Served on a bed of melted sweet cream cheese. Dusted with sugar and drizzled vanilla sauce. Oh my! This was fantastic!
Finished up with a couple of after dinner drinks (hey it’s my 70th Birthday!) We got the Martini de Chocolate. And because of my advanced age, I got the El Viejo (the old man); Bicardi Ohoa rum, Licor 43 (like a triple sec) and chocolate bitters. It was created in honor of the founder of the restaurant, Casimiro Hernandez, Sr.. What a way to finish off one of the most best meals I have ever had!
Also, on another recent visit, we went to the St. Armand’s location to celebrate my 70th birthday. This was one of the most memorable meals that I’ve ever had!
Our server, Kyle, was excellent! Not only was he knowledgeable about the food, he had a great knowledge of the historical background of the restaurant just like Brittany in Ybor. The Columbia seems to extend its consistent quality of food to their servers and staff as well.
I started the dinner with the Pete’s Manhattan. Pete Scaglione, a famed bartender at the Columbia in Ybor City, was my aunt’s father. I remember meeting him when I was a kid at a big party that my aunit and uncle threw. The big, highlight event of the party was Pete making some kind of punch bowl extravaganza that included blue Curacao. Although I was too young to drink, I recall the adults thoroughly enjoying the punch as Pete proudly doled out ladlefuls into small crystal punch glasses. For his Pete’s Manhattan, he added amaro to the classic Manhattan recipe. This adds extra depth that elevates this drink to a whole other level.
A serving of Cuban bread with butter comes to the table at the start of the meal. The bread comes from the Segunda Central Bakery in Ybor City. The Columbia has had a partnership with the Segunda since the baakery started their business in 1915. This is the best Cuban bread ever. Another example of a time honored tradition here at The Columbia.
We split a single serving of the 1905 Salad. I had the beef tip Salteado. Beef Salteado is a dish that my mother made for me especially on my birthday. Having it here at The Columbia on my 70th birthday brought back a lot of memories for me. The beef was tender and juicy. Mushrooms, potatoes, onions and green peppers done just a tad beyond al dente for the perfect tastes and texture combination.
October 2026
Casa Tina, Dunedin, FL. 2026
If you want to sample some great authentic Mexican food (since 1992), come here. And come here often and get everything on the menu.
It tastes fresh and home made. Great taste combinations. Unique décor. Family owned and operated. I’m going to have to move Casa Tina up to my #1 Mexican restaurant in Pinellas County.
We got the chips with a trio of salsas; roasted tomato, guacamole and queso fundido. Chips were thinner than most places but could hold up to the chunkiest of salsas. The tomato salsa was chunkier than I am used to, more like a pico de gallo, but incredible flavor. It would make a great side salad all by itself. The guac was chunky and certainly home made. The Queso Fundido was just the right mix of cheese and chili sauce. We also got their “3 Amazing Hot Sauces”. And they were. One avocado based sauce tasted very fresh, refreshing and green. Another had a smokey taste and the other was a wonderfully hot red sauce.
Starting beverages. La Tina Rita. One of the best margaritas that I’ve had (and I’ve had a lot). Wonderful in its simplicity. Tequila, fresh squeezed lime juice, agave syrup. The sangria was very good too.
We got the taco salad and the Arroz Cabezon. Although in the menu it’s listed as Just Another Taco Salad, it’s a few notches above. We got the chicken option instead of the standard ground beef. There was quite a bit of chick on top of the salad. It was cooked perfectly. Black beans added. Served with a side of home made vinaigrette which was excellent.
Desert was flan which was a little more dense than I usually make it and a great cup of fresh brewed coffee.
Paula, our server was excellent. She was always there when we needed her. She was knowledgeable about the food and how it is prepared.
The Arroz Cabezon was a mix of shredded chick and pork in a pibil sauce which is made with a mixture of spices and annatto, which comes from the achiote tree. This is exactly why I’m putting Casa Tina at the top of my list. This could have easily been made with a tomato sauce with chili seasoning. Not here. They went with a traditional Yucatan dish. Here’s another “they didn’t have to, but they did it anyway” bonus. It was topped with pickled red onion, served with guac as a side, and refried black beans. The flavor combinations of all of these things in one dish made it spectacular.
We also got Los Dos Moles. On one half of the plate, chicken and vegetables topped with Mole Verde. On the other half, chicken and vegetables topped with Mole Poblano. The chicken was cooked well, moist. The veggies were a little beyond al dente which provided a nice texture crunch to the chicken. Both moles were subtle and mild. The mole poblano was thick and rich with a hint of chocolate. The mole verde tasted fresh and green. Accompanied with rice, black beans and a small portion of shredded lettuce and a couple of cucumber slices. The cucumbers were an excellent counter to the rich moles. The black beans were tasty. The rice was pretty good although I did run into some hard grains in a few bites. I would rather not have. Also served with three warm and very good soft flour tortillas. The entire plate went well with a nice cold glass of Modelo Especial.
The décor is varied and incredible. Not the typical stuff on the walls. Chairs were decorated with hand carvings. There are quite a few family photo collages around which really show a sense of family pride in the place.
Another reason why this restaurant is at the top of my Mexican restaurant list is the wide diversity of dishes. Yes, there are the standard offerings of nachos, burritos, tacos, flautas and enchiladas (Comida Tipica). But there is also, Queso Panela Salad and Posole, grilled corn, ceviche and smoked salmon nachos and Tacos De Lengua.
Don’t forget that if you want to see acrobat and aerial entertainment while you eat, you should consider making a reservation and ask if possible for a table where the entertainment occurs.
Via Italia Woodfired Pizza & Bar – 8644 Hunters Village Rd, Tampa, FL
Very nice Italian restaurant. Excellent food and ambiance. Very good value-for-dollar-spent. We’ll be back.
We had the house salad. It had mixed greens, salami, olive, truffle cheese and more. Great antipasto salad could have been a meal in itself.
Had to go with a pizza. Campione del Mondo! Champion of the World known for it’s “authenticity and originality”. Pretty bold statement. Tested them on it. The proof was in the pizza! Sausage, grilled eggplant, basil reduction, topped with had grated ricotta! As advertised this was one of the best, unique pizza’s that I’ve had!
Excellent pours of Montepulciano and Pinot Noir went perfectly with the meal.
Couldn’t resist dessert. We decided to not go with the standards (i.e. cannoli, tiramisu, creme brulee, etc.) and I am so glad that we went with The Ricotta and Pear Cake and the Raspberry Almond Shortbread. Both were amazingly fresh and had the perfect balance of textures and tastes. Accompanying Cafe Americano and Espresso Doppio was excellent.
Amazing bar, excellent server (Virginia), great ambiance. I especially am gratefully appreciative that the overhead music was 100% Italian themed which included Dean Martin and Louis Prima songs
La Trattoria – Duval St., Key West, FL – September 2026
7pm reservation at La Trattoria on Duval. Started with Lumache della Nonna. Escargot sauteed with mushrooms, brand, garlic and cream. Per description in menu “topped with puff pastry”. The escargot were done perfectly (it can be easy to get them rubbery). Mushrooms, cream sauce great combination of flavors. Nothing overpowering anything else. The dish came with a small triangle of puff pastry. I was expecting a full topping of a ramequin worth of puff pastry. But not to be.
For dinner, lasagna and chicken saltimbocca. Lasagna was done very well. The sauce was rich. You could tell that it was simmering for a while. The saltimbocca was topped with an arugula salad. I’ve never had this dish served this way. My initial thought was to scrape off the arugula and make it into a separate side salad. But then I thought about why the chef chose to serve it this way. When I took a bite of the chicken, cheese, prosciutto and the arugula and red onion, it became an elevated saltimbocca like I’ve never had. Sides with the saltimbocca were perfectly done al dente green beans. You could actually taste the beans in the pods. And creamy roasted potatoes. Both dishes paired well with the Borgo Chianti Classico,
Dessert was tiramisu made on site. Mascarpone was done very creamy. An Americano coffee and a single espresso wound out the meal. And a final Banfi grappa topped it all off.
Decor of prints, sketches and photographs seemed to be curated with thought. Our server, Natalia, was knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. It was a great dinner with a high value for dollar spent.
Virgilio’s is martini lounge that you can access by walking through the restaurant pass the bathrooms. Virgilio’s was first started and owned by Virgilio Vitale. His brother, Carmelo, ran La Trattoria. Entering via the restaurant, you first come to the bar and stage area. Nothing special. However, walking past the bar you get to the open-air bar area. Purple lighting. On a clear night you can see the stars. You can get to this part of Virgilio’s through a separate entrance off of a side street of Duval. Enter through the side street (Appelrouth Lane), not through the back of the restaurant, and you will feel like you have stumbled into a garden oasis of a martini bar. Another hidden treasure to be found here in Key West.
Grand Hacienda – Sheldon Rd. Sept. 2026
We have been to three Grand Haciendas. The one on Tyrone Blvd. in St. Pete, the one in Clearwater and tonight, the one on Sheldon Rd. We have visited all three sites over a year and-a-half timeframe. The quality of the food, service, cleanliness and décor has been consistently amazing at all three locations.
We started off with the two-for-one Casa-Ritas which were very tasty and tasted more like craft than batch. As an app we got the Tabasco Plantains. They were platanos maduro. They did not have hot sauce on them but they did have sour cream and queso fresco. Very good flavor combination. The chips and salsa were excellent. Chips nice and crispy. Salsa fresh tasting, not too thick and not to thin.
We got the Hacienda Platter and the Carnitas. Carnitas was shredded pork whereas I prefer chunks. Tasty with very good black beans, pickled onions and excellent pickled jalapenos with just the right bite; a little sting but not too much.
The Hacienda Platter sampler had three items. Cheese Chile Relleno which was lightly batter and stuffed with a good amount of melted cheese which was very tasty. The Chicken Enchilada had chicken that tasted like chicken, good strong flavor covered with a nice poblano sauce. And a tamal covered with a salsa rosa. The tamal was done perfectly with a nice moist texture. The beef empanada was on the plate that came with the sides. Crispy, warm with an excellent filling of ground beef and cheese. I could have eaten four of the these. The sides included rice, refried beans, a couple of generous dollops of sour cream and guac. And a fresh tasting pico de gallo.
I really like to taste any Mole dish that is on any Mexican menu. I just couldn’t eat a whole other dish, so I asked for some mole sauce in a little courtesy cup. This mole sauce was incredible! You could taste, evenly, the chili, chocolate and nut flavors. It also had a very nice hot kick to it. Again, like the jalapenos, a definite spikey bite, but it did not overwhelm the other flavors of the sauce.
Fresh, good tasting food cooked well. Very nice atmosphere and décor. Happy, knowledgeable and friendly staff. We’ll definitely keep coming back.
Tonight we were celebrating my birthday. Being a member of the Familia Rewards Program I got a free dessert of ice cream on a crispy tortilla, covered with whipped cream and $5 off of my meal. We also got the flan. Although it was a little denser than the one that I make, they did a very good job with the caramelized sugar sauce, not too light and not too dark.
The manager came by a couple of times to check to see how things were doing. It was nice chatting with him. We asked how certain things were made and he proceeded to give us info on how the mole sauce and beans were made. To top things off, he gave us a ‘Buy One get 2nd dish at half-price’ card for future use.
Lila, our server was quick, efficient and knowledgeable about the food. She was great.
Le Jardin Saint-Germain, 9 Rue de l’Éperon, Paris – June 2026
Definitely out of the way, down a side street. Unlike many restaurants on the main streets, you are not just walking by this place by chance and deciding to go in because the front is painted purple . You have to know that you want to go to this place and track it down.
It’s a small 30 seat restaurant. Three wait staff. Two spoke very good English. The other more French with a little English. Menu only in French, but the staff were more than willing to translate. Karen had a Hugo spritz (excellent) and I had a very smooth French whiskey.
We both shared the burrata app. Great burrata with shaved cucumber and vegetables around the edge of the plate. Very good.
For our main plate, we both had the seabass with side of vegetables. The bass was done to perfection. Our server specifically mentioned that the chef recommended that we eat the skin (lightly browned to a very nice crisp). We agreed with the chef’s recommendation and we were not disappointed. But as good as the fish was, the vegetables took an equal place on the plate. A mix of snap peas, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots with each vegetable cooked slightly a little more than al dente. But for me it was the attention to detail with the vegetables that really made this dish for me. There was the standard broccoli, but also broccolini. There was white cauliflower, but also purple cauliflower. Many chefs would have been happy with just putting standard pieces of regular broccoli and cauliflower on the plate. But Chef here decided on the extra touch with the purple cauliflower and broccolini. Small detail, but major message about the passion of the chef.
We had a white Entre deux mers from Chateau Haut-Rian. We love a white Bordeaux, but especially from the Entre deux mers region. It paired very nicely with the fish.
Desserts of Pain Perdu (French toast atop a caramel sauce) and a chocolate cake thingy for Karen, accompanied with two cafe allonges.
We made reservations for 6:30 and we were two of about eight people there. By the time that we finished our dinner, the place was jam packed with people waiting on the street to get in. There is no wondering why.
Bistro des Livres – Paris, France – June 2026, 44 Rue Galande, 75005
We walked by this place earlier in the day and thought that it had a cool name, Bistro of Books. The decor included bookshelves fully stocked and books stacked on the wide window sills.
I made reservations online for 7pm. It was accepted but I never got a confirmation via text or email. We went at 7pm anyway. The Matre d’ said that we did not get confirmation because there were no tables available at seven. Instead of flat out turning us away he scrolled through several pages of his tablet and said that he would have a table for us at 8pm. We walked down to Georges Cafe, a nearby cocktail bar and had a cocktail and went back to the restaurant at 8pm. We were sat at one of only two window tables. Definitely a prime table.
For starters we had the Truffle brie; Brie de Meaux with Truffles. A piece of brie with a middle layer of truffle cream. Small serving of dressed greens and piece of bread accompanied. When you ate a bite of the brie (usually creamy in and of itself) but then encountered the even creamier center truffle layer at the same time, I just had to pause for a couple of seconds to fully appreciate what was going on.
For dessert, the Chocolate Mousse Served in a Ladle and the Poached Pear Belle Helene.
The service was impeccable. Ambiance intimate. This was a great restaurant worthy of many return trips.
I decided to go a little off-book and ordered the veggie dish, Plate of Roasted Forgotten Vegetable with Black Garlic Cream sauce. All of the vegetables (carrots, potatoes, yams and others) had completely different textures. Some a little just beyond al dente. Some, like the small potatoes, still whole and creamy like mashed potatoes inside. The vegetables were plated on top of the black garlic cream sauce (incredibly savory) so you could choose to what degree of sauce you wanted on your vegetables.
We also had the Salmon steak with a cream sauce and fried potatoes. Fish done perfectly. Fries crispy outside, cream in. The cream sauce was excellent.
Cafe Masse – September 2026
This was our second visit to Café Masse at 1443 S Belcher Rd. in Clearwater, FL. As with our first visit, Chef Masse visited us at the table when we arrived. We talked about what we had last time, what we liked, what we might be in the mood for.
One of the things that makes this place unique and definitely a draw for a return visit, are these visits with the chef. Also, his willingness to go outside of the confines of the printed menu. We liked the idea of the Braised Beef in the 8-hour ragu listed under the Ravioli section, but we did not want ravioli. He suggested that he could put he Braised Beef on Rigatoni instead of Ravioli.
When I expressed an interest in a mushroom app, he suggested mushrooms aglio e olio with a sprinkling of parsley and a dash of red pepper flakes. This was not listed in the menu. Also, not listed on the menu was his recommendation of bread stuffed with mozzarella served warm with a side of marinara sauce for dipping. Both were fantastic! The bread was warm and moist and it was filled with a lot of soft and gooey mozzarella. The mushrooms seemed slightly seared. They were well dressed in a very balanced mix of olive oil and garlic. A hint of red pepper flakes added a pleasant occasional surprise bite to the dish
The Braised Beef in the 8-hour ragu was tender and had a great depth of flavor. The rigatoni, as well as the linguine on my main dish of Alfredo with Shrimp, was done perfectly for my taste, just slightly beyond al dente. The Beef dish was topped with a heaping spoonful of ricotta. Mixing a little of the ricotta into the sauce as we ate was a fun thing to do. The Alfredo, topped with some shaved parm, had a slight hint of saffron which added some complexity and a little different take on the Alfredo that was very interesting. A very generous count of perfectly done tail-on shrimp made the dish complete.
A glass of Tempranillo paired very well with the beef. A glass of a Puglian Teanum Pinot Grigio “Favugne” was excellent with the Alfredo dish.
For dessert, a very good Tiramisu with an optional drizzle of Bailey’s. A double espresso and a glass of Serre Dolci Rosso, a chilled dessert wine, finished off the meal nicely.
Our server, Shelby, was very good. The ambiance was intimate with great lighting and a very good mix of Italian and jazz music in the background.
The food is so good, I wanted to just keep eating until each plate was clean. While this approach has never ended well for me in the past (I always feel uncomfortably stuffed), an alternative that required a little bit of restraint and some to-go boxes extended the great food here for a nice day-after lunch at home.
Chez Colette – 74 Rue Daguerre, Paris – June 2026
Lunch at Chez Colette was like being in a little bubble where time seemed to stand still. The space felt very comfortable, with excellent service and very nice, low key jazz music in the background. The ambience, service, food and wine made for an extremely enjoyable lunch.
Vitello Tonato as a starter. Thinly shaved veal with a tuna sauce. Very good.
For lunch Chicken with Cream sauce on risotto. On its own, without the sauce, the chicken was very tasty. Creamy risotto was done to perfection. The other plate was a Rigatoni aux morilles with asparagus, garnished with Italian parsley and grated parm. Every flavor was so subtle and tasted incredible.
A glass of red Sancerre Pinot Noir from Domaine Millerioux and 25cl Cotes du Rhone, Malijay were excellent pairs to our meals.
A chocolate fondant cake (like a chocolate volcano cake) and a Big Baba Bouchon au rhum vieux fait maison. The cake was served with a bottle of rum so that I could apply my own amount of rumness to the cake. Both desserts were delicious with a couple of café allonges.
This is one of our top three “must return” places to eat in Paris!
Cafe Masse – Clearwater, FL – August 2026
First time visit. Very nice atmosphere. Welcomed and promptly sat. Within around five minutes Chef Masse, comes to the table and greets us. Chats a little. Asks about us. Tells a little about himself but not in a autobiographical way. He just shared 2-3 short stories about things that happened at the restaurant which gave us a really good idea of what he was like. He made similar visits to others as they were sat.
He offered us a taste of red and white wines. His parting words were to just go with whatever we connected with, “if you connect with lasagna, order the lasagna, if you connect with Marsala, go with Marsala”. Great advice. A brief “once over” of the menu and we felt like we connected with Caprese Salad, Lasagna, Champagne Salmon and Pasta with Meatballs (with the 8 hour ragu) and the Rigatoni al Forno.
The Caprese was good. Nice tasting tomatoes. I usually add a little more and a little larger fresh basil leaves to mine.
The Champagne Salmon description noted that the sauce had “a whisper of dill. It was an excellent cream sauce that was perfectly subtle and a great accompaniment to the very nicely cooked large piece of salmon. Served with a side of linguini on the plate.
The red sauces for the lasagna and rigatoni were certainly different from the “8 hour ragu” that came with the Pasta and Meatballs. While all of the red sauces were excellent and had great depth of flavor, the “8 hour ragu” seemed a little deeper and a little more complex.
All pasta was done perfectly for me, just slightly beyond al dente.
The sangria, Greco di Tufo and the Orsumella Chianti paired extremely well with our respective dishes.
The servers were very attentive. Chef Masse made a second visit to the table to see how things were going.
Finished off with Limoncello cake (poured Limoncello over the cake at the table) and Tiramisu (Irish cream poured on top at the table). I had an espresso and an after dinner Reisling to finish things out. Very good food, attention to detail, excellent service and the personal touch of the chef coming out to introduce himself makes this a “must return”.
La Segunda Central Bakery , St. Petersburg, FL
The La Segunda Central bakery’s original location is on 15th Street in Ybor City. They have open a few branches. We live near the one near Downtown St. Pete on 4th Street. The bread still comes from the original bakery in Ybor City.
We come to the St. Pete location often, but always for breakfast. Although they have a very tasty looking lunch menu. Our most recent go-to breakfast sandwich is the Avocado Sandwich. Tons of fresh avocado, sun dried tomato paste, eggs, red pepper flakes (they give you a packet so that you can add whatever degree of heat you want) … It’s certainly big enough for the two of us to share. And for me, it’s all about the Cuban bread. Baked at the Ybor location and sent over to St. Pete. It’s the best!
Of course breakfast dessert of a delicious, flaky, guava pastry. Filled to the max with guava! Again, best guava pastry around.
Cafe con leche is our breakfast beverage of choice. We both like it with sugar, but my wife get’s the extra shot of espresso.
Staff is always friendly and knowledgeable.
The St. Pete location on 4th St. is a fantastic reminder of my more nostalgic visits to the original bakery on 15th St. in Ybor. I love the photos on the wall here.
Les Cocottes – 2026
135. rue St. Dominique, Paris 75007
This is a small, informal place. We were here for lunch. We just happened to be walking by, decided we were hungry, looked in the window and walked in. We sat at the bar. I had the Moqueca de cabillaud au laut de coco – Cod moqueca with coconut milk. A Brazillian fish stew dish. The stew base was mainly green and red peppers, onion and tomato. Topped with a good sized piece of cod cooked to fork-flake off perfection. The stew had a little bit of a bite to it. Just perfect.
Paired extremely well with a nice Sancere blanc.
We also had the appetizer portion of the Langostine Ravioli in shellfish emulsion. Three large home-made ravioli filled with chunks of langostine in a cream sauce. The sauce had a mild, but distinctive fish tasting sauce. Ravioli and langostine cooked just right.
A couple of espresso served with a sugar cube and cookie to finish.
Service was very good. We sat at the bar. The extremely professional and courteous maitre d’ sat us and took our order. Two wait staff behind the bar served drinks to us and brought our food. Everyone came by several times and asked how things were and if we needed anything. When not engaging with customers, the wait staff were wiping down counters, putting glasses in place, up to picking up the smallest piece of paper or plastic and throwing it away.
We came into Les Coccotes on a whim, just passing by. I’m glad we did.
Cali – St. Petersburg and Tampa Palms, FL – July 2026
We’ve been going to Cali’s (both the Tampa Palms and the St. Pete location) for almost two years. Every time that we’ve been to either location, the experience has been the same; good fresh food, incredibly friendly, professional and helpful staff, very clean and bright environments including great background music from above and impressive artwork on the walls. It just feels good to be there.
This time we started with the garlic-lime edamame app. It was an excellent starter. It had quite a lot of real, fresh garlic paired with lime dressing. The dressing and garlic was on all edamames in the bowl, not just on the top ones. The beans themselves were done perfectly. They had a nice crisp bite to them.
Our usuals here are pizza and/or a bowl. This time it was the Classic Pizza with pepperoni and the Hot and Crunchy bowl with seared tuna and sticky rice. The pizzas here are made with sourdough crust. Thin, light crisp crust. Light sauce. Good cheese. Very tasty pepperoni! I’m a fairly traditional pizza guy (usually cheese only, a margarita, or pepperoni) I was skeptical at first about the sour dough crust, but this one is incredible.
The Hot and Crunchy bowl included a good amount of perfectly seared tuna, lots of jicama sticks, thinly sliced zucchini, topped with a very tasty guac and sprinkled liberally with crunchy tempura onion bits. A shoutout to the designer of these meals, like other things that we’ve had here, nothing overpowers anything else. It was a perfect blend of flavors and textures.
There are only three dessert items on the menu; Chocolate Chip Cookie, S’mores Cookie and Sour Dough Cookie. All are incredible. The Sourdough Cookie is made there.
Previously I’ve had the Spicy Brazilian Bowl with blackened chicken and turmeric rice. The high light for me was the crispy fried jalapenos. The Lime Caesar sauce was an excellent compliment. Another bowl of note from a previous visit is the Thai bowl. Nice understated peanut sauce. Every piece of steak was done perfectly. Udon noodles were just right.
Although I typically get a bowl, in the past, I have had the Bee Sting Pizza. Although I usually don’t venture outside of my traditional pizza choices, the Bee Sting Pizza was amazing! For me, the hot honey was the kicker (ask for 2X hot honey next time)!
A Cold Brew Hibiscus Berry tea with the pizza and a glass of A to Z Pinot Gris with the bowl paired very well. We’ve also had the Aqua Fresca Dragon Fruit Limeade sweetened with agave syrup. Freshly made onsite. Hint of sweetness with subtle but distinctive flavors.
All of the wine is here is very good. We’ve had The Imagery Chard and Imagery Pinot Noir which pair very nicely with the food selections.
People – The person who greeted and sat us today, the person who came around to ask how everything was towards the end of the meal and our server, Gage, were all friendly and professional. Gage came by a couple of times during the meal to see how everything was and if there was anything that we needed. This was just the right amount of attention. We were sitting near the line, so I was able to see all of the servers and staff behind the counter. I noticed that, without exception, everyone was smiling, laughing and seemed extremely relaxed. This vibe carries over to the table and makes the entire experience at Cali’s a true pleasure. A server from a previous visit had a winning smile every time he came to the table. This smile, in and of itself, really pushed the overall experience over the top. Food, ambience and people make a restaurant what it is. From this perspective, the people here definitely elevate the entire dining experience here.
All in all – After around six visits to two locations in a little under two years, Cali’s continues to exceed expectations. What a great testament to the owners/managers who are able to maintain consistent quality of service and food across different locations.
Recommendation – Go here. This is definitely a high value for dollar spent place.
The Book Lounge – St. Petersburg, FL – June 2026
What an amazing place! The Book Lounge in St. Pete feels like a refuge, a place apart from the outside world. Very nice book selection. It brings to mind a series of books that I read once where a special bookstore in Barcelona played a central part of the story. The book is by the Spanish author Carlos Ruiz Zafron (The series begins with The Shadow of the Wind) .
The atmosphere here at The Book Lounge from the music to the wall art and just the overall decor is spectacular. The wall paper is litteraly old book pages. Comfy seating. Great staff.
The wine and charcuterie selection is innovative; standard meats/cheese, very nice veggie selection, but we got an item from the Fishwife Experience selection of quality tinned seafood. We got the Smoked Rainbow Trout in Red Chimichuri sauce. Opened tin served with cornichon, olives, carrots, crackers and a small pepper made this a wonderful flavor and taste combination. A very nice Chehalem INOX Unoaked Chard to go with it. And a very tasty non-alcoholic lemon drink. Their NA and mocktail selection was very good.
Excellent value for dollar spent! Go here for a nice book selection, and some great charcuterie and wine and to especially if you are in need of a little respite from the outside world.
Village Madeleine – 14 Rue Tronchet, 75008 Paris, France – May 2026
What a perfect first dinner on our recent first visit to Paris! Started out with a great Americano. Shared an Escargot appetizer (Entrée here in Paris). Six Escargots de la Maison Valentine. Snails served in shells on top of a light sprinkling of greens and a piece of toasted bread with the same garlic sauce that was on the snails. Although I’ve had escargot in the US, I don’t think that I’ve ever really tasted them before. The garlic sauce was light and subtle so that I could taste a very balanced combination of snail and sauce. The greens, red onion and tomato added excellent counter points between snails.
For dinner, we just couldn’t help it. We had to go with the Confit de Canard Manoir Alexandre (duck legs, bone in) on a bed of thin slices of potato. The potatoes were sauteed with a crispy outer and creamy inner (I’m pretty sure in duck fat). The duck was fall-off-the-bone with a fork. No knife needed. Outer skin perfectly crisp. Nice little touches included a roasted cherry tomato and a sprinkling of chives over all.
For dessert, Crème Brulee and a Gateaux Basque. The Gateaux was like a cookie with a somewhat creamy center. It was not overly sweet but with the black currant jam accompaniment, I was able to add just the right amount of extra sweetness that I wanted. It went well with my after-dinner Kir Vin Blanc.
Village Madeleine is definitely a great value-for-dollar-spent and a restaurant that we will absolutely return to.
Cafe Gala – at the Dali Museum1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL – June 2026
The Café Gala is on the first floor of the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, FL. Like many of the hidden gems found in some of Dali’s more famous paintings, the search to find Café Gala is more than worth it for a fantastic dining experience!
The incredibly curated Spanish themed menu is a perfect match with the art of Salvador Dali that you will find in the museum. You can dine in the café without having to pay for admission to see Dali’s art. If you only ate in the café, you would have a wonderful experience. But, if you also view Dali’s art on the floor above the café, both enhance the other amazingly.
For dessert, I had the Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding and a Cordato. The pudding was moist and tasty with the occasional explosion of chocolate chips that were baked into the croissant. We also had an iced coffee drink for dessert. She had The Tiramisu; espresso, chocolate, mascarpone whipped cream, lady finger & sea salt chocolate crumble. The whipped mascarpone cream on the top could have been a dessert unto itself.
The atmosphere was light and airy with a few tables and the bar near large floor to ceiling geodesic dome windows.
Come here for a great value-for-dollar spent dining experience.
We sat at the bar and were provided with expert care by our server Shannon. She was knowledgeable, friendly and offered great advice.
I started out with a Carpano classico vermouth rosso with orange peel. An excellent pre-lunch beverage.
For lunch, we had the – The Pressed Serranita 1906 roasted pork, serrano jamon, Manchego, tomato, piquillo pepper, pimento aioli, chips, olives. The bread was lightly toasted, the Manchego oozing. Every bite demanded, and got, a moment of appreciation and reflection as to just how good this sandwich was. Pairing it with a glass of the red sangria was a good choice. In addition to the standard fresh fruit garnish, a big blackberry was in there too.
Also, the Caprese Tuna – Chimichurri spiced tuna, baby heirloom tomatoes, cana de cabra, Valencia balsamic reduction, arugula, almond pesto, spiced pumpkin seeds, served with toast points. The tuna was just slightly seared, very tasty and juicy. I had a 5 oz glass of Albariño; a white wine native to the coastal region of Galicia. The crisp citric and sea-breeze taste went very well with the tuna.
Sitting at the bar, we got to see the cooking, prep and plating of the food. Astonishingly, the cook/prep area was about 10 x 12 with two chefs literally shoulder-to-shoulder. It was like watching a ballet. I find it difficult to imagine how so many complex menu items can come out of such a small space.
Huey’s On the River – Savannah, GA – April 2026
Fortunately, we were on the list for a 30 minute wait for a table. So we went to the bar for a cocktail while we waited for a table. Two seats next to the front window at the end of the bar were open.
Our server/mixologist, Avery, gave us drink and food menus, so we decided to eat at the bar.
Everything began falling into place and continued throughout our wonderful visit.
Eating at the bar was the perfect place for us. When I walked through the main dining room (on my way to the restroom), I found it to be a little too noisy for our taste. At the bar we had a couple of very nice chats with some folks next to us. On to dessert. Had to go with the beignets with praline sauce. Cafe Dumonde eat your heart out! Golden brown, warm and steamy, drenched in powdered sugar… unbelievable praline sauce.
A couple of cups of excellent coffee and we were set. Finished off with a hit of Gator Bite, an orange flavored rum liquor reminiscent of Rum Jumbie.
Go here! Sit at the bar during Avery’s shift. You will not be disappointed! We can’t wait to get back for more!
We shared a bowl of Cajun Gumbo and a bowl of Crawfish Etoufee. Both perfectly spiced. The gumbo had just the right amount of kick for me. The taste reminded us so much of New Orleans that I thought to myself that an Abita beer would go great with the food. Not having encountered Abita outside of New Orleans, I asked if they had an Abita-like beer. Avery said that they actually had Abita! Everything continued to just get better.
Super Taqueria – Durham, NC – March 2026
Excellent Mexican food! Unfortunately, we are at the end of our stay in Durham or we would have returned many times to Super Taqueria to taste everything on the menu! Good value for dollar spent.
We had the torta with pastor (marinated pork). The sandwich included the pastor, onion, jalapenos, may, muenster cheese, pineapple, tomato, lettuce, sliced avocado and cilantro. What a great taste combination! Chips were good. Got a side of refried beans which were very good.
The standout was the salsa bar: two green salsas with different heat levels, a mild red, fresh pico, cilantro, chopped onion, and a habanero salad that was fiery and genuinely delicious.
Very nice and colorful decor and paintings. I would have liked more Mexican music playing. I think the only music we heard was from the kitchen.!
For dessert, Tres Leches cake was amazing (moist but not soupy). Coffee was good, served in a unique mug with a side of three little cookies.
Zom Hee – 9015 Park Blvd, Seminole, FL
I love this place! Old school (like me). One of our favorite comfort food places. Great quantities of excellent food. Definitely enough to take for an additional (or two) lunch or dinner at home. Beef Szechuan and Hung Shu Chicken this time were great. The pre-dinner pickled vegetables were very good too. The cocktail lounge and vintage drinks are amazing. I had a Tahitian’s Scorpion (which I probably would never have anywhere else). It even came with a little umbrella.
Our server was good. Food came out pretty quickly. The lanterns and ornate ceiling tiles and general decor make for a wonderful ambiance.
This is a great dinner date night out place.
