Tomas "The Robert Downing Jr. of Cookies" C.'s Profile

See my avatar?  That my friends, is a Tyson Crosbie original.  Word on the street is that he steals souls for a living, but not to worry since he actually gives them back.  ;)

Here's what I love about Tyson's method; he's all about capturing the real you and not the posed, fake mannequin 'you' that you try to pull off every time you take a picture.  Another great thing about Tyson's process is that he provides real, honest feedback from other creative individuals to help you see things things in your photo that you would probably miss.  Ultimately, I highly recommend Tyson for your photography needs.  ;)

Imagine if Tabatha Coffey decided to revamp Jesse James' Monster Garage into a Barber Shop and Salon, and that's basically what you get with Floyd's 99 Barbershop.

As I walked into the newly constructed shop, I was greeted by Hells Bells blasting on the radio and had to remind myself not to start bobbing my head to the great beats that were playing while razor sharp shears buzzed around my face.  Unfortunately there was no wait when I walked in; I say unfortunately because the place is full of eye candy from the poster wall of Rock and Roll Idols to the cool toolboxes turned cabinets.  I also learned afterward that there are free computers for browsing the interwebs, and the receptionist will take your music requests if you have any.

I took advantage of their grand opening's half-price special which ended up costing me a little over $11 after tax.  I was seriously torn between a 4 or 5-star rating simply because this place is a bit expensive IMO, but you definitely get what you pay for.  In my case, what I paid for was a hair cut executed just as I had requested by stylist Neda, a neck shave via a guarded razor and heated shaving cream (nice touch as I'm a sucker for a clean neck), a massage, a post haircut wash and rinse (which is great since I hate having stray hairs all over the place), and last but not least a styling to finish things off.

Anyway, I'm not sure if many people know of this place but I was definitely pleased with the unique experience.  ;)

Vegetarians need not apply; the only salad you will find here is a pile of grilled onions!  Seriously, this place is comfort food heaven.  I ordered a chicken sandwich, a large cevapi (which I can only think means "delicious spicy meat fingers" in Bosnian) sandwich, a cheese pita, and a spinach pita.  I can't really put my finger on what makes the food so good, other than it's straight up comfort food that sticks to your ribs and makes you wish all pants came with elastic waistbands.

The restaurant itself is out of this world; no seriously, it's like walking into some small Bosnian hole-in-the-wall.  What it lacks in amenities it makes up in character; you've got soccer playing on the TV and this 70's eastern European techno playing in the background while a bunch of men chat away in the back of the shop.  The best way to describe it is Star Wars Cantina scene meets National Geographic.  Don't worry about feeling like an outsider, nobody pays attention to the confused and worried look on your face unless it's the gracious and friendly host.  ;)

Anyway, back to the food.  The chicken sandwich was perfectly seasoned and cooked, while the meaty Bosnian sausages put Jimmy Dean and his family to shame.  I recommend using the Kobayashi method on these dishes; meat first, bread second.  Oh, and don't forget to ask for some ajvar (tart red-pepper sauce) to dress your sausages with.  The bread shouldn't be ignored though since it is thick, rich, and hearty.  The pitas are not pitas in the Middle-Eastern/Greek sense, they're more like stuffed fillo pies and they're just as delicious as the rest of the entrees.  By the way, the portions are quite large and make a Hungry Man frozen dinner look (and taste) like a McD's Happy Meal.  Actually, if McD could make their McNuggets even remotely taste like Sarajevo's cevapi, they would rule the world.

In all seriousness though, this is simply awesome comfort food at an uber affordable price.  Although I must admit that I was so in love with my plate that I may have snarled and showed my teeth to innocent bystanders who got too close.  Regardless, I definitely recommend this place if you want to try something (as Cheech and Chong would say) that's the same as your favorite comfort food but different.  I would write more but the food coma has completely taken me over.

Post Scriptum:  I believe my stomach just did a happy dance and passed out.

Here's the deal, I was torn between giving this place 4 or 5 stars and here's why.  First, the portions have grown (and so has my waist) since I first started frequenting this place.  Second, I (and any invited guests) are always spoiled by the staff; they're always helpful and prompt and the restaurant itself is clean and inviting.  Last but not least, they are quick; even during a busy lunch hour, our food was out before you could make a dent in your Thai Iced Tea.

Speaking of the Thai Iced Tea, it's sweet - just like I like it - yet you still get a hint of the tea with each sip (or slurp).  Actually, I wish they would use a frosted mug and forgo the ice so I could enjoy the refreshing beverage down to the last drop, instead of being greeted with a diluted concoction at the end of my meal.

The Papaya salad is fresh and light, and ordering it at a medium spice will initially give you a nice kick in the mouth without melting your face off.  The Ginger stir fry plate has a nice taste, and I would definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for a vegetable and rice plate.  The Pad Thai is good, but one thing I found is that the noodles were a bit too soggy - it would've been nice if they were just a tad more firm, although I must commend the kitchen for fully cooking the shrimp as I've been to some Thai places where the shrimp arrive a bit undercooked.

So is this the best Thai food I've ever had?  No, but this is a case where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and the restaurant is definitely on my short list of good Thai places in my area.  Ultimately, the combination of the service, accommodations, and food is why I gave it a full five stars.  You'll also enjoy it if you're a big KYOT 95.5 fan since they're usually playing smooth jazz renditions of Outkast's 'I like the way you move'.  :)

If you plan on checking it out, I would recommend dropping by in the evening & early in the week as the restaurant usually has only 2 or 3 patrons enjoying a quiet dinner.  Lunch hours are usually busy as Intel's main campus is only a stone's throw away.

I'm actually a big fan of hole-in-the-wall restaurants hidden away in hard to find nooks and crannies, and Aromas didn't let me down!  The decor is cheap, the fluorescent lighting makes you feel like you're sitting at the DMV, and the evening techno ballads from the adjacent martial arts shop mixed with the restaurant's Bollywood music makes you wonder if you're in Gilbert or an after-hours club in Mumbai (I guess Islamabad would be more fitting in this case).

I arrived about 20 minutes until closing and was quite grateful that the restaurant owner invited me to come in and have a seat.  Since it's Ramadan, I tried out the evening buffet which was a bit small but still had about 6 or 7 meat and veggie dishes.  Honestly, I can't remember the names of all the dishes but all I can say is they were good, but oh so freakin' spicy!  I'm a glutton for punishment when it comes to spicy food, but several of the dishes carried such a kick that I was reminded of the time one of the cooks at Cyclo went nuclear on my Pad Thai!  Thankfully, there was enough mango lassie and buttery naan to keep me from weeping profusely and throwing in the towel.

I would recommend Aromas if you're looking for a break from the norm.  The menu offers Halal and Vegetarian entrées at an affordable price, and the service was good.  The decor has much to be desired, but I usually give tasty food a priority over accommodations.  ;)