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Yesterday's lunch at Fresh Start Cafe was disappointing. First of all it was very loud, like Egg Harbor restaurant is, but I'll occasionally suffer the noise when craving some of Egg Harbor's tasty dishes. The food Fresh Start though was bland and uninspired.
My mother had Beef Fajitas. There were three of them, with a decent amount of meat, but chopped into bite size pieces rather than in strips. There wasn't enough onion or pepper. It came with chopped lettuce and tomatoes, guacamole and sour cream which made them much more like a soft shell taco. The salsa tasted a bit like a green salsa, but was tan coloured. It was at least spicy which I think saved the otherwise bland meal.
I saw several sandwiches, wraps and pitas on the menu that involved grilled or sauted vegetables. The "Vegetable Scramble", was described with a list of veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, onions, tomato, pepper, and egg. That looked yummy to me! I was expecting lots of veggies and just a little egg, as if the egg would be taking the place of meat in a similarly described sandwiches; and I had a craving that afternoon for something with lots of veggies.
The "Vegetable Scramble" turned out to be just an omelet, shoved into a pita, with just a few pathetic vegetables scattered in it. I couldn't eat more than a few bites of it, because it wasn't at all what I had a taste for.
I was glad I chose the fruit side, instead of the fries as my mom did. The fries were greasy and unseasoned.
The waitress at least was apologetic and offered to get me another sandwhich, soup or extra veggies. As I wasn't that hungry, I declined, and took the omelet-pita home for the pets. She took the charge for my pita off the bill without our requesting it, and we left her a 40% tip on what our bill ended up as.
Not a place I'll likely go back to. If for some reason I'm with someone who insists on the place, I'll probably play it safe with either a Greek Salad, or a simple scrambled eggs and toast type breakfast.
Photos of a fajita and of the "Vegetable Scramble" are on my website at http://yum.fithfath.co...
My mother had Beef Fajitas. There were three of them, with a decent amount of meat, but chopped into bite size pieces rather than in strips. There wasn't enough onion or pepper. It came with chopped lettuce and tomatoes, guacamole and sour cream which made them much more like a soft shell taco. The salsa tasted a bit like a green salsa, but was tan coloured. It was at least spicy which I think saved the otherwise bland meal.
I saw several sandwiches, wraps and pitas on the menu that involved grilled or sauted vegetables. The "Vegetable Scramble", was described with a list of veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, onions, tomato, pepper, and egg. That looked yummy to me! I was expecting lots of veggies and just a little egg, as if the egg would be taking the place of meat in a similarly described sandwiches; and I had a craving that afternoon for something with lots of veggies.
The "Vegetable Scramble" turned out to be just an omelet, shoved into a pita, with just a few pathetic vegetables scattered in it. I couldn't eat more than a few bites of it, because it wasn't at all what I had a taste for.
I was glad I chose the fruit side, instead of the fries as my mom did. The fries were greasy and unseasoned.
The waitress at least was apologetic and offered to get me another sandwhich, soup or extra veggies. As I wasn't that hungry, I declined, and took the omelet-pita home for the pets. She took the charge for my pita off the bill without our requesting it, and we left her a 40% tip on what our bill ended up as.
Not a place I'll likely go back to. If for some reason I'm with someone who insists on the place, I'll probably play it safe with either a Greek Salad, or a simple scrambled eggs and toast type breakfast.
Photos of a fajita and of the "Vegetable Scramble" are on my website at http://yum.fithfath.co...
Prices here are generally $8-16, however there are almost always coupons in the mail circulars for "buy one dinner get one dinner free". There's another Las Palmas in Westmont, but the Naperville one is larger and has a buffet that my mom likes.
I have had the buffet a few times when I was in the mood for hand-making bean burritos with lots of the different salad veggies, the unlimited guacamole, the good selection of fruits (melons, strawberries in cream, pineapple etc), and if theres enough fish and cheese enchilada type things up there. Sometimes its almost all meat and not worth it for me then. Today I WOULD have gotten it if they had the crab legs out before we ordered, but My mom brought some back for me anyway ;-)
Instead, I got Shrimp Fajitas which were good. I didn't make them into fajitas preferring to just eat it withe seasoned rice that comes with- (I take home the beans that come with in the tortillas instead with guacamole and cheese and have them as a snack later- They have a choice BTW of flour, wheat or corn tortillas). Whats on my plate in the photo here is about 1/3rd of the veggies and shrimp that comes out over a flame. If you don't want shrimp or meat they make plain vegetarian ones that are cheaper. A nice combination of mushrooms, onions, green peppers, zucchini, thin strips of carrots, spinach and probably something else I have forgotten.
They have a whole page of vegetarian dinners. A lot of places just offer "cheese enchilada" and "bean burrito" as bland veggie options which I usually don't like. While they do have those standbys, they also have excellent chile rellenos, fajitas, some kind of banana thing I never tried, and the yummy Spinach Enchiladas which I often get (in either a white or red sauce with mushrooms and onions; rice and beans, lettuce, tomato).
The last two times the server was slow bringing out food and checking on if we needed refills. When we complained, we were given a free drink. Hopefully they have addressed this problem.
Photo of my fajitas is on my blog at http://yum.fithfath.co...
I have had the buffet a few times when I was in the mood for hand-making bean burritos with lots of the different salad veggies, the unlimited guacamole, the good selection of fruits (melons, strawberries in cream, pineapple etc), and if theres enough fish and cheese enchilada type things up there. Sometimes its almost all meat and not worth it for me then. Today I WOULD have gotten it if they had the crab legs out before we ordered, but My mom brought some back for me anyway ;-)
Instead, I got Shrimp Fajitas which were good. I didn't make them into fajitas preferring to just eat it withe seasoned rice that comes with- (I take home the beans that come with in the tortillas instead with guacamole and cheese and have them as a snack later- They have a choice BTW of flour, wheat or corn tortillas). Whats on my plate in the photo here is about 1/3rd of the veggies and shrimp that comes out over a flame. If you don't want shrimp or meat they make plain vegetarian ones that are cheaper. A nice combination of mushrooms, onions, green peppers, zucchini, thin strips of carrots, spinach and probably something else I have forgotten.
They have a whole page of vegetarian dinners. A lot of places just offer "cheese enchilada" and "bean burrito" as bland veggie options which I usually don't like. While they do have those standbys, they also have excellent chile rellenos, fajitas, some kind of banana thing I never tried, and the yummy Spinach Enchiladas which I often get (in either a white or red sauce with mushrooms and onions; rice and beans, lettuce, tomato).
The last two times the server was slow bringing out food and checking on if we needed refills. When we complained, we were given a free drink. Hopefully they have addressed this problem.
Photo of my fajitas is on my blog at http://yum.fithfath.co...
30 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 345-1234
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 345-1234
My Thai Restaurant On Michigan
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: The Loop
My mom hasn't had Thai for over a decade after trying it at a restaurant and hating because it was so greasy, but she was finally willing to try it again, before our visit to the Art Institute. This time she really liked it. I was overall pleased too.
First, I have to say that I hated the very close together, but we asked if there was a more quiet corner and they happily accommodated us even though it was lunch-time busy. We sat at a small at the end of the row, near the back which I found much more comfortable. The waiter was very attentive even though we only ordered no drinks, 1 appetizer and 1 meal to split not wanting to waste left overs we couldn't bring with to the museum).
We had the Vegetable Spring Rolls ($3.95), served cold with a sweet peanut sauce. My mom, used to Chinese food, found it weird being cold and sweet. She said she still liked it, but would have preferred it as a dessert. I compared it to having sweet dressings on salads. Regardless, we both liked it.
We also had a Red Curry Shrimp with Rice ($7.50) which we devoured before I remembered to snap a photo. It is listed as hot, but we both found it mild (but we like really spicy, so next time we'd just ask for it to be more so). Both dishes tasted very fresh, had a delicious flavour. There are a few specific vegetarian items, and while most dinners are $6-$10, and offer 'choice of chicken, beef, shrimp'; you can add extra of any of them and tofu for $1. There are also some fish, calamari, duck dishes. The menu says they use only vegetable oil and will make any dish vegetarian or otherwise altered on asking.
Excellent service, fresh tasty food, good value, close to Art Institute and Cultural Center... Certainly a place we'd stop at again.
A Photo of my spring roll is on my blog at http://yum.fithfath.co...
First, I have to say that I hated the very close together, but we asked if there was a more quiet corner and they happily accommodated us even though it was lunch-time busy. We sat at a small at the end of the row, near the back which I found much more comfortable. The waiter was very attentive even though we only ordered no drinks, 1 appetizer and 1 meal to split not wanting to waste left overs we couldn't bring with to the museum).
We had the Vegetable Spring Rolls ($3.95), served cold with a sweet peanut sauce. My mom, used to Chinese food, found it weird being cold and sweet. She said she still liked it, but would have preferred it as a dessert. I compared it to having sweet dressings on salads. Regardless, we both liked it.
We also had a Red Curry Shrimp with Rice ($7.50) which we devoured before I remembered to snap a photo. It is listed as hot, but we both found it mild (but we like really spicy, so next time we'd just ask for it to be more so). Both dishes tasted very fresh, had a delicious flavour. There are a few specific vegetarian items, and while most dinners are $6-$10, and offer 'choice of chicken, beef, shrimp'; you can add extra of any of them and tofu for $1. There are also some fish, calamari, duck dishes. The menu says they use only vegetable oil and will make any dish vegetarian or otherwise altered on asking.
Excellent service, fresh tasty food, good value, close to Art Institute and Cultural Center... Certainly a place we'd stop at again.
A Photo of my spring roll is on my blog at http://yum.fithfath.co...
The flavours are wonderful. The dishes have ample amounts of main ingredient. I hate ordering a shrimp dish for example, and its almost all vegetables. My all time favourite dish is the Eggplant in Garlic sauce (this is also the favourite of my grandmother's and my wife).
On my blog, there are photos of the generous lunch portions ( http://yum.fithfath.co... ). After the soup and eggroll, I usually eat only half of the eggplant with the rice, and then take the rest home for snack later. It microwaves well. The dinner portion is almost double this- we can split it and still have some to take home.
The staff is friendly and prompt. Some of them have my usual order memorised already. Although I occasionally surprise them and get something else like the yummy Vegetable Moo Shu.
Lunch is great value here. For $5 to $7 you get a large helping of food, your choice of white or fried rice, soup (eggdrop, wonton or sweet and sour), and an eggroll. If you don't eat pork though, they will substitute an all vegetable spring roll on request.
There is of course the usual complementary tea, fortune cookie and almond cookie. Alcohol drinks are available.