Abigail G.'s Profile
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The first time I came, it had me in tears... the flautas reminded me of San Diego... as did the salsa (aaaaaaaand the super spicy salsa verde - YUM!) Take into account that I felt like I was at home in those little booths with telenovelas playing in the background - and I was a happy little camper.
Is it the best Mexican food I've had while in Georgia? HECK YES.
On top of that - they have some pretty sweet deals... I'm talking ridiculous $4.75 combo meals at lunch. ...add to the fact that they have a pretty decent selection of imported beers and complimentary chips and salsa - and this is my kind of place!
Their carne asada is not what I'm used to from back home (or in TJ even) - but I attribute that to Mexico's regional cuisine differences - as the family seems to be from further south in Mexico.
Nonetheless, it's all good - and I am SO pleased at their salsas and the food that I've been here twice in the past week.
Oh, and their beans........ YES. that's all I have to say. and the guac.... *love*
Also, they serve menudo on Saturdays and Sundays - apparently. YAY!
:) Check it outtttttt.
Are you lost in a place where you can't find much culture? I mean, authentic, straight from wherever it came from culture?
I know I've been there... but if you're Hispanic or love Hispanic food - LOOK NO FURTHER!
La Guadalajara is your typical corner mercado that you'd find someplace like in San Diego.
Basically, it's got your staple ingredients - plus - my favorite thing ever - a great selection of paletas (popsicles) in fabulous flavors like Nuez (walnut), Arroz (rice with honey), Fresa (strawberry), coco (coconut), Tamarindo (tamarind), Chile (chili), etc.
Their candy selection is great... and so is their dried chilis (and fresh tomatillos/jalapenos)... plus if you're looking for cooking tools, such as a molinillo (a hot chocolate stirrer) or some Nestle Abuelita chocolate - look no further!!
On top of everything else - Francisco is super helpful and willing to listen to you giggle like a 5 year old in a candy store... because - well... that's what I did.
:)
What is that?
Lotus Express. Lotus Chinese... depending on the day - I'm prone to calling it different things... but the one thing I do call it is CONSISTENTLY GOOD :)
I'm going to tell you straight out that you're not going to want to visit this place for its ambiance. You might even want to order out... but, I don't suggest this... the food is ALWAYS so quick to come out - and if you're like me - you'd like your dishes piping hot without the whole Styrofoam condensation nonsense. Plus, there's always that chance that your fork or chopstick stabs through the container, and no one likes that. ...just eat on a plate.
The WONDERFUL lady here always remembers my face when I come in the door. She's got that hard-working Asian-mom vibe about her and she doesn't speak much English for conversation - but she sure does do her talking through the food she cooks.
The hot and sour soup?!?? To die for. Awesome, spicy... and NOT some weird orange color like I've had out here. ...it's got mushrooms, tofu, scallions, and all the other stuff that is SUPPOSED to go into hot and sour soup. OH. ...and it's hot and sour - in case you didn't catch that in the title - it's a prerequisite. :)
Egg drop soup - best I've had in this city, hands down... it saves me when I'm too lazy to make my own.
Won Ton soup - I'm usually not a fan of Chinese Won Ton Soup - it's just the pasta (yes, it's a pasta) - floating in the broth - with a few pieces of pork for flavoring... whereas Vietnamese Won Tons are something like "meat stuffed dumplings"... but holy cow - I think they might even make theirs here. They're thick and filling and it's good. Oh wow. I never thought I'd like Chinese won ton soup like this. :)
All of their dishes including vegetables are perfect - everything is always cooked to the point where there's still a bit of crunch. That's the way it's supposed to be done... no limp celery or cabbage to be found here. :)
On top of that, classic dishes like their Chicken Lo Mein - which has generous portions of chicken thrown in - is great because it lacks that whole "Americanized Chinese" salt-overload-ZOMG-need-water.... feeling. ...Try it. You'll be surprised at the fact that this is nothing like the Chinese food you've been eating. If you're perceptive - you might even find a hint of five spice. YAY!
Bottom line. The food is good. Real good... OH! ...and I forgot to mention freaking cheap as all heck.... with huge portions.
If you want to feel like you've invaded an Asian home and want to try what the food REALLY tastes like... I highly suggest checking this place out.
This is one of the few places I'll miss when I leave Augusta. Seriously. The food never fails to bring a smile to my face.
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 457-1221
Salon David Perez
Category:
Hair Salons
Neighborhood: University City
After living in the South for a year, my hair was looking pretty rough. It didn't matter how much I paid a place - I would always come out looking like a soccer mom with a mullet.
Needless to say, when I got a chance to come back here - David fixed everything. I have difficult hair for some stylists- it's both thick and smooth, which causes cuts to grow out awkward and have tons of flyaways.
The last time he cut my hair - it grew out SO amazingly well that every week - people would comment on it, thinking I had gotten an entirely new do. It was always cute and easy to handle - and if you do get color done, he really does pay attention to make it fit your personality.
I love how he's not afraid to get edgy with my hair and I have no problem trusting him with adding red and blond highlights. Sure, he might be pricey for some, but you get what you pay for! David's a true artist who really enjoys his job and understands that he's there to make you feel great.
Now that I'll be moving to Korea, I'll most likely save my next haircut for the next time I come back to see him. He really is THAT good.
One star goes to the wait staff who hovered nearby and checked on our drinks often.
Now, high five to this place for trying something "new" - however, huge miss when it comes to the actual delivery.
Don't expect this place to be spot on with the Pho in any sense. You can tell they took shortcuts and used storebought pho seasoning. The beef broth seemed like it was made from a bouillon cube and the noodles weren't even pho noodles - but something like thai rice stick noodles. there were uncooked chunks of onion in it as well - that was unpleasant. Try thin slices. That's how it's usually done... and the fried onions - T_T... how about leaving that as a side option? My poor husband had to sit there and wade through it.
Nonetheless, thanks for the attempt. You get a gold star just for that, especially out here.
As for the Bun Xeo (aka - the Vietnamese Crepe...). Talk about making me sad beyond belief. The actual crepe was too thick, squishy and cooked separately from all the rest of the food. T_T. It was like a weird squishy taco thing with a sad stir fry shoved in it.
Here's a tip: cook all your ingredients separately... THEN when you're ready - toss the bun xeo batter in a pan and start adding a few things here and there like you would with an omelette. If you can make an omelette - there ya go.
Oh, and the nuoc mam/cham is severely watered down. If you want to know how to make it well - drop me a line. Seriously. I get asked to make my family recipe for friends all the time.
All in all - I was severely disappointed during my visit - and am thoroughly upset that this is touted as authentic fare - when it clearly isn't.
Oh, and it absolutely BLOWS that the buffet ends at dinner. MEH.
I'm really disappointed because this place had potential. Now, the service leaves something to be wanted and so does the food.
:\ lame.
1 Previous Review:
-
4/4/2010 First to Review
Okay, so Antonio G. and I have been abstaining from eating out in the Augusta area for a few reasons: lack of diversity and ...well. yeah. a huuuuuuuge lack of diversity.
While on our latest adventure in the search to cure boredom... we passed this place on Washington Road and I yelled at him to turn into the parking lot of Fusion Cuisine after reading something that I've NEVER seen in my life. An American, Chinese, Indian, and Pakistani BUFFET?!?!!!
HECK YES!
I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE Pakistani food. Chinese food... well, look at me.... and Indian food... reminds me of home as well. American...? ....hmm.... Everything else got me in the door.
The smells KEPT me in the door. It was like entering an amazing den of spices which swirled about and screamed "EAT ME! EAT ME!"
The food was awesome and fresh.... and I haven't felt this good after a meal out since moving away from my beloved West Coast. No heavy *blargh* feeling... and a constant supply of Naan kept me happy.
Did I mention - ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT?!??! !!
Oh man, oh man...
Here's the rundown on what we had... mind you, each of these entrees on their own were flavorful enough to satisfy... but again... ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT - ohhhh yeah....
Daal Moog: Lentils - Delish. Totally loved scooping it up with the naan...
Potato cutlets - Spicy! Great consistency on plate... be careful trying to pick it up with the tongs, they'll smoosh on ya.
Cheese ball with Gravy - It's paneer cheese. I LOVE PANEER CHEESE. I ate something like a billion of these. Amazing!
Chickpeas with Gravy - Ohhhhhhhhhh man. So good. Just eat it.
Tikka Masala - ^_^!!!
Matar Keema - Ground beef with peas... so good scooped up in a bit of naan or with rice.
Chicken Karahi - The julienned ginger in this dish were SUCH a treat... it's SO flavorful and rich that I was just.... EAT IT.
Kabobs - who doesn't love a kabob!?!
Chicken Breasts with Mushrooms - Oh yeah, it sounds "regular" but is totally worth the real estate in your gastro-intestinal system.
Basically... if we stopped here - I'd be in love....... EXCEPT!!
THERE'S MORE!!
Make sure you try the Kheer (Rice Pudding) - it's not your average rice pudding... think... creamier and with more bang... like with almond slices and a slight coolness attributed to cardamom, which - in a way is like a lemony gingery goodness. I'd even go as far as to say... close your eyes... and it MIGHT just even remind you of the fruity pebbles you ate as a kid... but in a more refined and distinct kind of way. No joke.
Bottom line. This place is definitely a gem in the rough. GO THERE, support it... It's SO worth it.
Augusta, GA 30909
(706) 738-7478
Cheddar's Casual Cafe
Category:
American (Traditional)
If you can manage to find a place at the bar - good times - otherwise, expect a wait of some sort... even on a weekday.
1 Previous Review:
-
2/2/2010
Here's the breakdown:
5++++ stars for service, provided by Herman G.
3.5 stars for food.
-4 stars for the wait time.
-2 stars for the strangely slippery tiles that I clumsily glided along on in the main dining area.
soooooooo.... 4 stars overall "for Augusta" ;)
(3.5 on a metropolitan scale)
- - - - - - - -
Mr. Herman G.... was BY FAR the highlight of our visit. I would even go as far as to say he's THE most personable server my husband and I have encountered in the CSRA. He made me feel like I was right at home with his hospitality (Read: in San Diego) and was on top of his game. This was with a table of two delirious and sleep-deprived individuals that were both confused and bonky.
The fruit teas, strawberry fruit lemonade (with real fruit!!!), triple sampler, baby back ribs and fries were delicious... for the FIRST time in my life, I actually LIKED mozzarella sticks. The marinara provided had a bit of a kick and wasn't your typical run of the mill, cheaply made sauce. Their mustard was great too...
The downfall would have to go to the shrimp, rice and beans and our smokehouse burger. The shrimp were okay, not amazing... but eh, whatever... and the rice and beans... :( Now, I know I'm nowhere near Mexico... and despite forgiving them for not being made with manteca - they were just faaaar too salty. What was crazy - is that the rice accompanying it was apparently even saltier. I wouldn't know - I couldn't get past the beans. ....and the smokehouse burger... *sigh.* Great, amazing ingredients... all jumbled up in an overly complicated burger that tries too hard to prove it's worth, when in all reality, all it needed to do was chill out and say "Hi, I'm a burger - and I'm awesome. Eat me." ...Now, to their credit, my husband really enjoyed it and it was cooked to a perfect medium. In the future - personally - I would probably just go for the cheddar bacon burger.
Those little things aside, which were more of a learning experience anyway, were easily forgotten - thanks to great service. That, if executed correctly, can forgive a chef that works with a heavy hand in the salt department. Hopefully all of our food will match the quality of service in the future.
Overall, the prices were also VERY reasonable... all that food and it came out to ~$40, including tip. :) We'll definitely be back.
BUT for Augusta,
...definitely FIVE stars... so take that as you will.
OH man, you can tell this place is bringing some good, quality food to the area....
My husband and I were lucky enough to try their kalamata olives, which were FABULOUS - if you're accustomed to the flavor nuances of kalamata - it's not salty at all... and it went so great with the sauce that accompanied it.
We also had their portabello fries, and frankly - portabello is probably the least delicate mushroom on my list... I thought it's wonderfully "beefy" and "whole" flavor came shining through, despite what the other reviewer noted.
We were lucky enough to have a tomato based sauce provided with the kalamata and actually preferred dipping the portabello in that, instead of the feta aioli which was provided... that aioli went great with the olives though. WOW. :)
We were also pleasantly surprised to have the Owner/Chef Crumrine come and visit with us - to talk a bit about the food and whatnot - and you could really tell that this was a man who cared about what he was serving to people.
Even better, we tried the New England Clam Chowder - which, I would definitely say - strayed from the traditional path, but had a hearty helping of clams and a distinct southern charm about it - especially with the touch of quality bacon garnish, as well as some fresh tomato. Along with two lovely rolls, it was just *sigh*... LOVELY.
Next on the list was a pizza, topped with pesto sauce, instead of marinara - and along with broccoli, ricotta and shrimp - was DEFINITELY on that list of our favorites of the night
The house special of the evening was a white fish - stuffed with crab and shrimp - accompanied by wild rice pilaf and french green beans - which were both on the light side, as well as wonderfully balanced in flavors.
Altogether, we had a wonderful time - and their happy hour prices for drinks are AMAZING and can't be beat.
Definitely check this place out. I was hesitant after reading the previous reviews, but seriously... I'm glad we decided to go and check it out for ourselves.
It also seems to be a favorite place for the locals once the evening gets going - so make sure to RSVP, just to make sure you get a seat :)
Augusta, GA 30907
(706) 860-8756
Bojangles Famous Chicken and Biscuits
Category:
Restaurants
My insides are purging themselves out right now in the most unholy of manners as I write this review... what's worse is that it pretty much smells the same coming out as it did going in. How that is possible, I'm not quite sure... but I'm not even lying.
I don't think I've eaten a meal that was THIS bad for me in my entire life.
I mean, I should have figured it out by the way my paper bag turned translucent from the amount of grease alone. ...but I wanted to try what seemed to be a VERY common mealtime option out here.
I see people all the time - carrying Bojangles on the sides of their cups... toting around little boxes stamped with the happy little logo... and something about sweet tea - it peaked my interest.
All I have to say now is, *gurgle* WHY?? T_T WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY???
I'm pretty sure I've blocked off 15 of my 20 arteries. I could barely even walk up the stairs to my apartment after eating ONE biscuit sandwich and a few of those bo-tato things. T_T
Bojangles... never. again. ever. ever.
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San Diego, CA
Yelping SinceDecember 2007
Things I Lovecooking, truffled cheeses, caviar, wine, omakase sushi, men who can cook
Find Me InKorea. Yelp won't let me make this my location.
My HometownSan Diego, CA
When I'm Not Yelping...I'm living my life away from a computer.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsI eat every day... making me an expert-eater.
My Last Meal On EarthTop of the Market... Surf & Turf... mMmMmmm...
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I pretty much abhor reviews that aren't truthful.
Most Recent DiscoveryI am SO glad to be back in civilization
Current Crush
I'm not even being as dramatic as I'd like to be in that previous sentence.
Their conchas and other pan dulces are delicious... but the thing that keeps me coming back multiple times each week are the tamales.
Fresh tamales? They have them every day!! (TODOS LOS DIAS?!!!???) ...and they're as good as when I was a little girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean, fresh, homemade - and definitely made by a great-aunt that I wish was my great aunt!
Mind you - if she's manning the register - you should probably brush up on your Spanish a little bit - but it's easy enough to figure out.
Let me walk you through it if you need help:
First, figure out your # (uno, dos, tres, etc...) + your type (pollo = chicken or puerco = pork) ...add those together and say the word "tamale" and "por favor".
Trust me, you'll be doing yourself a favor... the family sauce that they use in these is just plain amazing. *drool*
Another thing - the prices are absolutely reasonable - considering that they're the only damn place out here you'll find - outside of making a three hour drive to Atlanta.
I lovelovelovelovelove this place. I can't even express that enough.
Oh, and if you want a good amount of tamales, get there early - or call - and they can have them ready for you in 45 minutes or so.
They also carry a decent selection of Jarritos soft drinks, as well as cheeses, and make Cuban bread.