Dan S.'s Profile

I had absolutely no expectations for this place prior to walking though it's doors.  I did think to myself that it must be good since there was a sizable line out the door.  My wife had heard about the chocolate croissants there so we walked over because she wanted to give them a try.

When we finally reached the interior of the shop, we saw two well sized glass cases on either side of the line we were in, showcasing an assortment of pastries that would put your local bakery to shame.  It appeared as though the case on either side of the line had the same offerings, so you could order from the case on the right or the left without having to worry about what you may be missing on the other side.

When I saw the chocolate croissant I wasn't all that impressed.  My plan was to at least try some of the croissant but after seeing it I wasn't all too excited about that.  I did spot a rather attractive looking napoleon in the case so I figured I would order that for myself.

There were no seating options inside so we were forced to leave the shop.  There were a collection of tables in a small covered area where you could eat, but they were all occupied, and many patrons lined the walk ways and even sat on the curbside to enjoy their pastries.  We found ourselves a chunk of curb to sit down on and dug into our pastries.

The napoleon was like a small slice of heaven, and easily one of the greatest things I have ever put into my mouth.  I have had my fair share of pastries in my life, even had a napoleon or two, but I was stunned at how good this particular pastry was.  I was even more satisfied knowing that I chose this one on a hunch.  My wife thought her pastry was ok, so I gave it a shot and was correct in thinking that it just wouldn't be something I would enjoy that much.

I then offered my wife a taste of the napoleon and as she ate it her eyes lit up with an understanding of what the definition of "sweet delicious goodness" really is.  I have recommended this establishment, and the napoleon specifically, to others and they have thanked me for it.

Next time you are at Epcot, find this small pastry shop in France and try a napoleon.  You wont be disappointed.

I was recently provided the opportunity to dine at Scottish Arms with some friends over the weekend, and I have to say that it was quite a positive experience.  Walking into the establishment I noticed the pub feel right away and notice a soccer match on the TV above the bar that a few patrons were watching.

After being shown to a table in the dinning area I noticed that the wait staff were dressed in kilts.  Our waited came to our table and removed a notepad from his sporran (the little pouch worn in front of the kilt) to take down our order.  We were notified about a secondary special menu that featured items fashioned from bits of a full hog that they had gotten in that weekend, and that this was something that they had done from time to time (crafting special secondary menus based on fresh ingredients made available to them).  

The whiskey list was bigger than any I had ever seen before, but I opted for a Guinness draught.  There are several types of beers on tap and in bottle from the British Isles as well as a few American beers so there should be a little something for everyone.

The Highland Gathering appetizer went over quite well at our table, and I particularly liked the sausage roll portion of it.  Some of the main courses available for dinner (simply marked "Pub Fare" on the menu) were what you would expect of British Isles cuisine: Fish and Chips, Shepherd's Pie, Haggis, Bangers and Mash, etc.  There were also a selection of entrees which would probably suit a wider audience which had steaks, fish, pasta, and poultry (found under a separate section from "Pub Fare").

We all enjoyed our meals, but I can only really comment on the Bangers and Mash which I felt was fantastic.  I found the Bangers and Mash here to be far superior to the dish of the same name at McGurks in Soulard (and I really dig the dish at McGurks too).  

On top of the fantastic meal I had, I also found the wait staff to be courteous and attentive, and the prices were also reasonable.  I recommend anyone looking for something out of the British Isles to make a point to visit at least once.  I look forward to visiting again sometime very soon.

This is a restaurant that I frequent not only due to proximity to my house, but also thanks to the good service and food.  My order is always the same: Tacos Carne Asada with corn tortillas, onion and cilantro, and limes on the side.  We always get a lot of steak in the tacos, and it is always on point.

When ordering tacos make sure to specify you want corn tortillas instead of flour (as it should be) and also request limes.  The meal commonly comes with pico de gallo and refried beans which are essential to completing the meal.  If you fancy something on the spicier side, ask for the hot salsa to add to your tacos.

One thing that has slipped recently is the guacamole.  It used to be much better, but recently the texture and taste has just been a little off.  The free chips and salsa are great to start the meal, and wash it all down with a Negro Modelo or any of the other bottled Mexican beers that are available.