Michael W.'s Profile

There are currently two choices for Thai food in Dubuque: Asian Gourmet (located downtown, cramped but oozing with hole-in-the-wall charm) or upscale strip-mall (Tantra). I've enjoyed many meals at Asian Gourmet, but if you're looking for something more trendy/stylish and don't mind paying a little extra, Tantra wins hands down (entrees start around nine bucks, with most in the elevent-to-thirteen range). In terms of atmosphere, the interior design is an interesting combination of Asian modern and romantic, with clean lines, a modern slab-style waterfall and dim lights (you may struggle to read the menus depending on your peepers). Food-wise, I've enjoyed almost everything I've tried. My favorite appetizers include the tempura chicken rolls (sweet and crunchy) and the Thai lettuce bowl (a spicy combination of -- I'm guessing here -- cucumbers, onions, carrots, lime juice, basil and ground chicken served in a hollowed-out head of lettuce). For dinner, the drunken noodles, pad thai, and the curries are all delicious. As others before me have noted, items marked as spicy on the menu are surprisingly tame. The service was attentive but never intrusive, and the dining area was quiet enough that I never felt like I had to strain to make myself heard, even at a table of eight. A little competition is always good for the customer, and now that Dubuque has two Thai restaurants, it's a win-win scenario for intrepid diners in the Key City.

For local BBQ fools like myself, the sweet aroma of smoked pork and beef along University Avenue has teased us for several years, seeing as how the Sugar Ray's location on University was catering only. The good news is that within the last six months, they have opened for carry-out business so you can finally go in and order some of that smoked goodness whenever the craving strikes (as long as it's after 4 pm). And if it's BBQ you're after, Sugar Ray's has the goods. I'm a big fan of the pork ribs. It's tender as you'd expect, and I ordered mine served with the house sauce which is a tantalizing combination of sweet and heat -- I detect vinegar, ketchup, red pepper and perhaps a little apple juice! (pure speculation here). I ordered the beef sandwich with sauce on the side, and my wife liked it enough that she didn't even use any sauce! Note that the beef is shredded, and not sliced like traditional brisket.

Prices are reasonable. Five bucks will get you a small sandwich with fries, or you can upgrade to a large for $1.50 more. A half-rack of ribs (6-7 bones) is $12.95, and also includes one side. I recommend the baked beans -- they have a nice subtle tang of cloves and brown sugar.

As I mentioned above, Sugar Ray's is carry-out, so don't expect table service. There is counter next to the front window with three or four stools where you can watch the world go by, however.

I admit it -- I had high expectations going to In-N-Out for the first time. I heard great things about their burgers, and I was hoping to get blown away. I was not. Now on the plus side, I love watching whole potatoes get smashed through the french fry press. That alone was worth the price of the meal. In fact, I'd love to get one of those for my house. But the burgers? Not so much. I ordered the double-double, and it was OK, but not really unique or outstanding in any way I could taste. For my money, a Big Mac is not something I can easily replicate at home (unlike the double-double), and the Burger King Whopper just tastes better. But that's just my two cents. I didn't hate it, but I certainly can live without it.

My parents took my wife and I to Tia Rosa one night for dinner, and the line was so long we decided to return the next day for lunch. I'm glad we waited -- we were seated right away the next day, and it was quiet enough that we could enjoy the food and conversation! (It's just a hangup of mine -- I struggle to be heard in loud restaurants, and don't really enjoy shouting across the table, especially when my mouth is full of refried beans. I don't think the person sitting across the table from me enjoys it, either!)

I ordered the Flying Saucer which reminded me of a tostada all dressed up and tricked out -- it was delicious. I highly recommend it, although if you're hungry you'll probably want to order an appetizer or side. I also ordered a margarita with some magical combination of liqueurs -- I can't remember what was in it; only that it was tasty enough that my wife and I each had two! The dining area was extensively decorated for Christmas, and the service was prompt and professional, so everything came together for a truly enjoyable experience. I can't wait to go back next time I'm in town!

I love German food, and as far as the food went at Bavarian Point, they had some good eats. The *only* reason I'm giving the restaurant two stars instead of one is the food. Their rindsroulade was very good, and the red cabbage and spaetzle were excellent. But the quality of the food was undercut by the poor service. It was bad enough that I wouldn't return, and certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. As others have noted, there was no-one to greet or seat us -- not even a sign saying "seat yourself". Our waitress took a LONG time to make it to our table to take our drink orders, and when she did, she was complaining about something and looked put-out in general. When my wife ordered a beer, the waitress told her that it would be more expensive because it wasn't available on tap. Now, that could be useful information, but the manner in which she told my wife was defiant rather than helpful. Believe me, we gave her no reason to be so sour --  it was clear that this particular waitress was clearly unhappy -- whether with her job or life, it's hard to say. It's too bad, really, because the food *was* good. But why would anyone want to eat at a restaurant whose workers are either nowhere to be found, or miserable? Not me.

If you're seeking out authentic BBQ, look no further. I sought Joe's out after reading about it in Mike Mills' book, Peace, Love and BBQ, and I was not disappointed. The ribs were delicious, and the sliced brisket was among the most tender I've ever had. Joe's uses pecan wood, which is unusual -- I'm more accustomed to hickory (not that I could detect a big difference). If I had to quibble, I'd say that I prefer my meat naked -- i.e., without sauce. The ribs had just a dash, which wasn't a big deal, but some of the sandwiches had considerably more. And if you're looking at dessert, beware of the pecan brownies -- they're heavy on the molasses!

Stam, aka Corked, is a little slice of heaven on Dubuque's lower Main Street for anyone in the mood for chocolate, wine or gelato. Located in the storefront previously occupied by Cafe Manna Java, Stam is a great choice to satisfy your sweet tooth after dining at Crust, Pepper Sprout, Caroline's, or Vinny Vannucchi's. There are a wide array of home-made chocolates and Italian gelato as well as wine. Inside, Stam looks like it would be right at home in downtown Galena. Be sure to try the gelato -- my favorite is the Italian Wedding Cake. Flavors change daily, but the staff will offer you a taste if you can't make up your mind! In terms of chocolate, the haystacks, which combine dark chocolate, caramel, and coconut, are out of this world. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with comfortable chairs and benches which welcome guests to relax and unwind. A great addition to downtown Dubuque.

After having a three lunches at Crust, I'm ready to add this to my short list of favorite Dubuque restaurants. It's an excellent addition to the small but growing category of casual yet stylish restaurants that offer something more than pepperoni, sausage and mushroom pizza. The white table linens and Art Deco posters set the tone and give the place a nice dash of flair.

For pizza, my personal favorite is their take on Thai pizza ("Thai One On"), although their veggie pizza - code named Garden Party - is delicious and surprisingly filling. And Tequila Mockingbird - so clever - is Crust's unique take on taco pizza (Alas, there are no Faulkner or Hemingway puns on the menu at the moment). While Happy Joe's Taco Pizza will always occupy a special place in my heart, Crust's version, with black beans, jalapenos, and cilantro, is quite tasty.

But what about the crust, you say? If you're a fan of thin crust, this is heaven. It's perfectly light and crispy (hand-tossed and cooked in a brick oven, according to the menu). Good thin crust pizza is a rarity in Dubuque -- Mana Java is only serious competition in this regard.

In case you hunger for something that's not round and flat, Crust also offers sandwiches, pastas and salads. The Beet and Goat Cheese salad, which comes with candied walnuts and a honey balsamic vinaigrette, is very addicting.

People will probably rave about the complimentary appetizer -- pizza balls with marinara on the side -- but unless you're on the Atkins diet and suffering from carb withdrawal, I don't think they're anything special.

Kudos to the excellent wait staff. I've gone to the restaurant on two occasions with my baby daughter who can be rather messy, and they are always ready with a crayon, high chair, or helping hand.

All in all, a great addition to Dubuque's Main Street dining options.

In a nutshell: great atmosphere, OK food.

If you're looking for a romantic place to wine and dine someone downtown, Vinny's has oodles of atmosphere. There are candles on each table, and the owners have gone with the "kitchen pantry" theme -- there are sideboards full of bottles and cans of olive oil, tomatoes, wine and and pasta along the walls. It all works together to create a warm, intimate mood.

The food is, in my opinion, nothing earth-shattering. They do great with Italian staples like Chicken Parmigiano, baked and stuffed pastas, and all varieties of fettuccine. Most dishes are either tomato or cream based. Those looking for more adventurous flavors will be disappointed.

Service was friendly, professional and efficient.

I can't believe it's been almost four years since I last visited Tomaso's, so it was high time I checked back in to see if it's as good as I remembered. It is. Tonight we ordered a Chicago-style Pepperoni. It's NOT as deep-dish as Zoey's, but that's not a slam, either. This is miles better than your average Dominos/Papa Johns pizza. I love that they put crushed tomatoes on top of the cheese -- if you're a tomato fan, this is your place. I also like the fact that they don't muck up the holy trinity of cheese/crust/tomatoes with a bunch of oregano.

Nit-picky stuff which prevents me from giving Tomaso's five stars: the cheese bread we ordered came with a nice-sized container of COLD marinara. Yuck.

The location in downtown Marion has a home-y, family-friendly atmosphere which I like. It's comfortable without being stuffy. And I didn't find the prices unreasonable. We paid less than twenty bucks for a medium Chicago style pepperoni  pizza with an order of cheese bread and marinara sauce, plus a drink. If you're hankering for a good pizza and the lines at Zoey's are long, you could do a lot worse than Tomaso's.