Joe "@joefoodie" H.'s Profile

I was recently in Columbus for a food blogger tour and while most food was complimentary, a group of us decided to visit Dirty Frank's on our last night and actually pay for a meal :).

Not only are the hot dogs fantastic, but so are the tater totchos (make sure to add fresh jalapeno).  The beer list is very good.  And they have funnel cake, damn it.

To top it all off the waitstaff and bartenders are fun and totally helpful.  

Dirty Frank's was the perfect cap to an amazing four days in Columbus.

Looking over previous reviews, I'm really surprised to see so many complaints about the service.  Maybe it's because I went on a Saturday afternoon just after open, but there was no issue with service in my eyes.

First off - Beer. Tequila. Whiskey.  Choices are endless and high quality.  I had my first Gumballhead on tap and was smitten (we don't get 3 Floyds in MI).  I would go back strictly to booze.

The guacamole and chips were among some of the best I've ever tasted. Period.

Even though the tacos are expensive, they're substantial and taste fantastic.  The pescado taco = heaven.  

Chicken tostada was so spicy it made me sweat and brought a tear to my eye.  That's a good thing.  

I love the vibe of this place.  The music. Everything.  A really cool spot.  Would definitely visit again next time I'm in Chicago.

It had been a few years since I last visited Cedar Point, but it still reminds me of family trips from my childhood.  

The lines were manageable with most being under 30 minutes.  Both of my kids (2 & 4 years old) had a blast.  There's plenty for them to do.  

Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold was available on tap.  Craft beer in an amusement park and it was the same price as most other beer - awesome!

The food situation is problematic, but that's the case in most amusement park settings.  It's expensive, not very tasty, and unhealthy.  However, they have added Pink's Hot Dogs from Hollywood.  I didn't get to try Pink's, but that addition cannot be a bad thing.

And of course, the roller coasters.  There's no place like Cedar Point for thrill rides.  Mantis, Magnum, and Millenium Force are among my favorites, although I do like them all.

Sandusky, OH, for Michiganders, is where Cedar Point is located.  Maybe you have a favorite hotel, but it seems like we don't explore Sandusky outside of the main drag heading to CP.

Next time you have a hankering to ride the Magnum, don't eat dinner at the park.  Instead head over to Water Street.  

Lots of fun craft brews, including some we don't have in MI like Smuttynose and Left Hand.  Blueberry Lemonade is outrageously refreshing - blueberry vodka mixed with mint lemonade.  It's a dangerous drink.

Wine by the glass tops out around $7.  

Fried dill pickles are quite possibly the best I've tried.  If only they offered a more inspired dipping sauce - sorry, ranch dressing.

The cheese platter was perfect for sharing and had good variety.

The Water Tower, my entree, a French dip sandwich with horseradish was OK at best.  Our server claimed it was their best, most popular dish.  That might be true, but the beef was kind of dry and the au jus was super salty.  

Just a reason to order something different next time.

Cedar Point is awesome, but the food leaves something to be desired.  

Explore Sandusky.

A great place to work.  Speedy wi-fi, outlets are usually available, and everyone is friendly.

The food is excellent, too. Fried egg sandwiches are wonderful with just the right amount of guacamole.  Oh, and the quinoa with roasted vegetables is a substantial side or a small entree, either way it is delicious.

And the coffee.  Expertly brewed, fair trade/organic, and the beans are always super fresh.  

If Commonwealth was a little closer to me, I'd be there everyday.

Andauras is Saint Clair Shores' version of the Flytrap or Toast.   Cool spot for breakfast or lunch.

The owner/chef/waitress has no formal training.  She developed all of her recipes at home.

Eggs at Full Mast is a quirky take on eggs benedict.  Gently fried egg, fried ham,  and garlic herb cream cheese on a piece of toasted baguette.  Topped with roasted bell pepper sauce, this is a hearty, messy, satisfying breakfast.

The Italian Western sandwich is spicy and creamy.  Turkey, avocado, pepper jack, tomatoes, and a bright pesto sauce between two slices of perfectly grilled bread.

Andrea, the owner, is awesome.  Very personable and talkative.

Oh, and all you can drink organic coffee is $2.50.  That plus wifi means I have found my new favorite workplace in SCS.

The Bucharest Shawarma is, without a doubt, one of the finest sandwiches in the Detroit area.  

Two chicken breasts, garlic sauce, pickles, french fries, cabbage, tomato, and mayo are all stuffed into a pita.  This is a gorgeous, messy portable meal. Perfect late night food.

Beware: eating this sandwich in your car is near impossible without dripping garlicky juices all over your lap and seat.  On the other hand, driving more than 50 feet with this sandwich next to you will induce ravenous hunger pangs due to its tantalizing aroma, so maybe ruining a pair of jeans is worth it...

If you dine in, grabbing a pint of beer at the Park Bar is a nice option, especially considering all of Park Bar's Michigan beers on tap.

Efficient service, tasty food - Bucharest Grill is simple and awesome.

Cash only. Only open on weekends. Family owned.  Two women in back cooking everything that is brought out.  House made salsas, ceviche tostadas, cabeza tacos, and lard laden refried beans - what more do you need?

A dingy space with enough room for about 20 people, J & V cannot be seen off Gratiot. It is hidden behind J & V Supermercado.  If you're ever in the Chesterfield area, though, do not miss this spot.

The ceviche tostada is bright and flavorful.  You get a large portion of tilapia for $2.25.  Lightly cooked then marinated in lime, garlic, and cilantro, the tender fish, onions, tomatoes, and avocado are wonderfully refereshing.  The crisp corn tostada is an excellent device to get the seafood to your mouth.

As with most taquerias, a number of meats are available for tacos, quesadillas, and burritos.  The cabeza and carnitas are both very good, especially when topped with a little house made salsa.

Friendly service and excellent food J & V is spot I will be frequenting whenever I'm out that way.

Impressive to say the least.  Mario and Natalie are doing some amazing work here.

I sampled a number of dishes, but the two best were the spicy eggplant with tofu and the pad see ewe with chicken.  

The tofu is treated with reverence.  It is lightly fried before being thrown in with the veggies and sauce.  The texture is vastly superior to any other tofu I've had in the area.  Further, there are large chunks of Chinese eggplant that are tender and earthy.

The pad see ewe is excellent for two reasons: the use of fresh(!) wide noodles and authentic Chinese broccoli.  All pad see ewe should be made this way, but most places do not take the extra steps necessary.  Chewy, dense noodles in a spicy/savory sauce studded with bitter Chinese broccoli and tender chicken - doesn't get much better.

Tongue Thai'd is doing some fantastic stuff with traditional Thai flavors.  Oh, and their spice level goes up to 100 for all of you daredevils out there...

Easily one of the most enjoyable art fairs I've ever been to.  Not sure if there wasn't many people or if the spacing was just right, but everything flowed perfectly.  There were no crowds in front of booths, the beer garden was easily accessible as was the food area.

Tons of cool art work.  And the beer garden. OMG - the beer garden.  We were there for roughly 3 hours. My mother-in-law (she's awesome) bought me 5 beer tickets ($5 for one or 5 for $20 - so it behooves you to buy 5).  It was my mission to drink 5 12 Oz pours of some of Michigan's finest craft beers.  I mean 5 pours for $20 - craft beer - how can you beat that??  Sherwood's Hemp ale is excellent as is Founders Cerise.  

Club Bart's vegetarian tacos were pretty tasty, too.  Also, Treat Dreams was selling Sunday Breakfast ice cream - maple ice cream with chunks of bacon & waffle throughout.  Seriously, some of the best ice cream I've head in a LONG time.  Sweet, salty, and perfectly textured.  I could easily eat this ice cream for breakfast and be satisfied.  

A truly wonderful experience.  Will be back next year for sure.  Hell, I might even go back tomorrow...