Lisa "whatagrl" P.'s Profile

Growing up in Redding, this was THE place to go, beside Doc Cleary's or Tubby and Ann's (The latter two went by the wayside long ago).  It was (and is)  the place to go because the STEAK is unbelievable! Period.  There is a certain charm about the Naugahyde wall covering above the bar, the old, mid-century modern plastic lamps that grace the tables,  and even the dim lighting.   But it is kind of a bummer that the wait is always so long (the place is tiny and doesn't seat very many people). However, a bonus for the hubby and me:   A couple weeks ago, we decided to head to Jack's on a WEDNESDAY evening around 7:30 pm.  It was far from slow, but we were immediately seated ( an almost-never), and served very promptly.  

As always, the steak was unforgettable!

For a Thurs/Fri/Sat night, plan to get there around 4:30 or 5:00 and be among the first in the door.   Or, eat a snack at home, and plan to drink at their crowded bar while you wait.  The place is loud, fun, vibrant, and worth the wait at least once in your life.

When my now-fiance moved here from Chicago 3 years ago, he thought it was so funny that a small town like Redding had a SOUTH Indian restaurant, and a GREAT one at that!  Born in South India himself, he has grown up on on South Indian food, as well as Indian foods of other regions.  Priya has both traditional south indian dishes as well as the more common North Indian food suited for American palates.  When we go, he gets the chicken 65, and they know it's ok to make it for him "Indian spicy", not just American spicy!  I like the dosas (not on the low carb diet), just for presentation's sake, if nothing else.  We have ordered take out for large numbers of people... food is always hot, ready on time, and delicious!    We are happy to have Priya in our small town, and can't wait to bring his South Indian parents here, when they visit!

Came here after a long day of babysitting my 18  month-old niece, last year.  My guy and I enjoyed flights of red, and ended up buying a bottle of one of the blends... some Bryan Carter blend that was so smooth!   We didn't eat food... just drank.  The server was knowledgeable not only of local wines but wine in general, and was pleasant and conversational without being an intrusion.  Next time I go back to visit my brother and his family, I'd like to eat here.

As the daughter of a barber, (and one who cuts hair here) I can tell u that this is five star, if you're lookin' for the cliche'  manly-man barber shop experience!  Barry, Bob, and the others (including a couple of gals) have all been cutting hair since the dawning of time, and will have you looking your best for a relatively low price.  The barbers here have cut everyone's hair over the course of the last 40 years (at least my dad has), and know a lot about what's going on in the community.  For that reason, the conversation is stimulating, and the practical jokes these guys are ready to play on chosen customers will have you laughing out loud.  There are plenty of nudie magazines, always  a local record searchlight (wretched flashlight), and at Christmas time, my mom is likely to bring in hot buttered rums and cookies.  Stay on your toes, lest you be the victim of the "fart machine" or the "fishing pole spider"

I went here twice with an ex boyfriend, and most enjoyed the unique underfoot see-through glass floor that displays an awesome aquarium. I thought the seating arrangement  both times was a tiny bit awkward (we were placed in bench seating that puts you in close proximity to the party next to you...practically shoulder-to-shoulder).  This forced me to engage in conversation with a loud, "proud" gentleman who purported to be the director "so-and-so", and told me I was "surprisingly articulate" for someone who lived in Redding, CA, which I found a little pretentious and ignorant.    On the other occasion, at the bar, there was a gentleman  who was bare-chested under a leather vest...looking rather scruffy.  I was told he was "Jim Phantom" of the band "the Stray Cats".  Apparently, dress code does not apply to aging rock stars.

Aside from these non-food encounters, our dinners were good (not out of this world, but good), the service was great, and my wine was enjoyable.  It's a fun place to go once or twice....

As long as you don't try to get "fancy" or "complicated", you will love this place!  Sometimes the line wraps around the place outside, but the service is incredibly fast (again, don't try to mess up the system, just order verbatim off the menu).  The tacos are tasty in a simple way, and hit the spot after a long day at the beach.  I love the HUGE shreds of cheddar cheese and the chips and salsa.  If you're lucky, u might stumble upon a celeb sighting!  (once I saw Raven, from "That's so Raven").

An only occasional visitor to Chicago, I braved a solo EL ride from the South Loop, just to take a major field trip to this fairly new Whole Foods.  It was so overwhelmingly stimulating!  Where else can you shop while sipping on a biodynamically farmed organic sauvignon blanc? After my wine and cheese pairing and an hour or so of browsing, I decided I need a massage, and was able to get one on the upper floor, overlooking the main floor shoppers.  After my massage, I was hungry so I headed over to the mini world-of choices offered within their ready-to-eat food area.  I was able to sit at a little table in the sunlight, overlooking the Chicago River, while I enjoyed my lunch (and dessert).  After dining , and now familiarized with the layout of the store, I returned to pick up a few of my favorite things:

A groovy SIGG water bottle,
a bag of "herbal essentials" yoga mat towelettes,
some clove, lavender, and sandalwood scented bath salts,
some organic  baked goods
and a copy of Shambhala Sun magazine.  

HUGE, but very helpful staff (and plentiful), fun services, and an overall unique shopping experience.  A true field trip,and worth the scary ride on the train!

Not your everyday dental office!  I not only go to Dr. Doyle for my regular dental care, but also had  cosmetic dentistry (veneers) completed by Doyle.  The entire experience, from consult to final snapshot was beyond professional: a paraffin wax spa treatment for my hands while I waited, a drink fridge in the waiting room stocked with all kinds of beverages for the taking, and state of the art diagnostic and treatment equipment are some of what makes this office so unique.  Additionally, (and for me, most importantly) is their outgoing and fun staff. I have not encountered such friendliness in a dental practice, ever!  There is a distinct "we are family" feel that is conveyed when you interact with this doctor and his staff.  I also enjoy the followup thank-you postcards that come, personally handwritten, after my appointments.   My smile is more beautiful than ever, thanks to the expertise of Mark Doyle, and I flash my smile a lot at my appointments, thanks to his wonderful staff!

I'm sure this spa provides perfectly acceptable services, but my only experience with Prima was in the "customer service" category:

I was given a gift certificate to use and decided to use it for my birthday.  The gift certificate was for an hour massage, and went I went to Prima to schedule the appt., around noon on Christmas eve day.  I asked if instead of getting a massage, I might use the gift card for other services, such as a pedicure.  I was told that would be fine, since the cost of the spa pedicure would not exceed the amt of an hour-long massage.  The woman behind the counter scheduled my pedicure for the day after Christmas.  I left happy to be using my gift certificate, and looking forward to my spa pedicure on Dec. 26th.  I went home to prepare for Christmas Eve with my family and other relatives visiting.

Late in the afternoon on Christmas Eve day, I received phone call from a woman who identified herself as so-and-so from Prima Spa.   She informed me that I could not use my gift card at all, and that the woman behind the counter should have never allowed me to make the appt that I did.  She went on to explain the reasoning for this:  because she had "fired" the employee whose name was on my gift certificate and that  this employee would have needed to be "the one" to render my services.  She also went on and on to describe some scenario in which the person from whom I was presented with the gift certificate had obtained the gift certificate for me by way of "bartering" services, etc etc.   I am sure that all of this was some kind of understandable business mess on their end... but on MY end, I was just a potential customer, who had been given a GIFT to use and was now being told I was not welcome to use my gift certificate because of some kind of "snafu" with their employees and some kind of unorthodox business/bartering practices with the woman who had given me my gift certificate!   My head was reeling from too much information! To add insult to injury the lady on the phone was rude, interrupted me when I tried to speak, and when I was finally able to inquire as to why another technician couldn't do my pedicure, she HUNG UP on me!    Seriously! All this on Christmas Eve, and now, NO gift certificate for me to use for my birthday!  I will add that she called to apologize that day after Christmas ( a msg left on my phone), and even tried to coax me back in, but by then I was completely disgusted.

This was so amateur... par for the course, for a town like Redding.  If she had just acquiesced, and graciously allowed the redemption of my gift certificate, despite whatever "loss" she may have incurred, I might very well have had a happy birthday, a great pedicure, and she might have a loyal returning customer.    Instead I am steering clear of this poorly run business.

My visit to Chez Panisse was most memorable for the wonderful food, and only slightly less so for the service.  Our party of 3 waited an inordinate amount of time for our table, despite reservations that had been made weeks in advance.   We brought our own wine, had it uncorked, but decanting was not offered- I had to ask.

Once settled, however, the courses delighted the senses.... particularly the veal.  I am not a huge carnivore, and get kind of weepy at the thought of consuming baby animals, but this veal was a dish that provoked audible moans from our party.  Outstanding.  I commend Alice W. for not only her wonderful restaurants, but also for her profound work in the slow , organic food movement and work with the school food service in Berkeley.  Thanks for a great dining experience!