Fayelonious "Three Times Doper" C.'s Profile

UPDATE- The fried eggplant appetizer is fabulous!  The accompanying cheese dip is like crack.  I've been fiending for some ever since my first visit.  We tried a white sangria this time which was MUCH better than the red and had a wonderful cinnamon flavor to it.  I also tried the potatoes with peppers and onions and liked it way better than the bravas version.  I am adding a .5 for the eggplant dish alone.  Be sure to get it!

I have a love for most things Latino (EDGAR RAMIREZ IS SO FINE!) and I've been addicted to margaritas since that first fateful sip back at Chili's in college so Tequilas is a natural fit.  Everything I've eaten here has been delicious time and time and time again.  If I'm in Philly, I'm going for sure.  I even have my picky friend and my veggie boobear hooked on it.  I'd call it upscale but unstuffy Mexican.  

The first few times I was so full from appetizers and drinks that I never made it to the actual meal.  Pitiful but tasty and satisfying.  My favorite appetizers are the Sopes del Rancho and Queso Fundido.  The sopes were the tastiest with chorizo though the chicken and the beef (so I was told) were good too.  The sopes come with a veggie option but I haven't had those yet . The fundido was good with and without the chorizo.  The ceviche and empanadas were well-received as well.  I also really like the Tortilla Soup which is just as good with chicken as it is without.  The Chipotle Salad also got a good report from the boo.  Okay so the only entree I've had was the Salsa Tequila's with jumbo shrimp and it was fantastic!  So much so I cleaned my plate and I rarely ever do that.

As for the margaritas, they are very tasty.  Just tart enough, just sweet enough with a nice kick from that house tequila (Siembra Azul) that they use.  I hope they bring back raspberry for the summertime but if they don't the blue is fine with me.

Scene and hype, yes.  Delivery, eh.  There are places nearby and near enough that I'd go to before here.  If you want to see and be seen, why not.  Otherwise, it's alright.  Not great, not horrible.  2.5 stars.

I went for dessert.  Loved the tiramisu.  Small, intimate, moody place that's good for a date night.  I can't say anything about the clubbing there except that looking at the people who line up to get in...I'd avoid it.  So, dining- yes, partying- nope!

I really wanted to like this place but I can't lie- mediocre place, mediocre customer service, poor prices, horrid parking, and the nail job isn't even good.  I heard people rave about this place so I had to try it.  I even brought two girlfriends along.  One wanted to try it because she was interested in booking her birthday spa party there.  Let me first go with the highlight- my funny nail tech...I think his name was Dani?  Either way, maybe we spent too much time laughing and talking and looking at his fashion designs but the end result was a bad pedicure and a mediocre maniure.  Now my feet aren't horrible and I scrub everyday (hello? I make my own bath and body products) but leaving there you'd think I kicked around rocks for a living.  The pedicure polish was put on way too thickly and even though I sat around for a good 40 minutes and as soon as my shoe went on it was smoosh city.  The tech barely wanted to cut my nails or my toenails and I had to ask several times to get the right length.  I just got frustrated and let it go and just started talking to the guy or I'd have wanted to kill him.  He is pretty funny.  But especially for these prices, they need to be doing a way better job.  For significantly less I can get service and results 100 times better.  And that was the highlight.  

The owner of the shop when she finally breezed through seemed more interested in getting her own nails done than speaking to a customer about booking a party.  I mean it was Friday night, maybe she had a hot date?  We're all entitled to a bad day so I won't say that this speaks to her or her business.  

Either way, I won't ever be going back here and my globby, half pedicure and sloppy, french manicure do not come highly recommended.  My two friends weren't delighted with their services either and the next time we got together it was back to our old go-to spot.

Ah hidden on the side streets of downtown New Brunswick rests this little jewel.  Though the prices are higher than Trader Joe's (my crack!), the money I save in gas trekking all the way to Joe's or even Whole Foods balances it all out.  The shop is tiny but packed with all of your boho favorites in food, bath and body products, essential oils/herbs, and bulk goods.  There's even some stuff that you can carry out for a quick lunch.  They'd like you to bring cash but they take credit cards and everyone by now should have their own bags to carry your goods in.  I don't so I just carry out by hand...lol.  They do have plastic bags though.  There's also a little cafe opening up upstairs it seems so you will be able to linger and chill a bit.  I'll update once I try it.  Either way, support your neighborhood co-op.

Solid 3.5.  

Good portion size and definitely good food.  The prix fix brunch special is very well priced and tasty.  Though small they were able to accommodate a fairly large group of kiddies that I came in with one time and had our food our quickly and everyone was happy with their orders.  If you know teenagers, you know that deserves props.  Let's see, I've highly recommend the macaroni and cheese, fried whiting, fried chicken  was good though I'd ask for a better, sharper knife so you don't look all tacky (of course get it with the waffles), the garlic shrimp, and the jerk shrimp.  I like the collards and the orange juice too.  Oh...the hush puppies!  I think I need to go back...lol.  

My only complaint is that once I got there at like 2:59 and they wouldn't seat us for brunch even though the last seating is supposed to be at 3pm.  I was definitely salty and that hostess' attitude really stinks.  All of the other times I've been there though the people were pretty gracious.  

The space is small so convo carries but people are friendly.  Sundays they have some decent jazz to go with your brunch.

I didn't eat here I only had a few drinks.  The crowd was interestingly weird both times I went.  Once was after a game on a Friday evening and once was super late between clubs on a Saturday night.  The people who work at the door seem very cool and chill.  I had some minty, pomegranate martini that I'd recommend.  Again, the crowd one night was like all the people that you know who think that they're cool but they're really not. International House of Flashy and Trashy.  Cuckoo drunk girls dancing with each other and some leery dudes thrown in for good measure.  That was Saturday.  Friday it was better and mixed bag definitely but better but it was kind of early so I don't know how the rest of the night went.  I'd go, I guess if I *had* to but BYOP!  And the music stinks if you're not on X which I hope that you're not!

Haven't been upstairs so I can't comment on that but the outdoor eating area is weird to me.  It's like they just plop you out on the sidewalk...no real barriers.  It's like you could run up to someone's table and grab a piece of bread or something and get away with it.  If you try this, I am not your accomplice!

Well this is Lavar Arrington's sports bar that got a little publicity when it began because of how it was only hiring hot waitresses.  Lol!  They are pretty cute, so be aware.  I'd rate these ladies hotter than Hooters' chicks.  So job well done Mr. Arrington.  All that hype aside what really stands out about this place is the bar.  It's pretty big for the size of the restaurant and in the shape/style of a football.  You can also tell that Mr. Arrington planned for all his buddies and VIP to patronize the spot as there are curtains to make the side booths private and some cushy spots upstairs to view the entire restaurant.  There's also a dj booth up there.  Of course, the tvs are pretty visible everywhere and good tvs.

The menu is okay, prices aren't that great but you are paying to be a part of a scene so suck it up I guess.  When I went Mr. Arrington himself was there and walked around the spot and greeted a few people.  Someone from The Wire was also in the place (Slim?) but I don't watch the show so his name escapes me but I'd imagine it'd be like this at Sideline all of the time.

The food?  Fair.  I had a Roasted Chicken Salad that wasn't bad at all and had a decent enough flavor.  My cousin had a small plate of wings and some other stuff that he declared "okay."  It really wasn't worth the price though.  It's a sports bar so I'll rate it as better food for the the type of place that it is.  The drinks were okay, strong and not well-flavored to me but again...sports bar...lol.  The waitress though cute was extremely slow and I was in a rush and the lax service turned what could have been a 30 minute meal into an hour longer.  I'd try it again though maybe with a larger group and more time on my hands.

On weekends, it's a club of sorts and I haven't been in but it seems fairly popular with the scenesters in the Largo area.  The doormen though scary-seeming and burly are actually pretty nice!  One even gave me some compliments on my footwear.  I'd say give it a try but don't go starving or thirsty...and wear nice shoes!

There were many complaints about not being able to wear sports gear at a sports bar.  Hopefully they'll change this policy because though I see the point, it's kind of looney.

Out of the Jaspers, this is the most packed especially at brunch and Happy Hour.  It's a newer than the others as well and used to be the old BET Soundstage Club which may have much to do with the crowds.  The brunch is slightly better here than at Greenbelt.

Casual place to eat that serves standard, American, TGIFridays-type food.  It can get a bit sceney during happy hour and weekend nights so be aware.  Good place to go and hang out with friends.  People go to pretty much be seen during these times and it can be crowded.  The people watching is great though.  Happy Hour specials are pretty good and the portions are huge.  The BBQ Chicken Sandwich was a go to favorite and I liked the Buffalo Wings, Buffalo Chicken Eggrolls (!), and Chinolatino Eggrolls.  Crispy fried fatty goodness.  Depending on the bartender, drinks can be good and strong.  This is a place you'd go to for the aforementioned times and for sporting events if you want noise and atmosphere and entertainment.