Adam "Get Your Roll On" W.'s Profile

You know those places that deserve a really good review, but you aren't sure you want to write a review at all for fear of other people finding it and ruining it?

The Festival Inn happens to be one of those places. If I had more reason to return to Stratford more frequently, I may not even be writing this review. But, I'm here so infrequently that it can't possibly do me any harm... can it?

What can be said about the Festival Inn that really does it justice? The rooms are moderately priced, very upscale for the prices you do pay, and elegantly decorated. I believe, as of my writing, they just went through a remodel which has DEFINITELY paid off. Flatpanel televisions with cable, high-speed internet access (which I'm on NOW), unobtrusive art decorates the walls, and great looking furniture occupy the rooms. The bathroom is a tiny bit small... but it's workable. Just don't try to jam a bunch of people in there to "get ready."

Festival Inn is just a few miles outside of downtown Stratford. Which means that if you're looking to walk right downtown, it can be done, but you're most likely going to drive and end up paying for parking. However, having the Inn placed this far outside of the actual city probably benefits it as it seems a little less busy and more quiet. I don't think Ive seen a single family here with there kids tearing down the halls screaming to high Heaven.

Oh, did I mention, the (absolutely tiny) workout room is open 24 hours? Because it is. Even though it is literally just a re-worked hotel room with a few pieces of cardio equipment, the fact that you can access it any time is totally top notch. It even has a window that looks into the pool so you can be an irresponsible parent and keep an eye on your kids and watch them drown but know you'll be too late to get there in case anything happens. When the police come to take your report you can honestly say "I WAS watching them officer, I just didn't make it in time..." as your voice trails off in the distance and you get choked up.

The next morning as you awake, sans children, you'll be treated to an absolutely awesome upscale continental breakfast. Scramby eggs, potatoes, sausages, all sorts of juice (orange, apple, cranberry), cereal, breakfast pastries (bagels, fritters, muffins, rolls), and some of the best coffee this side of Tim Horton's can be found. All for FREE when you stay the night here. Holy. Crap. They didn't even bat an eye when I loaded a second plate up with about one of every pastry, wrapped it all up in a napkin and returned to my room to ingest them later... probably on the trip home.

Everyone here is sickeningly helpful too. The smiles that greet you each time you come across a staff member seem absolutely genuine and they actually go out of their way to help you if it's necessary. Considering how helpful everyone is in this place, it makes me wonder if they're making six figures working at a hotel... because I know I wouldn't be that good at my job unless I was adequately compensated for it. Of course, maybe Canadians are just friendlier overall. I bet that could be the case too. But, service here is another top-of-the-line thing that I'm not used to - especially for such a bargain price.

One room with two double beds and everything I mentioned above was about $140 (CAD) for the night. That figures out to be approximately $130 (USD) at the current exchange rate. Given all the amenities, this is WELL worth the price and actually a bargain if you're splitting the cost with someone else. When in Stratford, I can't really imagine staying anywhere else other than the Festival Inn. This place friggin' rocks to the bleachers and the stadium doors.

It's hard to go wrong with candy. With a name like Chocolate Barr's you better be sure you're offering something that is pretty decent too. Luckily, Chocolate Barr's delivers.

Upon entering Chocolate Barr's you are greeted with the wonderful smells of a place that creates candy. You instantly want some. And, if you're like me, you probably don't care what it is... just give me something to eat. Chocolate.

They offer a wide range of chocolates that seem to be somewhat standard fare for most chocolate shops. Nothing seems really unique, but I can't knock 'em down either - sometimes it's okay to play it safe. Things like chocolate covered almonds, cashews, marshmallows, pretzels, etc. all seem to be their typical offerings. I did notice something that seemed a little unique to the area, but I know I've seen it other candy shoppes - which was chocolate covered oranges and orange peels. Delicious. I've never had them before so I snagged some of them. I also picked up some dark chocolate coffee bean bark - which was something I don't see a lot of and had never tried.

Both were exceptionally good and I would recommend them in a heartbeat to anyone who was looking for a good place to pick up either item. For candy that's not mass produced I would say the prices were about average and on point with what you might expect to pay. My bag of coffee bean bark was $4 (CAD) and the orange peels were... something. About $4 (also CAD) per pound, I think. Yes, I said per pound not kg or g.

My only real complaint about this place is its size. There really was not much room to walk around and if the place gets too busy it can feel a bit tight. It didn't get all that busy while I was there but I still felt a little crowded at times.

However, Chocolate Barr's is a nice spot to stop in and pick up a few little treats for that special someone or as a nice gift to yourself. Yes, it's more expensive that just buying a Snickers at the gas station up the street, but you'll know where that extra money went. For sure.

While in Stratford you're inundated with a TON of choices of places to eat - all of which smell delicious and look even better. When possible I often like to turn to the locals and find out what they would recommend and see where they typically dine. I mean, hey, the usually won't steer you wrong. Especially in a friendly city like Stratford and in an awesome country like Canada - am I right?

Well, most of the time I'm right. For this particular restaurant, I was wrong. Which was really a disappointment as the other recommendation I received (Raja Fine Indian Cuisine - also in Stratford) was top friggin' notch.

Sapori, however, wasn't entirely subpar. Which is why I did give it more than one star. The Italian cuisine offered here does have an authentic selection but it does not seem to be exceptionally prepared by anyone's standards. For the portion size it also seems a bit pricey (averaging about $18 a plate for dinner).

That being said, I was also immediately turned off as we had to wait a good 15 - 20 minutes to be seated WITH A RESERVATION. Yes, our reservation was on the books but there just was no host/hostess at the door when we came in. The couple before us had obviously been waiting longer and the couple behind us were also commenting on how odd it was that the front seemed to be unmanned while the "Please Wait to be Seated" sign boldly stared us all in the face. Perhaps they were short staffed that night, but the front of the house is NEVER to be overlooked. I feel they are very lucky people did not walk out and had I known that the food there wasn't much better than Olive Garden or Macaroni Grille, I probably would have.

Our server, although friendly, also seemed to be a bit more forgetful than everyone else's servers. We were not offered any of the bread before our meal, we didn't get the chance to add freshly grated cheese to our dishes, and I'm fairly certain the question of dessert was a mere afterthought.

Sapori, while it smells like it's straight from Heaven, is really not all it's cracked up to be. It was decent, but definitely not worth its price or the wait. Given a return visit to Stratford, I would save my dough and check out one of the other (extremely nearby) Italian restaurants if pasta was what I was craving.

Ethnic cuisine is typically something you don't want to mess with unless you really know what you're doing. Most of the time a typical schmuck who's had his/her fair share of dining experiences can tell the authentic stuff from a knock off even if he/she hasn't had that particular cuisine before.

Let me tell you that I am one of those schmucks who thinks he can and let me state even further that Raja is definitely the real deal. I'm pretty sure the only way to make it more authentic would be to travel to India. And, hey, this is Canada so we're already halfway there... or... well, not really.

As soon as you enter Raja you know it's something special. Elegant surroundings that are subtle and understated let you know that you're in a nice place without making you feel like you should have worn a sport coat. We're talking dark textured wood, a nice looking bar, tables with fresh tablecloths, and all that jazz.

Service here is like something out of a fine dining five star restaurant. Water is refilled almost as instantly as it's gone, plates are quickly removed once you are finished with them, and the servers remain in the background unobtrusive to your dining experience and allow you to ENJOY your meal.

And enjoy your meal is something you will definitely do. Before the meal we were brought some bread (for lack of a better description... and unfortunately I'm not sure of its proper name... I'm fairly certain it was NOT naan) which was kind of like a large, crispy tortilla. To accompany the bread we also had several different "dipping" sauces that were extremely nice... sweet & sour, mango, coriander, and something else which I forget the name. All were exceptional except for the last, which my western tastebuds didn't care for. Nice, flavorful dishes are served here with plenty (although not excessive) of spice. Another important factor to mention is the level of spice, which I feel was accurately described on the menu - if they say it's a medium spice... then you're going to get a medium spice. Not too hot, not too mild. I learned that I could have kicked it up a notch, but I'm glad I didn't order the one that stated it was "extremely spicy."

Holy Moses were these portions huge. The prices are moderate, but the serving size more than make up for the sticker shock some people might experience. WIth my chicken madras I was brought a HUGE plate filled with lots of rice, a small salad of fresh vegetables, and a side of something that was garbanzo beans (chickpeas) in a very good sauce. The chicken madras was absolutely awesome and tasted even better when mixed with my rice and placed on top of the naan which was also brought with the meal.

All throughout the service was attentive, on point, and basically rockin'. They didn't even mind my stupid questions that basically amounted to "Am I doing this right? Is this how YOU would eat it?".

When you're in Stratford, which is an awesome town in itself with TONS of dining choices, make sure not to miss Raja. If you can only eat at one place while here... I don't know if it tops the list, but it's pretty damn close. If you're here at least a couple days - you better stop here or you might violate some laws. Because it's just that awesome. F'real.

Angela's Italian Restaurant caught my eye for one reason on my lunch break... it said they had a lunch buffet. Not always the best reason to stop and try a place out, but in my case it's often reason enough.

Upon entering you'll notice the small bar area (which looks rather cozy) to your left and the restaurant seating to your right. Neither section is very large, but it seems to add a bit of charm to the place. Definitely not shabby surroundings but it's not hip, trendy, and brand new either. It's almost precisely what you would expect... a nice "lived in" feel is in the atmosphere.

When I went there was only one waitress. Not a problem because I was only the third patron in the place. The other table was an older couple. Also there for the buffet, apparently. $7 for an Italian buffet though, man, it seems like you can't go wrong. Then you notice something - this place is pretty small. The buffet area is even smaller. There really can't be that much variety out there with such limited space, can there?

The sad fact of the matter is, there can't. A single pizza (half ham, half pepperoni), a salad bar (which is almost HALF of the buffet experience), a weird taco lasagna thing, breadsticks, and some meatballs... that's what I got for my $7. The pizza wasn't bad, but it's a little hard to screw up pizza - bread, sauce, cheese, and meat. If any of these aforementioned ingredients are lacking in quality, just up the cheese... it'll cover it.

The taco lasagna stuff was... interesting. I did get seconds but not because it was particularly good just because I HAD to taste it again. The meatballs were nothing special at all. If I had been more rude, I would have gotten my $7 worth just by chowing down most of that pizza but I had to leave some for the other patrons that slowly started to trickle in as the lunch hour ripened.

The menu looked like it was pretty interesting, but if the quality of the food is only a little bit better when ordering off then menu as opposed to the buffet, I think I'd pass and save my cash for somewhere else. Angela's Italian Restaurant & Pizza is an okay spot and I wouldn't avoid it like the plague, but I'm sure not in any rush to go back there either.

Coffee Talk 505 has no business being in Clare, MI. And I mean that in the best way possible. There is no reason a place so hip, so cool, so downright awesome belongs in a place as desolate and overlooked as Clare, MI.

When you walk in this place, you're leaving all of Michigan behind. You're instantly transported to somewhere more urban, somewhere where people actually have an idea of what's going on in the world, somewhere where tractors aren't driving down the middle of the street and most people have never even heard of a grain elevator. Maybe that's why I felt so at home in Coffee Talk 505.

The food offered here is even accentuates this atmosphere. Instead of typical Midwestern offerings you get something more akin to the lighter fare offered in California. Flatbread pizzas, tiny sandwiches, salads, and things like that. Of course, they are a coffee shop, so they also offer goodies like brownies, muffins, and other assortments. Even... Ashby's ice-cream. Dang. They have it all.

I had the special of the day which was a chicken breast, light angel hair pasta, topped with a lemon mushroom sauce. So light. So filling. So friggin' delicious. Perfectly portioned (although I did split it with another person) and just right. The price was spot on too - $8. I was worried they were going to charge us an extra plate fee when they asked if we were splitting the dish, but instead they only asked because they split it for us and put it on two plates already. Very nice.

Service is great and friendly. Even though they have a station where you're supposed to pick up your plasticware (the only downfall of the place - instead of silverware), they brought it to us. Not a big deal, but the small things make a difference.

Cool art lines the walls and I think you can even buy if you're so inclined. I like that. Small guys helping other small guys out. Plus it lends a sense of community to the place. I can't say enough about how awesome this place is - so just go check it out already. It almost makes me wish I lived back in my hometown so I could be closer and visit much more frequently...

There's a reason this was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (featuring the annoyingly douchey Guy Fieri). Because it's definitely unique - no matter what area you're in but especially unique in Michigan - and the food here is pretty damn exceptional.

Rosie's Diner is more about the atmosphere than the food though. Because, hey, when was the last time you actually got to eat in an authentic diner car? Yeah... that's what I thought. The food here is some quality too, but nothing to write an especially long letter home about.

Unless we're talking about their onion rings and their shakes. As an edited hip-hop CD would say... "Holy ish." These two items are definitely stand out on the menu in quality. Hell, I'd recommend this place solely based on those two items. As a matter of fact, I know next time I'm in there, that's all I'm getting. Onion rings and a vanilla shake. Damn, is it ever good.

If you're in the area (even just in Grand Rapids), this place is worth the drive. You'll dig it and I'm sure some of you older folks would dig telling your kids all about how places like that were everywhere when you were a youngster. For me... awesome onion rings and a place to show off a unique spot for visitors. Rosie's Diner is definitely a Michigan gem.

I've recently moved back to the Grand Rapids area... and had to disassemble (like Johnny 5) my newly purchased bike to make it fit in the trailer. I'm still a newbie to the biking world so putting it back together proved to be somewhat of a challenge... one I couldn't accomplish alone. Neither could me engineering buddy either (some engineer he'll turn out to be!).

So a trip to a bike shop was in order. Having gone to GVSU and travelled the area a lot, I knew Chicago Dr. Cycling & Fitness was there and I knew they sold Trek (which is my bike's brand), so I figured I would pop in and see what they could do for me. I really just needed to get my ever-important brakes working again.

Not only did it prove to be no sweat, it came out to be no charge either. They even gave the bike a once-over to make sure it was still in proper working order (after  I confessed having to assemble it myself and being somewhat of a newbie to the bike realm). The service was friendly, pretty fast, and even though I didn't buy anything this trip they made a customer out of me.

The store was clean, had all sorts of accesories for your bike, and the staff was VERY friendly. I talked a little bit with 'em about my biking, what I hope to accomplish, and they seemed fairly knowledgeable too - so that's always a plus. Scope this place out and see what they can do for you... and become a bike junkie with me. I need more biking friends...

I like coffee. It's my most recent addiction. I've never felt "grown up" enough to enjoy it until about 4 months ago. Apparently 25 was the magic age for me when it stopped tasting nasty and bitter (thus resulting in many orders of more expensive hot chocolate) and actually tasted like something I could enjoy.

Now I find myself seeking out different kinds of coffee. It doesn't have to be good... I'm happy with my Folger's in the morning, but if it's good that always helps. The Beat Cafe has GOOD coffee. They have VERY GOOD coffee. No need for a flavor shot, you probably will have to add sugar if you're usually in need of it, but other than that... this is some deadly good coffee. How many times can I say it?

The guy behind the counter was very friendly and engaged my friend and I in interesting(!) small talk while he made our coffee. He wasn't snobby about the coffee or didn't act like he really wanted to be somewhere else, which can be the case with a lot of these independent coffee places. It's also a reason I usually will just be found at Tim Horton's instead.

Inside is very spacious and it's painted with warming earth tones. No packing everyone in so you're bumping elbows with the people next to you and you can actually enjoy your conversation with who you came with. This place has a lot of regulars (I think my buddy and I were the only ones who weren't on a first-name basis with the dude behind the counter), but it doesn't make you feel uncomfortable like some places can. Nobody gave us dirty looks for invading their favorite spot.

Going late at night can be an interesting experience. Lots of high-school kids seem to enjoy hanging out just outside the door. They will try to engage you in those random conversations high-schoolers often find hilarious and normal people just find... stupid. We were all there before though, right? They don't mean any harm so just ignore 'em if that bugs you.

The Beat Cafe also has a (small... nay, TINY) stage for what would appear to be an open mic night. There also sits a lone guitar just waiting for someone to strum its strings. Poor guy. I may return for an open mic night, if I knew when it was.

I noticed that on the menu they list sandwiches and other things. I didn't notice any muffins or bagels anywhere but they may have them. If they do, I'll almost guarantee you they aren't fresh made there - so I'd pass anyway. The sandwiches listed didn't seem like anything special. Like most coffeeshops they were, of course, overpriced. It's a coffeeshop - what do you want?

The Beat Cafe has great coffee, decent service, and an overall decent ambiance. I'd say the prices are moderate as well (about $1.75 for a large). Was there really anything to consistently make me seek it out and return time and time again? Nah, not really. But if I'm down that way and in need of a cup... I wouldn't hesitate to stop in.

Let's get this out of the way first thing: Busch's (at least this one) is a Spartan store. Despite its interior dressing and attempts to make you think that this grocery store is something special like a Gelson's (Google is your friend if you've never been to SoCal), this place is nothing but a Spartan store.

So why does everything cost so much here? Even the generic items seem to be much more than they should be... you know, the ones that proudly display "Spartan" right on their label?

The store at least makes a valiant attempt to make you think it's worth the extra money. It has a very nice, clean interior. Staff actually act like they're paid decently, and the overall ambiance of the store is alright. It's just too dang expensive. I'll cruise up the street a little bit and hit up Kroger or Meijer for my money. Busch's should only be used out of convenience if you live nearby, like my sister, and are just too lazy to make the little extra trek to one of the other fine establishments I've mentioned. Then again, if you're in need of food that bad, you'll get just as much value for your money by visiting the Subway in the same complex and getting a $5 footlong. F'real.