Justin S.'s Profile

If your idea of a perfect coffee shop experience is sitting in a ridiculously comfortable armchair in a quiet place with big, delicious, reasonably priced cappuccinos at hand, you'll probably like La Dolce Vita quite a bit.

Oh yes, and the WiFi is free, fast enough (512kbps up and down with low latency) and so far very reliable. I think I've found my new home in Frederick. :D

The only thing I'm iffy on so far is the TV that's blaring CNN this morning, although that's easy enough to overcome with headphones, and it is almost more tolerable than the loud, repetitive music loops other places play.

Once I try their food, I'll update with my opinions!

We really liked this place. Friendly people, great atmosphere and a solid menu combined to make us very happy diners. Do like we did and make a reservation to avoid waiting in line.

Blueberry daquiris were creative and delicious. Bisque and chowder were okay but not great (a little watery). Our meals, however (lobster for her and lobster & shrimp pasta for me) were fantastic. Our server even showed us (lobster noobs) how to pick properly. The dessert menu is extensive, and my cheesecake was spot-on.

Not much else to say except that this place seems unlikely to disappoint. We will probably return!

Breaking news: On my most recent visit, SSS hit me with a customer service failure so thorough and off-putting that I am going to raise my concerns with the Big Boss. I really want to know what his response will be. Further bulletins as events warrant. ;) Meanwhile their food remains great, but beware of impossibly bad service.

One word: fries. I don't like fries, but I LOVE South Street Steaks' fries. This is a dangerous development because, as a good ol' American-sized individual, I do not need any more fat in my diet.

I have very little first-hand Philly experience so I will not attempt to compare South Street's sandwiches to those one might obtain in the City of Brotherly Love. But I can say that they have a great selection and that everything I've tried has been delicious without reservation. Have you ever had a perfect sandwich experience where all the ingredients are high quality, well-prepared, perfectly placed and in impeccably correct proportion? This place seems to be tuned to deliver that very experience, where paradoxically none of the sandwich's positive attributes even cross your mind while you're enjoying it. Instead, all you can think of is, "mmmm!"

My only issues: The order taker didn't go out of her way to be nice to me (although maybe I'm biased by the "spunky" cashiers at the Cali Tort next door)... and they seemed slightly flustered by my large take-out order (for four people); as a result the service wasn't exactly quick. But hey, I guess you can't rush art.

DISCLAIMER: I've only been here once. It was almost 2 PM, so my cupcake experience was not viewed through Holy Carp I Just Wasted One-Forty-Eighth Of My Day In Line For A $3 Cupcake glasses. I will go again and then update for fairness.

My friend and I went into this much-hyped cupcake boutique in its second week of operation, and I was prepared for disappointment. Having tried Cakelove and other schmancy cakes in the past, I was bracing myself for inedibly rich frosting with the consistency of chilled butter. Plus, there's no way the experience could match up to the deliciousness conjured by my own imagination after walking past the teaser sign each weekday for months...right?

But when we sat down three minutes later at a table outside and bit into our cupcakes (both of us had ordered carrot), they were truly excellent. A close-your-eyes-for-the-first-bite type of perfection. The cake was moist with a great consistency, and the frosting was mercifully delicate, complementing the cake perfectly. I forgot all about my late project at work and the fact that I was sweating profusely in the 90 degree heat. I love cupcakes, and this cupcake was a perfect 10.

Now I know better than to judge a restaurant based on a single experience, good or bad. So I'll be back to Hello Cupcake, and then I'll be back to Yelp for an update!

I hate to be a naysayer, and maybe I'm missing something, but... I've had far, FAR better Chinese food out in the MD and even VA burbs than at New Dynasty. Owing to the four-star ratings, I gave them three tries and I don't think I'll be going back for a fourth.

Pros: Convenient, fast, relatively inexpensive, and takes credit cards. Service is moderately friendly. The fried wontons are pretty delicious!

Cons: They're missing a lot of my favorite ubiquitous dishes. Everything I HAVE ordered has been doused in a syrupy sweet sauce with barely a hint of tang or spice. Quality of meat has been meh.

When I'm at work and the craving for Chinese strikes, I often find myself tempted by New Dynasty..But I have yet to walk out feeling like that craving has been properly satisfied.

I recently had the occasion to visit Hinode, and my co-diners and I all had a great time and some excellent food. The sushi isn't the best I've ever had, but it is quite satisfying. I couldn't resist ordering the fried Shumai, which in my experience is pretty hard to find. Hinode's were very good, if a little less crispy than I've come to expect.

Service was excellent (the restaurant was nearly empty) and the atmosphere was nice. Sitting outside looks like an awesome option as the weather improves. It is worth noting that none of the staff nor the patrons were of an Asian persuasion, in sharp contrast with many other such establishments. Perhaps as a result of this, the music playing in Hinode is not what you'd expect in a Japanese restaurant! ;)

I look forward to returning to Hinode to try some of their non-sushi cuisine! As another reviewer mentioned, the sushi selection isn't enormous (if you don't count the 4 or 5 different kinds of California rolls!!) so I may find myself branching out on my next visit.

P.S. If you can't walk to Hinode, use the nearby Carroll Creek Deck to stow your car before enjoying your meal. Parking is $1.

In my experience, this is an odd duck of a Chinese restaurant. They offer an extensive menu with Chinese, Thai and Japanese dishes, and I've tried everything but the last.

If I described Chinese food to a chef who had never had it, and neither of us had any knowledge of how it was made, the result would be the cuisine at Shanghai Cafe. For the most part it's good, but it isn't quite like anything you've had before. The sauces are a little "off" and the textures of the food are unfamiliar.

If you have an open mind, you might enjoy it, but it can be jarring if you expect the good-ol' comforting American Chinese food you've had a hundred times before. Who knows? Unless you've got guests that you absolutely need to impress, give it a try! If you consider it on its own terms, it's on the whole quite tasty.

P.S. Maybe it's just me, but I don't recommend the Thai food at all. I couldn't find anything redeeming about the few dishes I've had. The remaining cuisine Shanghai offers (Japanese) will likely remain untested by yours truly.

Don't let the name and location fool you; this place is truly excellent. In fact, please go there -- it has been nearly empty every time I've been, and I don't want to let one of Frederick's best asian restaurants go out of business!

The food here is simply delicious. Drunken Noodles, Pad Thai, even the appetizers... everything we've tried has been great. Portions are generous, prices are reasonable and the service is remarkably fast and friendly.

One minor quirk: Soda is from cans rather than a fountain.

If you like Thai food or have an inkling that you might, clear your mind of preconceptions, go to the Golden Mile and prepare to say "mmmmm."

Alright you guys, give this place a break. The other reviews of Bugaboo Creek harp on the joint's bizarre decor, complete with animatronics and  more tchotchke than you can shake a ski pole at...and I couldn't agree more. The interior design is ridiculous, and it's distracting to have to pause conversation while the giant talking moose finishes his spiel.

So you know what? Don't take your girlfriend to Bugaboo with the intent of proposing to her. Don't hold a serious business lunch there, either. And if you take yourself quite seriously, you'll want to steer clear. The rest of us will go to Bugaboo and have a great time!

Bottom line: The food here is really pretty good. My family loves it, because it has a casual (okay, beyond casual) atmosphere and there's something for everyone. The service is almost always great. So why not give it a try?

The bread service (big, warm hearty rolls and butter) is addictive. As a pasta fanatic, I can say that Bugaboo's is quite good. My steak- and salad-loving compatriots also vouch for their respective favorites. During lunch, they serve panini-style sandwiches which are also worth trying.

We've been going to Bugaboo for years, and I was honestly surprised to see the two-star ratings. This is not the sort of place I'd travel twenty miles out of my way for, but for a nice family dinner, it's hard to complain about. It's our "default," and after dozens of visits we've yet to tire of it.

As far as takeout Chinese in Frederick goes, this place is definitely worth checking out. They are friendly, fast, inexpensive and dependable. They take credit cards, don't balk at special orders and (gasp!) give accurate time estimates for delivery.

We've tried a limited selection of their food (including Fried Pork Dumplings, General Tso's Shrimp, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Chicken Fried Rice) but everything has been excellent and highly recommendable. They delivered enormous shrimp, very tasty chicken, and delicious sauces with no cop-outs such as excessive vegetables, breading or liquid.  Everything has always arrived fresh and hot.

My only complaint is that their packaging could be a little better -- saucy items can leak from the microwave-unsafe containers they use. Prepare to wash your hands after handling your order.

The bottom line is that Hot Wok's food pleases my whole family...a tall order indeed!