Dining Out: Awful Arthur's

I've eaten at the Tower's Mall Awful Arthur's twice in the last couple of weeks, and I have to say that the name is a total misnomer.

What might also be misunderstood is the cost. Sure, there were some pricier items on the menu, but I think it's all a matter of timing.

I went the first time during dinner happy hour, which - luckily - is not confined to the smoking bar area. The locally brewed beers were $2.50, and the one I had - a lighter ale - was quite good.

On the dinner menu were a number of items that broke the $10 range, sure, but there were also various salads, apps, and - most importantly - sandwiches that were $6 - $8 with a side. I had the catch of the day (which usually spells mucho dinero) for $7 with a side. Can't beat that.

After the good experience (despite somewhat mediocre service), I went back for lunch and found that the $6 items were gone, though there were still some $7 choices. I suppose I could have asked for a dinner menu, given that there were more "lunchy" items on the dinner menu than the lunch menu, but I went with the shrimp and scallop wrap for $7. It was quite packed with both, not some rice or lettuce filled wrap with a tablespoon of popcorn shrimp. I even took some home after the first half and a side filled me up.

So, with the right choices, Awful Arthur's doesn't have to mean an expensive dinner or drinking. Time it right and you'll get the best of both worlds.

Dining Out: Kabuki doesn't disappoint

Of course I've been to Kabuki's before: I've been in Roanoke long enough to have such an occasion come up. However, I hadn't been there in about two years when my wife and I went prior to seeing Star Trek as a part of our date night.

Anyone who's been to more than a couple hibachi grills knows that they are not all one in the same, despite inevitable similarities. The important part for me was that the portions remained large and the prices remained reasonable, and - in that regard - Kabuki certainly comes through.

With a drink, our final bill was a little under forty dollars before tip, which I think is pretty good for that sort of dining experience.

The taste - as I remembered it - was quite good. Our chef was a little on the taciturn side, which wasn't lost on another couple at our table. Albeit, it didn't help matters that three of the most docile little girls I've ever seen sat between equally docile parents. Even the pyramid of fire solicited only the most arbitrarily of smiles. (I think maybe there was some cough syrup or medication involved).

Though I was driving and couldn't partake to much of a degree, the array and originality of the alcoholic beverage menu intrigued me; when I return, I hope it's with a designated driver.

All things considered, while so many other restaurants are cutting portions while upping prices, it was nice to see Kabuki still packs on the good food and fun while not breaking the bank.

Dining Out in Roanoke: Grace's Place Pizzeria

Grace's Place is within walking distance, but I still drive because that's just what we do sometimes. Parking can be a bear in Grandin Court (all the more reason to walk) but we found a spot open and perused the restaurants for dinner.

I've actual been to Grace's before, but that was before I wrote reviews, so - other than what I ate - I probably couldn't tell you much.

Last night, though, Grace's was pretty packed. Oh wait, that's pretty much any night, which is good and bad. Bad in that the place gets a little cramped, but good in that you can have a meal with the security that collective wisdom speaks to the place's finer qualities, which in Grace's case is certainly the food.

That's not to say that the wait staff isn't nice - they are - nor that the restaurant is unkempt - it's rather tidy by my reckoning. It is a little tight, though, which could make grazing the medicore saled bar a little burdensome, so I stuck with ordering some real food and sitting in a booth.

My wife and I split the spinach artichoke dip for our app and then split the vegetable primavera sub. The dip was quite good, with rugged little toast pieces in lieu of chips. It was a little oily, so this is not a diet food, to be sure.

The sub, though, stole the show. Subtleties liked the roasted red peppers and basil really set if off, and I considered pulling the whole "What's that behind you?" trick on my wife to get a bit of her half, but I figured she wouldn't fall for it anyway.

The meal was quite reasonable, our bill was $13 and change minus the tip. The service was good, and the food came out incrementally, as expected, so none of that "he's your app with your meal" stuff.

We'll definitely hit up Grace's again sometime, though - judging by the mad rush of people to fill our parking spot when we left - we'll be walking next time.

Dining Out: McAllister's Deli

Towers used to be the red-headed stepchild of malls back when I lived in Roanoke in 2000. Back then, Tanglewood was still happening, and all of the mall walkers relegated themselves to Crossroads.

Now, though, Towers is getting some new things and coming up, albeit somewhat slowly. I had a chance to go to the newish restaurant, McAllister's Deli, in between the Colonial Ave main entrance and CiCi's Pizza. The place is big, with tons of seating that you mosey through on your way to the ordering counter in back.

Being a vegetarian, I love the fact that they serve veggie chili, not to mention it's quite good. The veggie spud and a macadamia nut cookie completed my meal, which I actually split with my wife, since it was large enough to fill my plate.

The staff was mostly teens, who were nice and helpful, busing the table and refilling drinks without being in any way overwhelming. It was a little tough interpreting tipping etiquette, though, since my receipt had no slot for tip, and I never carry cash. I guess next time, I'd tip much like one might in a Chinese buffet place.

The environment was nice: good lighting, nostalgic pictures and memorabilia adorning the walls without it being too busy like in the fictional "Shenanigans" from the film Waiting. The price - especially considering my wife and I were sharing - was very reasonable - rounding out at around $10 - $11 for the both of us, though we drank water and the coffees we'd brought with us.

So while I can't speak much to the rest of the menu, McAllister's spuds and chili proved well worth the visit, as did the welcome courtesy of the staff and the roomy, clean dining area.

Dining Out: Hollywood's Restaurant and Bakery

While this may have little to do with new Hollins-area restaurant Hollywood's, I just need to say that our going there was an accident. We were headed to a local place that will remain nameless. Small, quiet, earthy, and utterly closed. Why the hell small business is surprised that it has no customers when it spends half the time closed is a riddle that baffles me.

Anyway, Hollywood's was a decent second choice, to be sure. The environment was pretty typical: plenty of room, good lighting, and the bakery wares calling to customers from just left of the entrance.

We'd planned on only dessert and coffee, but my wife ordered the cheese fries as an app with dessert to follow, forgetting to check ingredients. Alas, the fries came out with bacon bits, but the waitress was very nice about taking them back for some "vegetarian" fries (potatoes is a vegetable, right?).

I had the peanut butter pie, which was good. My wife had a cake called "Better Than Sex" that I liked a little better (though perhaps not quite as much as advertised, given the name).
The service was good and the prices were very reasonable.

We ate with friends who had full meals that were well portioned, and looked good, though we resisted asking for bites just to have something for the review.

For a Friday night, the place had a good draw, though not on a wait or anything. While Hollins is a little outta my hood, I could see returning to try some of the other desserts, of which there are plenty.

Eating Out: Café Asia

Gratefully foregoing a Friday night with nothing more to do than sit at home on our respective computers, my wife and I except an invitation to meet friends at the new Café Asia on Valley Gateway Blvd.

The restaurant is beside Kroger's and has been open for a month or two, I gather. Our friends had been there twice before, and enjoyed it.
So, starting out with my staple - an Asahi beer - we ordered sushi for apps. My wife's a vegetarian, and I'm a pescetarian, but that still left plenty of options. We had the avocado roll, which was very good. To our delight, the owner/operator brought out some fried tuna roll for us to try, which was equally smashing.

I had the Thai rice noodles with shrimp, which was a lot like an angel-haired version of pad Thai with a little less of a peanut taste. I meant to save some, but cleaned my plate like a good, raised-in-the-'80s kid.

The bill wasn't bad: $35 with tip for two people with a drink and sushi. The menu is eclectic to say the least, with pho and stir fry as well as wanton noodles and sushi. Let's put it this way: if you like Asian food, there's something there you'll dig on.

The owner is very friendly, and there were at about 2/3rds capacity, near as my unobservant eyes could glean, so I hope they have found a solid locale.

Would any readers like to see a pic of my entrée when I eat out and write about the place? If so, please comment below or use the contact email to let me know.

United Way Soiree at Blue 5

Last night my wife and I go to a get-together at Blue 5 downtown put on by the United Way, Roanoke division. We meet downstairs and catch the tail end of happy hour - enough time for two of the only beer on tap: Blue Moon. Not a bad choice, if you have only one.

My wife and I begin in the customary fashion: mingling without mingling and talking to each other like we’re absolute strangers. Two beers deep, we start to meet some of the United Way folks, who are no doubt partially attracted by the less gregarious in the group of about 40 people, the rest of which were mostly shirt and tie types who’ve come right from work and have a solid 3 or 4 people there to talk to.

We meet the CEO of Roanoke United Way, who also hails from Phoenix, swapping stories about urban development and what the current economic downturn (shall we say) means for Roanoke. Not to make it sound like deep, Larry King type of conversation or anything.

We talk to a couple of other very pleasant people before heading upstairs for dinner around 7 or so. A chalk sign reads: “Route 2 playing tonight” but also reads: “Happy New Year!” so I don’t really know how reliable the live band intel is. Around 8, though, Route 2 takes the stage - a base player, a guitarist who plays like that blind guy from Road House and a lady wailing on the violin.
The food is good: I have the catfish, and my wife has a few veggie sides.

And so, we leave around 830 with a reasonable tab, full bellies, and a few business cards to log into my address book. All of the United Way folks say that Roanokers are a generous lot, economic downturn or not (and sometimes in spite of such circumstances). So it’s a good night, with a place I’ve never been and many faces I’ve never seen - all of which seem to like it here in Roanoke, which says a lot in 18 degree, windy weather.