Second Helping

American Pie pleases taste buds, lacks television

2009-03-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

A trip to an authentic pizza parlor near Bainbridge would seem impossible, especially with the sparse amount of good dining in the area. But, if you want to taste what real pizza tastes like, you've got to try American Pie Pizza.If you don't have time to wait on lunch, you can always call it in. I'd come inside to pick it up though, because the drive-in window isn't big enough to get a pizza box through, which means they have to turn the box sideways (which makes the hot cheese run to one side).Besides the humor of not having a window big enough for pizza boxes, American Pie is a great place to eat.

They also have menu that includes pastas, salads, hot wings, sandwiches and you guessed it, pizza. You can order it by the slice or by the pizza. Their 28-inch extra large pizza would be great for a Super Bowl party, or just having a good time with friends. The pizza is the best in Bainbridge and it's the only place you can get a pizza so big you could float on it down the river.

I had two slices of pepperoni that were hot out of the oven and dripping with melted cheese and covered in pepperoni. Each slice is so large that it takes up an entire plate by itself.

My lunch partner had the breadsticks and a drink for under $4. There were so many breadsticks that it took two plates to get them on. He said they were covered in garlic and butter and were full of flavor.

Not only is the food good, but the employees at American Pie are friendly, and usually good-looking. So, even if the food wasn't spectacular, which it is, then it'd still be worth going there to eat.

There are TVs in American Pie, but they aren't hooked up to any cable or anything, there just there. So, don't go there for the big game, or any game for that matter. Unless it's in the parking lot outside, you won't be able to watch it.

And Since they serve beer, you could always get hammered on your lunch break. But, I wouldn't recommend it with jobs being hard to come by these days.

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The Landing serves good food, good drinks and a good time

2009-03-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

Wednesday nights at the landing there are $2 10-wing baskets and $5 pitchers of beer. But, I know what you're thinking? "The Landing serves food?" The answer is yes, and it is actually delicious. I would've never thought a bar would serve good food, but the hot wings are excellent. I'd say they are better than any wings in Bainbridge, and rival some of the best I've ever tasted.

Now I know you're thinking, he must've drank too many of those $5 pitchers and got tanked so anything would've tasted great. That my friend is incorrect. I did have a few mugs of beer, which were served in a frosty mug, but I did not get "tanked."

After the wings I even ordered curly fries thinking they could've just gotten lucky and had one good thing on the menu. But the curly fries were good too, especially with the ranch dressing that comes with the wings. You'll have to ask for it with the fries, but the friendly waitresses/barmaids will glady bring it out to you.

Some might think The Landing is kind of a sketchy hang out because of the recent bottle busting which went down there. But on Wednesday nights it's just a laid-back restaurant that happens to serve $5 pitchers. Of course there's always the one guy so hammered he can't stand up because he is staying at the hotel that night. But, hey, at least he's not driving.

So if you want a good place for a quick bite to eat, and maybe a cold beverage, the Landing is the place to be. It's located at the bar inside the Charter House Inn on Tallahassee Highway.

If you're really looking for a good time come on the weekends for karoke until 12 when the whole town shuts down. Then you'll have to go to Pud's to get your kicks.

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Betty's serves cheeseburgers, sweet tea and good service

2009-03-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

Betty's Cafeteria in Bainbridge has a buffet every lunch and breakfast Monday through Friday and you'll probably never enter the place without most of the tables being filled. There's even quite a few folks you'll see every day, rain or shine.

It may be because of Miss Betty's down-home recipes or because the service is always great, but Betty's Cafeteria in West Bainbridge has been filling tables and glasses of tea for over 20 years.

I had a bacon cheeseburger because there was nothing on the buffet which I particularly cared for, but usually the buffet is the way to go.

You can get the cheeseburger alone but it is definitely better with the freshly cut fries piled high on your plate. There probably isn't anything healty to eat at Betty's, but that's why it's so good.

My burger was just off the skillet and the cheese was still melting off of the burger and toasted bun when it arrived at my table. It was so big and juicy that I thought I was going to have to change clothes before I finished it. But, I did manage to keep the excess on the table and not in my lap and only used about three rolls of napkins to stay clean.

As soon as your beverage has been touched at Betty's you can guarantee someone is going to ask you if you need a refill. That's just the way the service is at Betty's.

Fridays are usually fried catfish days and Shepard's Pie usually makes it on the line once a week as well. If you've never had any of the pie, it's something to write home about. Because you'll be staying for seconds and maybe thirds.

Next time I can give 2,000 calories to breakfast, I'll write about how good it is as well.

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Laredo has better burrito, but it isn't on menu

2009-02-24T12:02:00.000-08:00

If you really want a really good burrito, order one that isn't even on the menu at Laredo Mexican Grill in Bainbridge. The California burrito comes with steak, peppers, onions, sour cream and guacamole in a enormous tortilla covered in queso. But, it isn't on the menu - it's a special-order item. The steak was very flavorful and the peppers and onions were just off the grill. The guacamole was also very good as well. If you ask for the hot sauce to go with it, you'll get what my server called the "sauce for big muscular Mexican men." It is definitely hot, but it was also flavorful. The cashier said it was a mixture of habanero peppers and celery, and I was literally sweating when I was done.

The chips and salsa were good, but I'd rather have fried sliced tortillas than the chips that come in a box and are just dropped in. When they come free with your meal you can't really complain that much. The salsa it comes with is pretty hot, but you can ask for the "hot" sauce if you dare. You'll get the same kind I had with my burrito that will definitely have you think twice next time.

Their queso that comes with the chips is good, but it isn't anything special. Since it costs extra to get it, I'd just stick with the chips and salsa.

The service at Laredo is outstanding, as always. You are greeted when you enter and the servers continually check on you and your meal. They are always friendly and try to get to know every customer that enters.

If you want a good meal with a good atmosphere, you should go to Laredo. If you're looking for a good time, you should go to Laredo after 9 p.m. for the bar and pool room.

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Beef O'Brady's cares about good service

2009-02-23T11:35:00.001-08:00

A buffalo chicken wrap is always a good choice, so it's what I ordered at Beef O'Brady's at the Port City Shopping Center. I didn't know the wrap was toasted, but it was, and it was ten times better than it would've been without being toasted. The chicken was dripping with sauce and the tomato and lettuce were fresh as well. There was some kind of weird cheese flavor, which I guess would've been the Parmesan, because I asked for no blue cheese, but the wrap was still good. Even better if you like Parmesan cheese with your buffalo sauce.

Even though the wrap was good, I think the curly fries were better. It's not like they are hard to make since I'm sure they come pre-packaged and you just drop them in the grease, but they are delicious. When you dunk them in the Beef O' Brady's ranch dressing they are even better. I ordered Diet Coke to drink and our waitress, as well as another waitress who noticed I was low, kept our drinks filled.

My lunch date said his lunch was good. I say lunch date instead of compadre because in the past week 90 percent of our servers have asked if our meal was together or separate. He had the Waterson which is a roast beef sandwich with Swiss cheese on toasted rye bread. He had the curly fries as well, which cost a buck extra, but they're worth it.

The televisions at every booth are nice. Even though I'm not much for TV, I was glad to get caught up on Sportscenter while I was there. I couldn't help but think of all the buffalo sauce covered fingers that have to be wiped from the screens daily. They were clean.

A shocking experience also occurred during my lunch. The manager came to see how our food was. That doesn't happen often, but every time I've eaten at Beef's the manager has came to see about our service.

The meal was right at $10, but the portions were heaping and the service was excellent. It didn't take too long to get our food, and it was made steaming, fresh to order.

Needless to say, I'll probably go back. But I think I'll have a PB&J tomorrow since my lunch partner forgot his wallet and I caught his tab too.

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Port City Deli is pricey, not spicy

2009-02-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

Oh great, another sandwich shop in Bainbridge. Anyone can make a sandwich at their own house for a fraction of the cost of one from any deli in town. But, at least at Port City Deli, in the Inland Port Shopping Center, your $8 sandwich-chips-and-drink meal will be good. They serve Coke products, which I guess is a Southern thing, Pepsi really tastes better, but that's just me.

The place was packed when we arrived at 12:15 and every table in the joint was full. Fortunately for us, some folks knew we were important and evacuated their seats before we had to kick them out. More patrons continued to flow in even after we sat down and the place kept rocking until around 1:15 when it looked like a ghost town.

I had the El Diablo sandwich, because it sounded cool and because I like spicy food. It was rather small for an $8 combo, but it did fill me up, so I can't complain too much. It consisted of a freshly baked hoagie bun topped with grilled chicken, jalepenos, picante sauce, mayo and jack cheese. It was far from the Diablo, not being very spicy at all, I'd give it an El Diablito - maybe. Either way it was tasty, just not as menacingly spicy as I had hoped for.

My lunch compadre (I call him compadre because we're already in Mexican mode with El Diablo) had the Godfather sandwich combo. It consisted of the same hoagie bun with roasted turkey, ham, salami and pepperoni, melted provolone cheese, the garden and Italian dressing. He said the sandwich was tasty, but for a name like Godfather it didn't amount to much. He suggested they name it Santino, for the Godfather's hot-headed son.

It took a while to get our food, but it was made to order and our server was friendly. They do serve Miss Vickie's potato chips which are premium chips with a premium taste. If you've never experienced them, you'll have to try them next time. You can also choose potato or pasta salad as your side. I didn't get to taste them, but I was kind of upset my dill pickle spear didn't come with my sandwich like listed on the menu.

They do offer free delivery for orders for four or more people, which is good for all you drug reps trying to get the doctors full before you give em' the spiel.

I was pleased overall with my experience but couldn't help but notice most of the picture frames in the front of the store were crooked. I guess when you spend so much time making sandwiches, you don't sweat the little things.

Cinda's serves good Mexican, who would've thought?

2009-02-12T07:34:00.000-08:00

I hate that I haven't written a bad review in a while, but I haven't had anything bad lately. Which is good since a few years ago I could've written a bad review everyday in Bainbridge.

But, we had Cinda's on the Square yesterday and the special was a $6 taco salad and drink combo. I figured since it was only $6 it'd probably be an itty-bitty taco salad, but it wasn't. It was an overflowing taco salad full of so much chili and cheese you couldn't see the lettuce and tomatoes, and the taco shell itself was freshly fried, not one of those pre-ordered shells that are stale and chewy. It didn't come with a salad dressing so I requested ranch, but then I didn't need it after all because there was so much flavor already on the salad.

Being the only people in the restaurant at one time made me wonder if we were going to pay for trying out something nobody else was eating. But, it was delicious. Our waitress, Jennifer, was very nice and came and checked on us very often. She kept my Diet Coke filled, with an extra sitting next to it in case I was especially parched that day.

My food review cohort ordered the Willis Park Burger with bacon and no cheese, well-done. He described it as good, but not great, (I think he just ordered it overcooked, it needs to be bloody to be good) but the fries were very good. It came topped with fresh lettuce and thinly sliced tomato. The bacon was also cooked to order and added a mouth-watering flavor to the burger.

You might have to wait 10 or 15 minutes on your food, but it's because it's cooked to order, not before you get there. If you don't want to wait that long, you can always call it in.

Probably the most memorable thing that happened was a patron that entered and asked what time the bar opened. Is there really nothing to do on your off day that you've got to start drinking at 11:30 a.m?

Overall, the food was good and our server was great. I'll be going back as an off-duty reviewer to enjoy more of what they have to offer soon.

Riverbend Seafood, they might have to go catch it first

2009-02-10T11:12:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for a speedy meal, it isn't going to happen at Riverbend Seafood in the K-Mart shopping center. A nice man sitting behind me probably described it best when he asked me, "You think they've got to catch them before they cook them?"

Despite the long wait, over 30 minutes, our food was fresh, hot and delicious, minus the coleslaw which tasted like rotten cabbage and mayonnaise all mixed together. But, fortunately I waited to try it last, or I might not have been able to stomach the rest of it.

Only two people were working the day of my visit, which were a server/cashier and a cook who apparently wasn't very happy about another customer complaining that she didn't receive enough food. Although we couldn't see the argument, I could hear it from our booth - it ended with the cook remaking the order.

With only one cook making food that requires individual battering and dropping in grease (I.E. fish, onion rings, shrimp and such), it only makes sense that our order took 30 minutes. If one were to try to drop it all in at once, it would get stuck together and not cook well. Making good fried food is tedious, especially with one person cooking. The tedious work was well worth it, the onion rings were freshly battered and among the crunchiest, best-tasting I've ever had.

I also had a catfish fillet sandwich which was only $3 and the onion rings were $1. But, of course they get you on the drink which totaled my meal right at $6. Which is still a good price for the food, but you can expect slow service, from the kitchen, not the waitress, who kept my tea filled during my hour-long stay.

There wasn't a drink fountain so don't expect free refills, unless you get sweet tea, and it's certainly sweet. Our waitress was friendly for the most part, even though she had a very obvious problem with the cook. I'd probably go back if I had a lot of time to waste, but I'd definitely take my fishing rod to help catch the fish and speed things up. It might take all day to catch a grouper in that holding pond.

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Boyd's BBQ rubs a good butt

2009-02-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

Russell Boyd tried his hand at donuts for a few years, and they were top-notch donuts. But, he really found his Forté when he started Boyd's BBQ. I've visited Boyd's numerous times during the day and night, and never had a meal that wasn't excellent.

You would think that the BBQ sandwich would be the best at a BBQ joint, but my personal favorite isn't the BBQ.

Boyd's BBQ has a sandwich named the "Indiana Breaded Tenderloin" or the "IBT." A deep-fried slice of pork tenderloin between two toasted buns topped with lettuce and tomato is amazing. It's always cooked to order and when you bite into it you can feel the juices over-flowing in your mouth.

Of course, you could always go with a BBQ sandwich. It is cheaper, and it's still delicious. As a side you could have many things including Butt-Rub fries, sweet potato fries or Brunswick stew. All of the choices are good, but if I have a sweet sandwich, I prefer the salty fries. If I have a salty sandwich, I prefer the sweet potato fries. Then, the Brunswick stew goes well with anything.

The sweet tea is made like Mama makes it. It is what Southern sweet tea is supposed to taste like - epecially when our waitress never let my tea get below half-glass even during the lunch rush.

You might smell like grill smoke when you leave, but you'll never be dissatisfied with the taste or service at Boyd's.

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Yuki is fun to say, and better to eat

2009-01-29T18:01:00.000-08:00

Yuki Express has a fun name to say. Especially since there are probably 75 different variations of its pronunciation in Bainbridge. It's really fun to pick on the people who can't say it correct, but that's neither here nor there. Yuki, pronounced "you-key," is delicious - even for a retrofitted waddle house. For those not familiar with Waddle House, it was the illegitimate child of the Huddle and Waffle House and has since grown up and left town in a duck-like fashion.

Though Yuki doesn't have the feel of a Japanese restaurant on the inside, the food is genuine. The sauce that comes with every meal is one of my favorites of any Asian cuisine (And they give you enough to float a boat in). Most of them taste similar, some mayonnaise-based concoction that if you found out how to make, they'd certainly have to kill you. Yuki's taste like thousand island dressing mixed with mayonnaise and sugar - but don't tell them I told you.

I had the Shrimp Soba, which consists of noodles topped with sauteed shrimp, broccoli, onions and zucchini. The meal is piled on the obvious Waddle-House-inherited plate which is oddly split into three sections. But, it's piled on there so high you'll never get to the bottom to notice that anyway. It's served steaming hot and fresh off the grille too. So, you definitely won't be eating it fast.

Our waitress, who obviously not Japanese, doubtfully Waddle House inherited though, was fast, friendly and kept my drink full. But the glasses are so big you probably won't be able to drink more than two. If you do and ask for a to-go cup, you'll receive a small Styrofoam cup suitable for a toddler - all it needed was a sippy top. (I think they might be discouraging to-go drinks)

One of the owners came to see how our food was while the other was busy cooking it for us. Where else do you get that kind of service?

I'm still trying to figure out how I received a stale fortune cookie, or even how one became stale. I think they may have ordered fortune tortillas on accident. But, the food is good, and the service is grand. Don't be afraid to ask for a to-go box for extras, and a to-go shot glass for a swallow of your tasty beverage.

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Hardee's makes delicious omelet biscuit

2009-01-24T14:48:00.001-08:00

After an early morning out, I decided it was best to end the week with an actual breakfast, rather than a banana. Usually the lines are long in the Hardee's breakfast line. But, I guess we were in luck this morning since deer season is over and the duck hunters hadn't made it off the lake yet. There wasn't a line at all, so I changed from my usual Loaded Breakfast Burrito for a Loaded Omelet Biscuit. Now, after realizing both menu items contained "loaded" in their titles, I feel I might have some subliminal craving for the word.

Upon our arrival the kitchen window was already filled with biscuits of every assortment - which I generally think is a bad idea. But, I guess Hardee's serves so many that they can spare to make them earlier than they are ordered. My biscuit tasted fresh as if it had just been rolled in the paper and slid into the window. A good thing about the Loaded Omelet Biscuit is that since it has 44 grams of fat, you can usually skip lunch! The biscuit was covered in layers of eggs, cheese, bacon, sausage and ham. It was really like they folded a giant three-egg omelet in half and stuck it on a biscuit.

The new potato wedges are also much tastier than the hash browns they used to serve with the breakfast combo. I'm not sure if I liked the biscuit better than the burrito, but my order is generally always hot and fresh at Hardee's.

The service was good this morning, but there have been mornings when I've experienced cashiers than didn't want to be at work and kitchen workers who wanted to argue with the cashiers. However, it seems on Saturdays they always have the cream of the crop working because of the morning rush.

You'll never find another place where separate groups of people meet almost religiously at the same time every morning. And what better place to meet than over a hot, fresh breakfast.

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Bainbridge Truck Stop has smoking-good burger

2009-01-22T19:38:00.000-08:00

Today, I found another restaurant in Bainbridge that I'd never eaten at. I'd never even stepped foot on the premises. Partly because it is a truck stop, and partly because it's way out of the way for anything I'd be remotely close to. But, the truth is, it really isn't that far out of the city limits, especially if you live or work in West Bainbridge.

The Bainbridge Truck Stop on Highway 84 West, is a place where truckers and non-truckers collide. Apparently truckers like to smoke, so there is a smoking section which is separated from the non-smoking section by a glass wall and doors. Only, there are cracks at the bottom of the doors so you still smell the smoke in the non-smoking section.

Aside from my obvious vendetta against smoking sections, the food and service was great. I had a bacon cheeseburger, all-the-way, and fries. The cheeseburger was hot off the grill with freshly fried bacon and just melted cheese. The bun was nice and crisp and the lettuce and tomato were fresh as well. The burger itself was so over flowing with meat and toppings that it was hard to get a good bite. After I smashed it down really well I bit into it like a real meatatarian.

The fries the Bainbridge Truck Stop serves are the pre-packaged crinkle fries which aren't freshly cut daily like some restaurants. But, they didn't taste as store-bought as I figured they would. They weren't too greasy, and they weren't too dry. They were definietly hot, out-of-the-grease as well which made for a delicious ending to an excellent cheeseburger.

I had a Diet Pepsi in rememberance of all of the Team Lean readers who are lusting over an actual cheeseburger right now.

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An appreciation for dining, heaters

2009-01-19T16:39:00.001-08:00

After a weekend of roughing it, we've decided that one should always appreciate dining out, even if the food or service isn't always the best. Three days of camping in sub-freezing weather and we've learned that food as we know it, wasn't always that easy. Cooking without electricity is a chore, even with a propane stove. One can only eat so many Vienna sausages before he or she would just rather not eat anything at all. With that being said, we just wanted to let our loyal readers (all five of you) know that we'll be back on the prowl this week for something you don't have to hunt down or catch on a rod and reel to eat.

Best wishes,
The Second Helping team

The Pond House pleases on every level

2009-01-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

After a week of food faster than a Georgia running back, it was time to slow down for some grub that was really off the beaten path. So, I ventured out Spring Creek Road to the Pond House restaurant. I've lived in Bainbridge all my life, and sorry to say, I'd never eaten at the Pond House before. I figured it was about time to give it a shot. Although, it was a little farther drive than most places in town, it was definitely worth the drive.

Upon our arrival a little after 6:00 that evening, there was already a wait for a table. The Pond House opens at 6:00, so obviously somebody knew it was going to be crowded and got there early. But, there were so many tables it wasn't long before one became available - in the room where a children's birthday party was being held. Not being too keen on dozens of children screaming, we asked to be moved to the main room. We were graciously accomodated to a freshly cleaned table adjacent to the ever-inviting fireplace.

The menu selection isn't that great, but the quantities of food you get for your price is excellent. I had the fried oysters and catfish fillets combo with cheese grits and a salad. The salad was overflowing from the bowl when it arrived as an appetizer and it wasn't long after when our entrees arrived. Even with a packed house, the food was quick. The oysters and catfish were both stacked high and our server brought out a tray of cocktail and tartar sauce to go with it. They were both cooked just right and I could tell that it hadn't sat under a heat lamp for any length of time.

I also sampled a bit of the grilled pork chop which was the best tasting pork chop I'd ever put in my mouth. Even a half-order comes with a full, thick pork chop which is grilled to perfection with a bit of sweetness in every bite. I was sad that I hadn't ordered the pork chop after my sample, but I know what I'll be having next time.

Our servers were all well-mannered and well-dressed and kept our drinks filled with smiles on their faces. Even after we asked to be moved to another room, not one server even batted an eye as our request was granted. I was very satisfied with my visit and hope to return soon. Only this time I'll make sure to get their early, and most likely be dining on those delicious pork chops.

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Zaxby's drips with flavor, service

2009-01-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Zaxby's! There, I said it. Because when you go to Zaxby's, you're going to get yelled at when you come in, just be ready. But, it's good to feel welcome, especially from employees who actually seem happy to be at work - a rarity these days. Even when my cashier took my order she seemed overly satisfied to be doing so. It might be because I'm such an attractive person, but let's be honest. Zaxby's trains their employees to be happy or go home.

The Kicking Chicken sandwich I had was bundled up ranch dressing and hot sauce goodness. Then you throw in the freshly buttered Texas toast and the never-frozen or pre-battered chicken fingers, and you've got yourself a sandwich that will make your taste buds beg for more, and your laundry room run low on Shout. The sandwich was so full of flavor it actually drips out onto your plate, lap, people sitting next to you, etc. Actually, it's not overdone, but there is plenty to pour out on your plate. Just give the sandwich a good squeeze before you take your first bite and you should be good to go.

The crispy, crinkle fries were freshly fried and covered in seasoning to make them great even without ketchup. But, since we've mentioned ketchup, the easy-pour spout instead of packets or that press-to-squirt mess, sure made life pleasant. You can tell it's not cheap ketchup either. There's nothing worse than having good fries and cheap ketchup. It'll make you wish you brought your own bottle.

So get yourself a kick in the mouth from Zaxby's and you won't be sorry.

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Sonic: Where even the Ocean Water tastes great

2009-01-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

Since a long season of holiday travels was now over, it was nice to return home and eat all the leftover turkey for three weeks — but not really. So, off to find a good meal. The number one combo, add cheese to the burger, add chili and cheese to the fries at Sonic was great. The bun was fresh and so was the garden on top. The condiments were plentiful, but not pouring in my lap. The burger was good overall, but a bit dry. It's probably because the lunch rush was over and it was made at lunch, but it was still tasty even after sitting under a heat lamp for a while. When you can make a burger that's delicious an hour later, you're on to something.

The chili cheese fries were superb. Especially if you eat them second and let the cheese melt all the way to the potatoes. You can eat it with your fingers, but you may mistake a finger for a fry in all the mess, then you'd have an even bigger mess. So, be sure to use a fork, but I would suggest a real one and not the crappy plastic one you'll get with your meal. It'll just break and have you covered in chili that probably isn't going to come out of your shirt before your lunch break is over.

Another great thing about Sonic is that if you wait until 2 for lunch, it's happy hour and all drinks are half price. Only they don't serve alcoholic beverages or everybody would be there. However, they do serve some delicious drink blends including Ocean Water which is my personal preference. It sounds like a bad day at the beach when you get salt water up your nose, but it tastes a lot like Malibu rum and Sprite, just without the stumbling and inability to return to work after lunch. Even the ice is good. It beats your everyday-cubed ice you get most places because its the small barrel-shaped ice cubes that crunch perfectly in your teeth. If you don't know what I am talking about just try a drink for yourself.

As for the service at Sonic, it's usually fast and friendly. Since I ventured for the drive through this time, instead of the drive-up, I thought it might be different. But, the cashier was easy to understand and pleasant to talk to. She even thanked me for my purchase, something that is always nice to hear.

So all-in-all, I'd say it's a great place to grab a quick bite to eat. Just don't forget to grab a flavorful drink to go with it.

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Nobody smiles on the Subway these days

2008-12-29T21:23:00.000-08:00

The day after Christmas is probably not the best time to look for good service anywhere, especially at a Subway located inside of a Wal-Mart. It wasn't too much of a surprise when even without a big crowd, the service was shotty at best. The Wal-Mart was packed, but there weren't many people in line at Subway (They'd probably eaten there before). After my sandwich artist asked what I'd like for lunch in a mumbled voice with not so much as an effort of politeness, the next sandwich artist, who doubled as a cashier, just stood there without speaking as I told her what I'd like on the sandwich. I guess the sandwich artists didn't get any manners in their stockings for Christmas.

While the people ahead of me waited in line to pay for their food, she quietly continued to make the next several sandwiches with no words to anyone. Finally, she decided to talk when a desperate man pleaded for an orange juice for his apparently diabetic wife whose sugar had dropped and was in desperate need of sugar. "You'll have to wait your turn like everyone else," she snapped in a very Grinch-like manner. Even though the other customers graciously allowed the man ahead in line, the cashier never apologized for her remarks. Nor did I ever hear a "Thank You" or any other not-mumbled word my entire visit.

I ordered the new Flatbread Florentine Chicken and requested ranch dressing be added. The sandwich was good, but I'm not sure it was worth the over $6.00 I paid for the combo. Not quite sure it'd be worth eating at all without the ranch. It wasn't even as big as the 6-inch subs, and it cost a heck of a lot more. The chip selection was horrible with only a few flavors of baked lays and then Sun Chips galore. I mean, who eats Sun Chips? I thought you just fed those to sea gulls.

Then, as I filled up my drink I couldn't help but notice someone had parked their shopping cart full of trash bags of Subway trash right next to the soda fountain. Hmmm, I wonder who it could've been. If you are going to be too lazy to take the trash all the way to the dumpster, you'd think you could at least push it out the door. Granted, they did seem short-handed that day, but an extra 20 steps to the door surely wouldn't have killed anyone.

Needless to say, I didn't overly enjoy my lunch that day. But, understanding that every place has bad days, we at Second Helping are willing to give second chances. So, if any eatery isn't satisfied with their review, and thinks they deserve a second chance, we'll gladly grant them one with at least two weeks to get their acts together. Sorry, we won't call and say when we're coming or who we are, but we will tell it like it is as always.

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Dairy Queen dogs the competition

2008-12-24T19:13:00.000-08:00

When I think about good fast food, it's hard to imagine it at all. Most of the time it's too cheap to eat, or too expensive to enjoy, but I think Dairy Queen is pretty close to the happy medium. I like to think of myself as a chili dog connoisseur, trying them at almost any restaurant with one on the menu. Those delicious little wieners haunt me wherever I go, I just can't turn them down.

When I ordered up two, with cheese and onions, at the DQ in Bainbridge, I didn't expect anything special. But, the all beef dogs with just the right amount of melted cheese were delicious. The chili beats some of the best chili made anywhere, I'd even venture to say it rivals the famous chili dogs at the Varsity drive-in in Atlanta and Athens. A five minute drive to the DQ and you've got a better dog than a four-hour drive to Athens would get you. If you're looking for good onion rings you'll probably need to go somewhere else. It'd probably be best if they were just left off the menu.

If you're into ice cream, they've got it there too. The soft serve is excellent especially in a blizzard. My favorite is the Reese's Cup blizzard, but make sure you get the long spoon so you can get all the good stuff at the bottom of the cup. A cheaper way to go might be the dipped cone which you've got to eat fast because the hot chocolate melts the ice cream. (Beware of the ice cream headache afterward)

But when you talk about service, that's what you get at DQ. It's always fast and friendly. Even with the lunch rush on full throttle, the cashiers were efficient and personable with smiles on every face. The many times I've been to DQ, I've never had a bad experience. It's also just a block away from a pleasant view of the Flint if you're into the outdoors. Either way you can't go wrong with the food at DQ, just stay away from the onion rings.

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