Thursday, July 9, 2009

Los 2 Potrillos
1363 North Sandhills Boulevard, Town & Country Shopping Center, Aberdeen, NC 28315

Not Good x2.
This was not a good experience. The wait staff seemed nice enough, but were inattentive. I'm not a fan of too much 'checking in', but you had to grab these folks. I ate there last week for the 4th time in 4+/- years. The tables and outdoor accommodations are better, but the food and service are not.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Georges 3
412-1/2 North Bragg Boulevard, Spring Lake, NC 28390

Waitstaff scared the ladies, but good food!
I tried this place out recently as it was highly recommended. When we walked in, one of the ladies I went with immediately asked the others in a whisper whether they wanted to leave. Another lady seconded that suggestion, but the third lady we were with had already placed her order by that time. At that moment, I thought it must have been highly recommended as a joke given the reaction of those two ladies. Anyway, we committed to the place. The woman behind the counter taking our order looked like she would smack you down something quick if you crossed her. She was not from the Southeastern United States. Our orders were mixed up and the ladies were scared to ask about this. One did, however, and the response was something like 'we did it right, it's your fault you didn't understand what we said'. We left with our food (take-out). The taste was very good and the portions were good. I thought the whole experience was rather comical, but then I knew I could take the women behind the counter if she jumped me (cause I'd fight dirty if needed)...
Tattaya Thai Restaurant
5854 Yadkin Road, Fayetteville, NC‎ 28303-2657

Quick and good...
This is a small restaurant you might not notice driving by the place. It looks to be in an old Hardees or Popeyes. I ate there for lunch. There was a small buffet - about 10 entree items, noodles, rice, and so forth. The buffet also had a few desserts common to most small asian buffet restaurants (fruits, cakes, etc). The food was good to very good and the price was pretty good (about $7/person I think). The waitstaff was very nice. If you are looking for atmosphere, this is not the place. If you are looking for a quick, tasty meal at a pretty good price, this isn't a bad choice.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Ellerbe Springs Inn & Restaurant
2537 North Highway 220, Ellerbe, NC 28338

Worth the trip.
Ellerbe is a small town (population probably less than 1000 souls) and Ellerbe Springs is the 'nice restaurant in town'. (It think it is actually a bit outside the town limits). Anyway, it's an old inn that serves very good southern food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Very nice waitstaff. Decent price.
Peking Wok
31 Pinecrest Plaza, Southern Pines, NC 28387-4301

Average, but best Chinese buffet in area.
Average, but best Chinese buffet in area. Good mix of different items on the buffet. About a third the variety of 'Super China Buffet' down the road (largest Chinese buffet in area), but quality is much better. Very nice waitstaff.
Beefeater's Restaurant & Lounge
672 Southwest Broad Street, Southern Pines, NC 28387-5911

Excellent - never had a bad meal here!
There are 3 "steak restaurants" in Southern Pines and this is the best (beating out The JFR Barn and The Lob Steer Inn). Beefeaters has the best salad bar around, hands down. The steaks are excellent as is the seafood and chicken. I've eaten there dozens of times over the years, with family, friends, coworkers, etc. It is usually excellent and I've never had a bad meal at Beefeaters. Beefeaters is not cheap, but no more expensive than Outback, Ruby Tuesdays, or Bonefish. Patrons are generally retiree age, but there are also young couples and families. Don't go into the bar unless you really like cigarette smoke!
John's Barbeque & Seafood
US Highway 15 501, Southern Pines, NC 28387

Okay food, slow service...
John's has been around for about 30 years (I think) and it has slowly been loosing ground for some time. The food is okay, not much change in that. The service, however, is not good. Orders are often mixed up or forgotten and the food is delivered after too long a wait with items that should be ready to scoop and serve! Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q (a regional chain) is no more than a mile away and much better.
JFR Barn
305 Rothney Avenue, Southern Pines, NC 28387

Very good food and waitstaff...
The JFR Barn has been around for quite some time. Though the ownership has changed, the food and the waitstaff are still excellent - signs of good management. I put Beefeaters a bit ahead of The JFR Barn, but The JFR Barn is well ahead of The Lob Steer Inn. The JFR Barn is better for larger gatherings/parties while Beefeaters is better for young couples and small groups.
Bonefish Grill
190 Partner Circle, Southern Pines, NC 28387

Okay, nothing special...

I've eaten at the Bonefish Grill on 3 occasions. The food was pretty good, but way overpriced for what you get. Service was average. Okay once in a while.
Golden Corral
265 Turner Street, Aberdeen, NC 28315

Good food, lots of it...
Golden Corral has changed a lot from a typical chain steak house restaurant‎. It is now a buffet of salads, meats, vegetables, breads, deserts, soups, and maybe other food items as well. This one is the cleanest and best in which I have eaten. (I've eaten in maybe 5 of them). I am not a big fan of chain restaurant‎s, but this is one of the better ones (or at least one of the better locations of one). If you want to eat too much of everything, this is the place to go!
Pizza Cafe
111 Olmsted Boulevard Suite G, Pinehurst, NC 28374

Been a while, but was pretty good
I am not sure if the fella that started Pizza Cafe was a Pizza Hut manager or a Pizza Hut manager ran the Pizza Cafe in Southern Pines. I think it was one or the other (but maybe neither). Anyway, the pizza was always good and so was the service. I haven't eaten at one in a couple or more years.
Corfu Taverna
155 East New Hampshire Ave, Southern Pines, NC

Very nice.
Very good food. Small place with nice atmosphere for a relaxing dinner. Good place for a young guy to take his first date to impress her - nothing too fancy or expensive, but she'll like it. Okay for kids and family as well. Nice waitstaff. Greek beers.
Mt Fuji Japanese Steak House
1379 North Sandhills Boulevard, Aberdeen, NC 28315

Once or twice a year here is okay...

My family and I have eaten here about a half dozen times - each at dinner. The waitstaff is generally friendly and attentive. The food is pretty good, but just that - pretty good. You get lots of food, but most is rice. The chefs are entertaining, but after a couple of times seeing the same show, it would be nice to eat without it. Expect a meal cost of about $20/person. Fun for the kids a couple of times.
Russell's Fish & Seafood House
1405 Central Drive, Southern Pines, NC 28387

40+ years and still going...
Food is good to very good. Prices are good. Very family friendly. Fish tank out front for kids to look in. Very good waitstaff. Customers are interesting mix of retirees and locals.
Pine Crest Inn & Restaurant
50 Dogwood Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374

Don't get your hopes up.

I've been to the Pinecrest Inn about 2 dozen times over the years, but that was out for drinks at night. Usually I was dragged over there. Lots of snobbery being dispensed on a typical night. I was also dragged over there for Sunday lunch (buffet). I expected much better. I've eaten at The Carolina Hotel and the Holly Inn on several occasions (both right down the road). The Pinecrest Inn paled in comparison. The salad bar (not much to it) had freezer-burned vegetables, including all the cucumbers (which is typical when salad bar items are not fresh). The roast beef was tough, the breakfast bar items were way too salty (the bacon was saltier than country ham - and I like salty country ham). The best item was the cheesecake, which was factory made. If you are in the Village of Pinehurst and want a "Pinehurst" experience, eat at the Holly Inn or The Carolina Hotel. Also, Google has the location on this in the wrong location - the Pinecrest Inn is located in the Old Village portion of Pinehurst (as on the link above).
Holly Inn
Cherokee Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374

Very good food...
I give this an above average and not an excellent as it's a bit pricy for most folks, but the food is really good. I've had lunch and dinner at the Holly Inn and the quality has been high each time
Aberdeen Cafe
111 North Sycamore Street, Aberdeen, NC 28315

Just didn't taste good...
Ate there with family 3 or 4 times. This is a poor representation of "Sandhills local cuisine". Prices were good, waitstaff was okay, but taste was bad. We all decided not to go back!
Shucker's Oyster Bar
135 Pinehurst Avenue, Southern Pines, NC 28387

Okay at best, very slow service...
I've eaten at much better seafood places for the money. The food is okay, but too much money for what you get. Not real expensive, just too much for the quality/taste. The service is really slow. Have eaten there about 6 times with family over 18+/- month span - no improvement over that time. Beer could be colder!
How You Doin Pizzeria
130 West New Hampshire Ave, Southern Pines, NC 28387

Decent pizza, unfriendly staff.
Decent pizza, but have much better at bunches of places. Unfriendly staff. If there were nice folks there, I must not have been there on those days. Tried it about a half-dozen times. Never got better. Not much else to say. The same folks apparently owned and operated Brats European Bistro a block away, which was pretty good and had very good waitstaff. The magic didn't transfer...
Chef Warren's
215 Northeast Broad Street, Southern Pines, NC 28387

Overpriced, overrated, snootish atmosphere
Overpriced, overrated, snootish atmosphere. Food was average.
Outback Steakhouse
100 Southern Road, Southern Pines, NC 28387

Best chain restaurant in area
I prefer non-chain restaurants, but this Outback is the best chain restaurant in which I have ever eaten. Family eats there about once or twice a month. Food is always good. Beer is always cold. Family friendly. Most waitstaff are pretty good. DO NOT plan on eating there during peak days/times. We never eat there on Friday or Saturdays and generally try to eat earlier or later (at dinner) on other days.
San Felipe Mexican Restaurant
1840 North Sandhills Boulevard, Aberdeen, NC 28315

Best Mexican restaurant in area, family friendly, v cold draft beer
Beats out La Poblanita's in Aberdeen by a little bit. Much better than other Mexican restaurants in the area. Nice atmosphere. Good mix of folks and family friendly. We eat there at least once a week, sometimes twice. Recommend chicken soup, texas fajitas, bacon-wrapped shrimp (can't remember name), and Widmer draft beer! Best waitstaff in area.
La Poblanita Mexican Cafe
106 West South Street, Aberdeen, NC 28315

Second best Mexican restaurant in area
Great food. Most 'authentic' Mexican food in area. Very friendly owners. Decent price, but not cheap. Best Chile Relleno I've ever had. Beer could be colder. San Felipe's wins out with better price and much colder beer (draft too), though food at La Poblanita's is a bit better.