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bedsitter23While busy writing my election 2012 posts, I didn't have time for some of the other usual stuff I post about.
Which means I should mention my trip to Fong's Pizza.
Fong's is downtown across from the indie-rock venue and a coffee shop, and it feels authentic college-town. It's a small place but it is good food, and unique- a Chinese food take on Pizza.
So that means Thai Chicken Pizza (which was awesome), Mongolian Beef Pizza, Crab Rangoon Egg Rolls, and Kung Pow Chicken Pizza.
Undoubtedly, this restaurant deserves a mention for its uniqueness, great food, and good service (there's no host, so the whole seating thing is kind of a clusterf--k but the server was more than awesome once we were seated.
Of course, I am posting this because they serve their signature drinks in awesome Tiki cups.
Des Moines had a watermain break which has temporarily put Fong's out of commission, but check out their website here.
Other recent experiences have not been as good.
A long-time local restaurant that had closed down has been replaced by an enterprising entrepreneur who has started a microbrew restaurant.
The food was good and the bartender was great, but this local establishment is a quick answer to the person who says "If I ever win the lotto, I am going to start my own bar and restaurant" (It's harder than it looks).
Just having a good concept and good theme does not a successful restaurant make. You need attentive staff, a menu that has more than 4 things (not an exaggeration. There are some pretty basic things every restaurant should be able to pull off like a club sandwich), and if you have a sports theme, then you need to pay attention that your tv sets get switched after a game ends. Still, they are at the beginning of their journey, if they can make some changes they may survive (if they don't, I thik even having the perfect niche for the area may not be enough).
Less can be said for the Hawaiian themed restaurant that opened. It was the worst dining experience I have had in recent memory, pretty much on all accounts. I even had low expectations, but those weren't even met.
It's a shame as they did capture one thing correct with their menu.
Hawaiians love Spam.
Which means I should mention my trip to Fong's Pizza.
Fong's is downtown across from the indie-rock venue and a coffee shop, and it feels authentic college-town. It's a small place but it is good food, and unique- a Chinese food take on Pizza.
So that means Thai Chicken Pizza (which was awesome), Mongolian Beef Pizza, Crab Rangoon Egg Rolls, and Kung Pow Chicken Pizza.
Undoubtedly, this restaurant deserves a mention for its uniqueness, great food, and good service (there's no host, so the whole seating thing is kind of a clusterf--k but the server was more than awesome once we were seated.
Of course, I am posting this because they serve their signature drinks in awesome Tiki cups.
Des Moines had a watermain break which has temporarily put Fong's out of commission, but check out their website here.
Other recent experiences have not been as good.
A long-time local restaurant that had closed down has been replaced by an enterprising entrepreneur who has started a microbrew restaurant.
The food was good and the bartender was great, but this local establishment is a quick answer to the person who says "If I ever win the lotto, I am going to start my own bar and restaurant" (It's harder than it looks).
Just having a good concept and good theme does not a successful restaurant make. You need attentive staff, a menu that has more than 4 things (not an exaggeration. There are some pretty basic things every restaurant should be able to pull off like a club sandwich), and if you have a sports theme, then you need to pay attention that your tv sets get switched after a game ends. Still, they are at the beginning of their journey, if they can make some changes they may survive (if they don't, I thik even having the perfect niche for the area may not be enough).
Less can be said for the Hawaiian themed restaurant that opened. It was the worst dining experience I have had in recent memory, pretty much on all accounts. I even had low expectations, but those weren't even met.
It's a shame as they did capture one thing correct with their menu.
Hawaiians love Spam.
