Tag: No Reservations

Waffles INCaffeinated (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)

Fred McNulty

When I told friends and family my significant other and I were going to take a road trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I got mixed reactions. People told me with surprising frankness that they thought of Pittsburgh as nothing more than a dirty steel-producing city without much to do. Having returned from our trip, we can attest that this is not the case! We found ourselves wishing we had more time to explore museums, visit more parks, and enjoy the pleasant vibe of the city. Along the way, we also got to stop at Waffles INCaffeinated, a local breakfast joint, on August 28.Read More »

Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers (Oakland, California, U.S.A.)

Fred McNulty

There are a lot of negative perceptions of the City of Oakland in California. Whenever I tell people that I’m here, they more often than not reply with some variation of “be careful.” While Oakland’s crime rates are undeniable, it’s not accurate or fair to let that define the entire city. I have enjoyed my time here, and I always encourage my friends to come to Oakland to see it for themselves. On July 22, I did just that, eating lunch at Barney’s Gourmet Burgers with a friend from out of town.Read More »

Mi Casa (Norwich, CT, U.S.A)

Fred McNulty

When reading my review of lackluster Tequila’s of Old Saybrook, CT, my friend Mr. J told me that my “mistake was trying to find good Mexican food in New England.” While I appreciate his sense of humor and snark, he is dead wrong about this assertion! As I found when I went to Mi Casa in Norwich, CT on April 12, good Mexican food can indeed be found in the northeast.Read More »

Toss Noodle Bar (Berkeley, California, U.S.A.)

Fred McNulty

Berkeley, California is one of the best-known communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, largely due to the University of California Berkeley. Having never been to the campus before, I decided to head to the city during a particularly warm summer afternoon. I had not eaten lunch, but I was pleased to find a number of different restaurants clustered downtown. On July 7, I checked out Toss Noodle Bar.Read More »

Dawg House Bar and Grill (Meriden, CT, U.S.A.)

Fred McNulty1 Comment

According to Wikipedia, a 1961 edition of Webster’s dictionary defined dive bars as, “a disreputable resort for drinking or entertainment.” In the subsequent 57 years, some dive bars have certainly earned this reputation, but many have managed to keep the grungy aesthetic while serving high quality alcoholic beverages and sometimes even good food. On April 10, I checked out a new dive bar in Meriden, CT called Dawg House Bar & Grill.
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Madison Cheese Shop and Café (Madison, CT, U.S.A.)

Fred McNulty1 Comment

Living in South Korea, I was treated to some of the best food in the world and I felt incredibly lucky to be able to experience such a diversity of high quality cooking. There’s one major exception to this: cheese. While you can go to Korea to find any number of dishes or ingredients, cheese is still an expensive import item. You’ll either find yourself emptying your wallet or having to suffer with bland cheese. Being in the United States again, I knew I had to satisfy my craving for cheese. On March 30, I visited Madison Cheese with a friend.
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Hally Jo’s Corner Café (Deep River, CT, U.S.A.)

Fred McNulty

Recently, my bias toward diners has been coming through a bit too much on this blog–and this article is no exception. I promise a greater variety of restaurants in the future, but for today, get ready to brunch! A few days before New Year’s, I found myself driving midmorning through Deep River, Connecticut. I heard some good things about Hally Jo’s Corner Café. On December 27, I gave it a try.Read More »