Buffalo Wild Wings

They recently opened one of these just down the street from our home. For the first several weeks it was always packed, so Don and I waited until this past Sunday to check it out.

The first thing we both noticed when we walked in was that it was NOISY! But then, it was Sunday afternoon, and there were a lot of football games on, including the Tennessee Titans. We weren't really there to watch football, but that wasn't their fault.

Neither of us opted for their specialty (wings). Don ordered the Jerk Chicken Sandwich, which he said was good, and I got the Chili Queso Burger, which was huge and kind of a mess to eat, but very tasty. Don, who got to eat part of it, thought so too. All the sandwiches came with fries and were in the $8-$9 range.

It is a grill and bar, so they serve a variety of drinks, as well as salads, ribs, wraps and a number of other things. Both of us agreed that we would probably go back, but it won't be when we're looking for some peace and quiet. This is probably not somewhere you should go with someone when you want to do any serious talking, but if you want to take in a game, eat some good greasy food and just have fun, it might be a good choice.

Pancake Pantry

My dad, Don and I had breakfast this morning at Pancake Pantry. This is a Nashville landmark, of sorts. It has been here longer than I have (since 1961), but oddly, this was the first time I had ever eaten there.

Located on 21st Avenue in Hillsboro Village, near the Vanderbilt Campus, finding a place to park is no small task. (We actually walked from the retirement home where my dad is now living.) Unless you're lucky, you will probably get to stand in line outside for some length of time (there is no indoor waiting except for a small lobby area), so dress for the weather. It is open from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays and 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends.

The food is good, typical pancake house fare. I had the "Pigs in a Blanket" (pancake-wrapped link sausage). Don had the Wild Blueberry Pancakes, and my dad had Potato Pancakes. They are served with warm maple syrup. We all had our fill, and then some, in my case. The usual sides of bacon, sausage, eggs and other breakfast foods are offered, as well as coffee, juice, milk, soft drinks, etc. They also have a selection of soups, salads and sandwiches. The prices are moderate. Most of the pancake plates are $7.50.

This restaurant has been owned by the same family since its inception. Many of the staff have also worked there since the earliest days. The restaurant is small, but has a cozy atmosphere. I would recommend it if you have some time on your hands and plenty of room in your stomach.

Red Robin

After the movie, we went to Red Robin for dinner. They had sent me a coupon for a free dinner for my birthday.

Though they have other things too, this restaurant is best known for their burgers, which are far from ordinary. I had an A-1 Peppercorn burger, which had pepper jack cheese, bacon, onion straws, an A-1 based sauce, and tomatoes (none for me, thanks), on an onion bun. It was delicious! All of their sandwiches come with "bottomless" fries, though the burgers are so big I have never needed a second helping. They have a seasoning salt on the tables that is very good on the fries.

Don had a Bruschetta Chicken Burger, which had grilled chicken, pesto sauce, balsamic cream, provolone cheese, salsa, parsley and lettuce. His fries were embellished with garlic, parmesan cheese and parsley. He let me try one or two, and they were very tasty!

If you've never tried this restaurant, I encourage you to check it out if there's one in your area. The prices are reasonable (around $10 for a burger and fries), the atmosphere is fun, and the food is delicious!

Genghis Grill

My dad and I had lunch today at this Mongolian restaurant. I didn't even know what Mongolian food was, but the first time I tried it, I was hooked!

Essentially, you build your own stir-fry. It's set up sort of like a salad bar, and they give you a bowl, which you fill up with meats, vegetables and seasonings of your choice. Then you choose a sauce and hand it all over to the grillers, who cook it in front of you. You pick between several types of rice or noodles for them to serve it over, and then you can sprinkle it with chopped peanuts, sesame seeds, chow mein noodles, etc. They offer suggestions for combinations, or you can just be creative. There are chopsticks available if you want a more authentic eating experience.

It's fairly reasonably priced, around $9 for a "bowl." You can pay a little extra if you want a "bottomless bowl," which means you can have as many refills as you want. One is plenty for most people though. My problem is that the only two locations in the Nashville area are in Cool Springs and Hendersonville, neither of which is particularly close to me. Their website says there are more coming though.

They serve alcoholic beverages, if you're into that, and offer a dessert menu if you're still hungry after you eat your stir fry, which I never am. I think this restaurant is a good place for a family outing, a date, lunch or dinner with friends, or just about any situation.

Spaghetti Factory

Don and I had a date on Saturday night and had dinner at the Spaghetti Factory downtown.

If I were to describe this restaurant in one word, it would be atmosphere. It is in a renovated old building on Second Avenue full of Victorian furniture and beautifully-carved woodwork. There is an antique streetcar right in the middle of the restaurant. If you are lucky enough, you may get seated at a table in it. My first memory of eating there was on my 16th birthday, in 1982, a couple of years after they first opened. My family had arranged it with the waiters and waitresses there to bring me a birthday cake and sing “Happy Birthday” to me. I was totally surprised (not to mention a little embarrassed).

Fast forward to 2009. Despite it being 6:00 on a Saturday evening, we didn’t have to wait for a table at all. It was fairly busy, but the place is big.

The food is good too. The prices are reasonable, around $10 for most entrees, which includes a salad or soup, bread, entrée, drink (coffee, tea or milk) and a little bowl of spumoni ice cream. The portions aren’t huge but are adequate. My favorite entrée is the mizithra cheese spaghetti. It is sort of like pasta with butter and shredded Parmesan cheese on it, but better. They have more traditional sauce choices as well, and you can get a split plate with two different ones on your spaghetti if you can’t decide. They also have a few non-spaghetti choices. Don got grilled chicken with pasta on the side. You can get $1.50 off the price if you choose to skip the drink and ice cream, which we did. Of course, you have to figure in your parking when you count the cost of eating there. Most nearby parking spots are in the $10 and up price range, though if you don’t mind walking a few blocks, you can park for $5.

All in all, I would say this was a good dinner, and I would recommend it for a romantic date, a whole family outing, or just a friendly get-together.

KFC and CBS

KFC (formerly known as "Kentucky Friend Chicken") had coupons on the Internet today for a free 2-piece meal with their new grilled chicken. After fighting with the computer for about 30 minutes to print them out (the website warned there was high traffic and printing may take time), Don and I set out to get our free dinners. We first went to the KFC in Hermitage, which was a mob scene, so we drove a few miles down to the one in Mt. Juliet, which was somewhat better.

The chicken was pretty good. Now, if you're in the mood for some greasy fried chicken, this probably wouldn't do it for you, but if you want a slightly healthier option, it wouldn't be a bad choice. I looked at their nutrition information, and the grilled had 180 calories and 4 grams of fat for a breast, compared to the extra crispy, which has 490 calories and 31 grams of fat. That's quite a difference!

On a separate note, today was the last day of Community Bible Study for this year. We all met together and those who wanted to shared what God has taught them this year. It was kind of a sad day, as I don't know if I will be going back next year.

Below is a picture of most of the leaders I worked with this year. This is the last year for Jennifer, a/k/a Smelling Coffee (back row, third from right). She has done a wonderful job as our teaching director and we will sorely miss her. I am so thankful for all of these women and the impact they have made in my life.

Rita's

There is a new little business that has opened up in Hermitage called Rita’s. It is at 4219 Lebanon Road, just east of Old Hickory Blvd. I had never heard of it before, but apparently it’s a franchise that first opened in Pennsylvania in 1984. This was the first one to open in Tennessee, but there’s another one opening in Mt. Juliet and several others coming soon around the state.

Their signature item is their "water ice," a slushy treat that comes in a variety of flavors, most of them fruity. They also have "cream ice," which is similar but with a creamier base. They serve shakes, frozen custard, gelatis, iced coffee and a number of other chilly confections.

Don and I got a coupon in the mail for 2 free ices, so we decided to check it out. He got the Alex’s lemonade flavor, and I got cookies and cream. We both thought they were really good. We’re anxious to go back and try some of their other goodies. I signed up for their birthday club/mailing list on their website and they sent me another buy-one-get-one-free coupon. If you’re a weight watcher, these ices are lower in calories than regular ice cream, and the water-based ones have no fat. Their nutrition info is on their website.

They have a drive through, a few tables inside and a few outside. I didn’t pay much attention to the prices since ours was free, but there was a steady stream of people coming in while we were there, so I’m guessing they’re reasonable.

If you live in an area where there’s one nearby, I’d say it’s worth checking out.

Mellow Mushroom

Don and I ate lunch on Sunday at one of our favorite restaurants, Mellow Mushroom. There are two in the Nashville area: one on 21st Avenue South near Vanderbilt, and one on the square in Franklin. We usually go to the Franklin one because the parking is better (there is a multi-level garage right behind it that is free to park in), and since part of my growing-up years were spent in Franklin, I like to go back and visit there. I like the atmosphere at that one better too. Our visits there usually accompany a trip back to visit my old church, Christ Community, which I miss, though I like the church I go to now as well.

It is a very casual Italian restaurant. The staff all dress hippie-style. The food is delicious. Don loves their calzones, and has never ordered anything else. I like them too, but they’re really too much for me to eat by myself (Don is always happy to help me). I also like their Hawaiian pizza and meatball hoagies. Besides pizza, sandwiches and calzones, they also serve salads and various appetizers. I’ve had their garlic bread with cheese, which was pretty good. The prices are not too bad. A small Hawaiian pizza is $8.75, but most of their other pizzas are in the $12-13 range for a small. The calzones are $7.50 for just cheese, but more if you add ingredients. They are really enough for 2 people, unless they are bottomless pit-types like my husband. Their sandwiches are $4-5 for a half, which is enough for most people.

We’ve never had to wait very long for a table. They offer outdoor seating right on the square in Franklin, so there is a lot going on to watch while you eat. I think this restaurant is a nice little hang-out and would recommend it to anyone.

Couser's

My dad and I had lunch together yesterday, which we try to do a couple of times a month. We ate at what has become one of our favorite restaurants, Couser’s. It is just across the street from the zoo on Nolensville Road.

It is a meat-and-three kind of place that is not fancy, but has a comfortable atmosphere, friendly staff and good food at reasonable prices. We have never had a very long wait to be seated or to get our food. The average price for a meal is $6-$7. They also have sandwiches and a la carte items.

My favorite meal is the "Hot Roast Beef Sandwich." The roast beef is served on 2 slices of bread with gravy on it. It comes with mashed potatoes and cole slaw. My dad prefers the "High Brow" meals, where he can choose a meat, 2 or 3 vegetables and a bread. He thinks they have the best mashed potatoes he has ever eaten. They are pretty good. They have a number of other good vegetables and side dishes to choose from too, some standard and some daily specials.

I would recommend this restaurant if you want some "real" food without paying too much for it and enjoy a relaxed, homestyle atmosphere.

Cici's

Someone we knew bought a new Cici’s Pizza franchise and asked my brother Andy to help manage it. It is in Smyrna, just off of I-24 at the Sam Ridley exit, right beside the new theater, near Target. The address is 900 Grammar Lane. The grand opening is set for this Monday, September 22. Cici’s has an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet, including salad, pasta and dessert, for very reasonable prices. Come check it out, and say hi to Andy!

A Proper Luncheon

Yesterday I went to lunch with a group of friends from Bible Study. It was a great time of fellowship for all of us. We went to Scarlett’s Garden Tea Room in Mt. Juliet. I had never eaten there before.

When I stepped into the restaurant, I felt like I was entering another time and place. It is not very large with fancy white tablecloths and sunshine streaming through the windows. We were greeted by a prim and proper but very friendly lady who gave us our choice of tables (and pointed out to us which was the most popular). Even though everything was so nice, I still felt very comfortable. (Those who know me know I am not very prim and proper.)

The food was good. I had chicken salad on a croissant, one of their specialties. It came with "lady-sized" scoops of three kinds of salad (I believe these vary by the day), including a cornbread salad, which was very unique. The prices were a little high, but not outrageous -- I think mine was $8.95.

They had a cute gift shop with a lot of old-fashioned memorabilia, much of it from "Gone With the Wind."

This is definitely a girl hangout, but if you are looking for a place to get together with friends for lunch that’s a little different, I think this is a good choice.