Pine State Biscuits - Portland, OR

Amazing biscuit sandwiches! The biscuits are oh so buttery and they don't skimp on the fillings (feeling the bacon love?). Their biscuits with gravy are mouth watering as well. It can take a while for me to order since there are so many delicious options. It is a "must visit" when in PDX. Pine State Biscuits has been added to my favorite list and I can't wait to go back...again and again!

La Magie Bakery - Bend, OR

Great selection of fancy, delectable dessert in a neat old building downtown. However, I was not impressed with their breakfast items. I had the marionberry french toast, which while the toast itself was very good, the filling was overly sweet and still a bit cold, and it was served swimming in a bowl of syrup (I think it was typical pancake syrup...not even real maple syrup). The dish was just overly sweet and not executed properly.  My husband's chicken and pumpkin waffle had a nice mild pumpkin flavor and the chicken had a slight spice to it which was a nice compliment to the waffle. However, at $12.50, we felt it was overpriced for what you got. I recommend sticking to their baked goods.

Sarasota Cupcake Company - Sarasota, FL

I had really been looking forward to trying their cupcakes as there was a place in Bend, OR that I frequented that had amazing cupcakes (http://www.idascupcakecafe.com/). Unfortunately, I had set my standards too high. The flavors were pre-assembled - no choosing your own cake and frosting flavors...that takes some of the fun out of it. The cupcakes were fairly dry...maybe a day or two old??? Additionally, the staff couldn't even tell me what was in a certain flavor - the Chocolate Truffle had a chocolate cupcake with truffle filling inside and a cream cheese frosting (the frosting overpowered all the other flavors). So at $4 dollars a pop, I don't plan to return :-( 

La Segunda - Ybor City, FL

Great, authentic pressed Cuban sandwiches and delicious guava pastries. If you are looking for the real thing, this is the place to go. 

Pacific Rim - Sarasota, FL

We ordered take-out from here shortly after my daughter was born. The Green Curry was very good, but the  Pad Thai Noodles were quite boring -  mostly just mildly flavored noodles with the bean sprout, peanut and green onion sprinkled on as garnish. I definitely recommend trying a curry dish here, but recommend avoiding their noodle dishes. 

Main Bar Sandwich Shop - Sarasota, FL

Great traditional deli sandwiches (no "gourmet" sandwiches here, these are the real thing...think New York-style deli). The New Orleans Muffuletta and Hot Reuben are my favorites! 

The Broken Egg - Lakewood Ranch, FL

I have been to the other 2 and enjoyed my visit, but was not impressed with this location. The server was not familiar with the specials or the menu and was not attentive to drink refills. My Monte Cristo Sandwich was not very good - the french toast was soggy (heavy and greasy) and the raspberry sauce that came with it did not even taste like raspberries; it was better with maple syrup. Maybe it was just a bad day for the kitchen and the server, but I won't be going back to this location anytime soon.

Simon's Coffee House - Sarasota, FL

Always a great choice for breakfast. Everything is fresh and tasty and prices are very reasonable. The berry crepes and the Paris breakfast sandwich are my favorite. Enjoy!

Fresh Start Cafe - Sarasota, FL

Simple, yet good food. The pumpkin breakfast cake (aka a muffin) was delicious - it actually tasted like pumpkin, not just pumpkin pie spices, and was super moist. The Bureka served Israeli style was just okay...I didn't really taste the salted cheese, though it was served with a delicious herb "dressing." My husband's cilantro and jalapeno frittata tasted very fresh and the strawberry butter served with the toast was unique. Like others commented, the service was a bit slow (though friendly), but that seems to be fairly typical for Sarasota.  


I look forward to going back and trying some of their Middle Eastern lunch items. 

Goose Feathers Bakery & Cafe - Savannah, GA

While the breakfast panini was unique (really just the panini oil) and fairly good, it all tasted mass produced. Also, the coffee was burnt and "dead." I can't recommend Goose Feathers nor will I be returning. 

Michelle's Brown Bag Cafe - Sarasota, FL

Great fresh sandwiches! The first time I went here I was not impressed, so much so that I don't even remember what I had. However, my recent visit changed my perception. I had the Chicken Curry Salad Sandwich which came with Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and crisp granny smith apple slices all served on thick, toasted nine grain bread. I had the coleslaw with it, which was really good (not overly dressed, not too sweet, and flavorful) and I was pleasantly surprised by chunks the of Gorgonzola cheese in it. 


I am happy to say that I expect to return to Michelle's and will gladly recommend it to others. Enjoy!

Gecko’s Grill and Pub on Hillview - Sarasota, FL

The food here is typical bar food and tends to be hit or miss. My favorite thing they serve is their "homemade" chips.

The last time I went I had the Pastrami Pretzel Roll which had the bun not looked like a pretzel I would not have know it was anything special and the pastrami didn't have much flavor (I kept thinking the sandwich needed more mustard). The time before I had the Chicken Panini Sandwich which was good, but way too greasy for me (do I really need my bread slathered in butter?!). The time before that I had the Cuban sandwich which was also good (though not a true Cuban), but my chips were the “bottom of the bag” crumbs and my husbands fish and chips were overpriced for frozen factory-produced fish pieces.

You are probably asking yourself why I keep going here if the food is only mediocre, well...I attend a social group which frequents Gecko's and the way I see it there are definitely worse choices ;-)

Cowboy Dinner Tree - Christmas Valley, OR

Mass quantities of uninteresting food served family-style is how I would sum this place up; it is more of a novelty then a place to go for a really good meal (I have never had such an overcooked chicken). The best thing we had was the bean soup as it reminded my husband and I of the homemade soup we had growing up. 


On the flip side, based on the amount of food you receive, it is a great deal as they let you take all the leftovers with you and, believe me, you will have leftovers (if not, wow you are impressive;-).  

Chow - Bend, OR

I have only been here for breakfast, but the food is great!  I would venture to say it serves the best breakfast in Bend. They have a wide range of options including biscuits and gravy, pancakes and amazing egg dishes (my favorite is "The Caesar") that all come with a piece of their "bread of the day" with homemade jam - YUM!  Daily specials are also available and are based on seasonally available foods, many times locally sourced. Some of the dishes are a bit pricey, but they are so uniquely delicious it is worth treating yourself every once in a while. The only negative comment I have is that the service tends to be spotty (sometimes it is great, others not so much).  Enjoy!

The Grit - Athens, GA

The Grit has a great selection of interesting vegetarian foods, even for someone who typically eats meat at most meals. I had the Mid-E Platter which came with 3 small pieces of falafel, a hearty portion of hummus, a big scoop of tabouli, pita wedges, and a lemon-tahini dressing. Everything was good, fresh and tasty. However, the tabouli was not traditional (it was not bulgur wheat and fairly low on the parsley) and needed the dressing for flavor. Service is laid back and seating procedures during busy times is disorganized, so as long as you are not in a rush (same as Ted's Most Best!) this is a nice place to go for a healthy vegetarian meal.

JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe - Sarasota, FL

Worst Cuban Sandwich I have had in a long time. The bread was chewy and tasted like it was past its prime and the filling had little flavor.  My husband's BBQ Pork Sandwich was at least better than my Cuban, but it also lacked flavor.  I think this is a better place to go if you are wanting to have a few beers and listen to live music as the food is nothing I would go back for  based on our experience. 

Alpenglow Cafe - Bend, OR

The food was good and very fresh, but in general we found it to be overrated and overpriced. My waffles were overcooked and my husband asked to have a side of bacon instead of all the sides with his omelette and then instead of a side they put less than one piece in his omelette :-(  Unfortunately we won't be going back nor can we recommend Alpenglow Cafe based on this experience.  

Strictly Organic Coffee Co - Bend, OR

Best coffee in Oregon!  Love their carrot muffins and gluten-free chocolate chip biscotti as well. You can't go wrong with a stop at Strictly Organic - great coffee, yummy organic food and sustainable business practices. Enjoy!

Pilot Butte Drive-In - Bend, OR

Great milkshakes and the best "southern-style" biscuits and gravy that I have had in town. Burgers are pretty yummy as well! Staff is always friendly. A Bend staple definitely worth a visit. Enjoy!

Rockin’ Dave's Bagel Bistro - Bend, OR

I really like their spinach and artichoke cream cheese, however the bagels themselves are a bit heavy and chewy for my preference. I like a bagel with a bit more crunch when it is toasted. 


http://www.rockindaves.com/