Fazzinis Italian Kitchen
DESCRIPTION: The pasta is homemade, the portions huge, and the atmosphere friendly. Anything slathered in the basil-heavy marinara is worth ordering, as is the shrimp-parmagiana sub, which puts most places' gloppy parmagiana offerings to shame.
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8

What a great restaurant!!
DESCRIPTION: Who would guess this would be in Muncie, Indiana??!!
DATE: 2003-12-03
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Chicken with Brie cheese, pine nuts, & raspberry reduction

Great Sandwiches
DESCRIPTION: They have great service and GREAT food. If your looking for a clean, nice place to eat with a great atmosphere then go to Cafe Barista...you wont be let down!
DATE: 2005-06-06
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Brownies, and Wraps

Great Food Great Atmoshpere
DESCRIPTION: I have had many enjoyable meals at Axel's. They are always friendly and willing to go that extra mile to make the dining experience fun. Would highly recommend.
DATE: 2002-10-04
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Walleye and Steak

Consistent in great food and great atmosphere!
DESCRIPTION: Axel's is a "CAN DO" restaurant in a time of expensive and "if it's not on the menu...we can't do it" era. We try so many other restaurants and end up saying "Why didn't we just go to Axel's where we know it will be great?" It is the best place around for not only great food (love the walleye/fillet/cioppino), but also the best atomosphere with wonderful service. The staff there go all the way to make your evening a delightful one! Thanks to everyone at Axel's!
DATE: 2002-10-19
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Walleye, steaks, my fav. the Cioppino (a tomato broth stew filled with assorted shellfish!

Simply the best
DESCRIPTION: My husband and I would go to Axel's any day during the week and would always find something on the menu that we loved. The staff is top notch and we haven't found anything that compares with the service. We have since moved to Florida and are planning a trip back to Minnesota if only to grab a great meal at Axel's.
DATE: 2003-09-27
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : everything

Great for Something Special
DESCRIPTION: I've been going to Axel's in Mondota for years for both lunch and dinner. Everyone is always impressed with the food and service.
DATE: 2004-10-22
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Steak, Lobster Ravioli, Chicken Sandwich

Not Worth the Time or Money
DESCRIPTION: This evening (Apr. 18, 2004), my boyfriend and I decided to dine at Joe Greensleeves for a change from the usual steakhouse chain restaurants we frequent. After our experience, I prefer the chains. The menu was minimal and that is being polite. 9 items to choose from on the dinner menu. Plenty of salads, but I didn't come to a steakhouse to spend the bill on a salad alone. After being seated and waiting almost ten minutes for the server to acknowledge our presence, I ordered the 8 oz. filet mignon ($32), medium rare, no sauce. My boyfriend ordered the chicken Umbria(?) dish. When the food came, I realized I did not order a steak, but a hockey puck. For that was the size of the meat. Yes, it was tender, but it was also medium well, a sin for steak as far as I am concerned. The outside was carmelized in some seasonings, and although it smelled great, it tasted like a charred Reebok. The dish came with a miniscule amount of mashed potatoes. I was finished eating in 7 minutes. For dessert, we ordered a twice layered strawberry shortcake. I was under the assumption the dessert would be made fresh for us. No, it was cut from a cake that had been sitting out in the open the entire time we were there and was dry on the exposed parts, yet creamy on the inside. For a bill that came to almost $70, Joe Greensleeves gets a strong D. If you want good food in Redlands, do not come here.
DATE: 2004-04-19
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 4

The Best in the West
DESCRIPTION: We had the best time. What an experience it was.
DATE: 2004-06-11
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : prime cuts of ribeye steak

Comments from a ChefMoz Redlands Editor
DESCRIPTION: Joe Greensleeves is known as the best restaurant in Redlands now that Gigi's has closed down (the owner died early 2004). However, the owner of Greensleeve's is notoriously homophobic. Several friends who are gay have gone to the restaurant and have been asked to leave with no explanation. Public records also show that the restaurant has been shut down by the San Bernardino County Health Department for unsanitary conditions; also reported by CBS news of Los Angeles.
DATE: 2004-07-06
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : ostrich, game meats

DESCRIPTION: Let's put it this way - I really miss Gigi et Jean's! Ugh, this place is dreadful. Overpriced, mediocre atmosphere at best, very average food. Yuck. Save your money and go somewhere else.
DATE: 2005-02-06
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2

Won't Go There Again
DESCRIPTION: Anniversary Disappointment We have always enjoyed spending our anniversary having dinner here since the early 90's. We were usually served a meal that we talked about for days...until last night (Feb. 2005). My husband ordered the ahi tuna ($25)and it was not edible! He took 2 bites and I also took a bite and agreed. When we told the waiter how bad it tasted he brought over the hostess who said it was absolutely fresh. Then she said sorry and walked away. They never offered to get another dish for my husband or adjust the bill. Needless to say we won't be back...ever.
DATE: 2005-02-06
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2

Less Then Impressed
DESCRIPTION: Why don't they just close down? My wife and I went the other night for a romantic evening (our 25th). We were counter offered a 7:30p seating for an 8:00p reservation request. We settled for 7:45p, walked in to an almost deserted place. Three tables including ours were seated. And there were no other bodies. Bread was nice; the flavor oil was wonderful with peppers and roasted garlic and rosemary. That is until the small flecks of crushed pepper that were left unstrained made their way onto the bread. Caused coughing for a majority of diners. Appetizer: Special for the evening, the zucchini flower stuffed with artichoke and mozzarella. Unfortunately it was mostly void of any flavor except the puddle of grease the heavily (not heavenly!) battered pieces sat in when served, never spotted any artichoke within d'flower. The bed of arugula that it was served on was wasted due to the fry grease swamping throughout. Main #1 special of the night "Mixed Seafood Grill Platter" (operative word grill) all appeared pan fried, no grill searing marks and no orangewood smoking that we were told this place was famous for. Monotonous seasoning across everything, the one shrimp, the fish, and the bunch of calamari, which she quickly passed over to me, since the calamari was like sneaker sole (although I think most sneakers would have been better seasoned). Main #2, Chicken Umberto was relatively void of any memorable flavors. Chicken wrapped around spinach with a blandish white sauce. Side 1, Mixed Vegetable Grill, this is the only thing that looked like it saw a grill. Very nice overall dish, all things considered this was the best bargain of the night, but somehow $15 to get some veggies - ugh - when ordering two main courses seems ridiculous! Oh, did I mention that we were sweating during the meal? Seems that that they start prepping for close a little before 8P (removal of wine glasses from unused tables) and by 8:30 the place was roasting hot like they had just completely turned off the A/C back at 8p.m. I think they would have opened the front doors, but there were too many helpers going continually going out the front door for a smoke. (Standing within 2-3 feet of the front door so that it wafted throughout each time another helper went outside.) 2 espresso's served lukewarm, don't think the demitasi was preheated. Cannoli - Finally something that my wife enjoyed, except for the little pieces of citron. We specifically asked what the cannoli was stuffed with and twice the reply was "Just Ricotta. Well, it had other ingredients in it, and made it very nice, except she would have passed on the lemon gummy bears :) Overall she rated this desert better than her gramma's (who owned numerous restaurants in NYC and CT, so that s saying something. Desert 2: Upside apple something with pecans. I love pecans, and this had a bunch. Too bad it also had more brown sugar (unmelted, undisturbed clumps) than apple. Overall pretty nice piece of pie. For a diner! At least at a diner they usually have the pie and cakes under glass or refrig'ed. This was served from the item on the cart. Total damages with a bottle of cheap white ($28), $149.85 Yikes! Ambiance would have been much higher if I could've paid for them to run the A/C for another half hour. Kinda romantic if they just tried a little bit more. As a result we were both sweating by the time we got outside and had to go home to change before spending more time out enjoying the evening.
DATE: 2005-06-25
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : bread, cannoli sans citron

26th Anniversary Was Memorable
DESCRIPTION: We toasted our event with a couple of glasses of Zinfandel. The bread was nice and crusty on the outside and soft and yummy on the inside. The flavored olive oil was very good for dipping the bread. The salads were good. My lobster raviolis were excellent. My wife said that she enjoyed her grilled shrimp. Our dinner cost over $100 but we liked the restaurant, we liked the service, and we liked the food.
DATE: 2006-03-30
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : lobster ravioli

Best Steak in the U.S.
DESCRIPTION: I have traveled quite a bit over 30 years and made a hobby of exploring the best steak houses in each city visited. I made a point of asking for "the best steak in town." Believe me, I've tried them all. I would tell the head chef that I've had the best steak in each city and would be glad to tell him how his compared. I can tell you that Murrays is the #1 steak in the world as far as I've found. It is pure pleasure. You'll enjoy every last bite. I don't live in Minnesota, but I'd almost consider the flight just to go back to that restaurant.
DATE: 2003-12-27
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Silver Butter Knife Steak

Butterknife Steak
DESCRIPTION: You will be hard pressed to find a steak better than Murray's Golden Butterknife steak. A 4-pound porterhouse (that s Filet Mignon on one side of the bone and New Your Strip on the other) Cooked in a special roasting oven that heats all four sides at once, then carved tableside. These steaks are for two to three people. Even the locals in Omaha, NE -- Known for their steaks -- drool at the though of one of Murray's Butterknife steaks. You may have had great steak in the past. But if you have never had one of Murray's Butterknife steaks then you don't even have a clue as to what you are missing. It is not like anything you ve ever had before. It s better!
DATE: 2002-12-05
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Gold Butterknife Steak

Diamond in the Rough
DESCRIPTION: Pangaea is by far the best restaurant I have eaten at in the Berkshires. The laid back, yet refined environment coupled with the creative menu made for an excellent evening out. The menu has a wonderful range of dishes - from Asian-inspired noodle dishes to Italian/German inspired game and red meat. Everything was incredibly fresh, and the sophisticated simplicity of the dishes made it possible to enjoy every wonderful flavor. My only gripe, and I hate to even call it that, was the lack of "light" dishes amongst the list of appetizers. I would have enjoyed something light to preceed my pheasant, however, I quite enjoyed my crab over rosti, so who am I to complain? Overall, an unpretentious way to enjoy haute cuisine in an area lacking in good food.
DATE: 2004-09-26
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : pheasant with asparagus and mashed potatoes with a lingonberry sauce

Good Food if you don't mind the rude waitstaff...
DESCRIPTION: Absolutely delicious cuisine, but I was appalled by how rude some of the waiters were. Also, there is not enough space, and I felt as though I was talking to the whole restaurant.
DATE: 2002-02-21
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Shrimp N Grits

City Grocery remains excellent
DESCRIPTION: Shrimp & grits remain a top item, but many of the fish entrees are excellent as well. Bread pudding approaches the Northeast versions and matches New Orleans versions. The staff is defintely not rude, but the customer must remember that Oxford is a town of few top quality establishments and that seating demands in this popular retirement and university sports town requires the customer to appreciate the efforts to serve many in limited seating capacity in the town as a whole, particularly in the space restricted old/historic areas (i.e. City Grocery)where new construction and space expansion is not possible.
DATE: 2003-11-01
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Specials have proven to consistently be above good.

Good food, sometimes exceptional
DESCRIPTION: City Grocery seldom disappoints, but it falls short when it overreaches. Its bests are the things it does with farm-raised game like venison, plus lamb, and most seafoods. Pork is not exceptional; don't order their beef because it invariably is overcooked. The salads and appetizers are creatively superb. The desserts are rich; it needs an always avalable selection of sorbets for tose who want dolce without huge quanties. The coffee is fine. The wine list is reasonably good and rather pricey. But it''s the best on The Sqaure, hands down. No other restauant comes close. What City Grocery needs most is competition.
DATE: 2004-05-14
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : New Zealand venison, fresh catches, and at lunch, the muffaletta sandwich ...

DESCRIPTION: <What City Grocery needs most is competition> Amen! It's too bad one man owns most of the restaurants there. I lived in Oxford for three years. Every place is overrated. Service rarely is competent at Central Grocery. I've given that place many chances. Unfortunately, there aren't better places. I believe the owner also runs Ajax. I guess the biased, customer (above) is right. Ajax is downright terrible. While I love Oxford and Ole Miss, their restaurants could use a facelift - like that of Tad Smith Coliseum.
DATE: 2005-06-07
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2

Don't Miss this One
DESCRIPTION: There isn't anything bad on the menu, which changes frequently. Some familiar favorites are the Belgian Endive, Apple & Rocquefort appetizer, venison (in the fall) and homemade desserts to write home about.
DATE: 2001-12-18
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : All

Fantastic!
DESCRIPTION: Kevin Kohler truly is one of the best chefs in Northern New Jersey. You won't want to miss his duck or carpaccio.
DATE: 2002-04-04
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10

Not worth it
DESCRIPTION: My wife and I have always wanted to try Cafe Panache. We've always heard good things about it and Zagat gives it a good review. We were very disappointed. We heard the service was snooty but that was not true. Actually the service was excellent. The food however is another story. We started off with the garden salad, it tasted like grass. My wife had the tuna steak special that tasted ok but after dinner she became violently ill for most of the evening. I had the duck which did not taste like any duck I ever had. Actually it tasted like steak. If I had wanted steak I would have ordered it. For dessert we ordered the white chocolate mousse. It was overly sweet and grainy.
DATE: 2004-08-13
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : None

Best restaurant!
DESCRIPTION: Kevin does a great job! We had succulent diver scallops in a fennel sauce and the best duck we've ever had. Also, the lemon mousse with almond was magnificent. Kevin continues to outdo himself and is one of the best chefs in Northern NJ and in the Northeast!
DATE: 2005-02-24
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Diver Sea Scallops

DESCRIPTION: Family reunion - fabulous experience.
DATE: 2003-07-06
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8

Fabulous!
DESCRIPTION: Excellent experience. I walked past the awning for a year and a half before getting tempted to venture inside. I wish I had done it sooner. Amazing food, nice atmosphere, finely chosen wines. The menu is not extensive but everything served on the plate is amazing. Goes up there as a top 5 restaurant.
DATE: 2004-04-20
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : calamari appeatizer, stuffed sole entree

It's a Favorite !
DESCRIPTION: Consistently great food -- excellent wine selection. It's a favorite cause the food is first class and the atmoshpere very casual with good, friendly service. Boston Jake
DATE: 2004-05-23
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Seafood

Amazing food for the valley
DESCRIPTION: Of all the restaurants in the valley Blue Sage ranks #1. Not only the taste of the food but also the presentation of their plates and the service is very friendly.
DATE: 2003-12-27
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Shrimp Enchiladas during lunch, Tamarind Marinated Pork at dinner.

4 Star Dining in Smithfield Utah?
DESCRIPTION: I've been dining at the Blue Sage regularly for quite some time now. I've tried most every item on the menu and have consistantly been pleased. For Lunch they offer a variety of Southwest inspired burritos, enchaladas, quesadillas, salads all of which are wonderful, particularly the salmon quesadilla and the pork enchalada. Daily lunch specials are offered ranging from salmon tacos, to fajitas a real treat every time. The food is prepared to order from fresh ingredients and served promptly from the grill. The chefs at the Blue Sage pay special attention to presentation so the meal is visually enticing as well as tasty. The prices on the lunch menu are very low for food of this calibre. Service is excellent. The Dinner experience is kicked up several notches from the lunch menu to a more formal experience. The menu is considerably more pricey but the entre's are well worth it. The Tamarind Cinnamon Marinated Pork is absolutely stunning! The Rack of Lamb is top notch as well. One might expect dining like this in, say Santa Fe, but to find it here in Cache Valley, let alone Smithfield, is a treat indeed!
DATE: 2004-08-18
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Tamarind Cinnamon Marinated Pork, Lunch Specials

Best Steak in Town
DESCRIPTION: I may be prejudice after working there for many years, but I would put a steak from the "Boot" up against any steak in town!! After 35 plus years in the steak business, they know how to do it right. The Seafood is probily as good as you can get this far from the ocean. The staff has for the most part been there for many years and know how to serve you right.
DATE: 2004-02-20
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Any Steak on the Menu

Great Steaks and Nice Bar Scene
DESCRIPTION: Dianne's has become a Columbia institution. The food is excellent. Can't remember a dish I didn't like. On Wednesday evenings you can enjoy live big band music and shag (SC's State Dance) on their dance floor. The bar scene there caters to middle age professionals.
DATE: 2004-09-15
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Steak and their signature death by chocolate cake

Average food at best
DESCRIPTION: Ridiculously overpriced for what you get. Been around forever. The place where all the Columbia glitterati go to be seen spending their money.
DATE: 2005-03-17
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4

Work on the service
DESCRIPTION: Rude and unhelpful maitre d' started the evening off on a bad foot. Over cooked beef filets and peculiar tasting lobster stuffing added to the downward spiral. Atmosphere is o.k. but not worth the insulting behavior of the staff. Training and a lesson in manners could help. Then work on the kitchen.
DATE: 2006-01-13
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2