DESCRIPTION: This two-level bistro has a full bar and as expected an excellent wine selection. The American-style menu is sure to suit any taste. Excellent service, a great "date" restaurant.
DATE: 2001-04-23
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Sliced Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Salad, Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Pasta Mediterranean

The Best!!!
DESCRIPTION: Great food, great atmosphere. Josh and Kendra are the perfect owners.
DATE: 2003-12-20
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Sand dabs, Filet Mignon

It's excellent
DESCRIPTION: It's excellent. I had my wedding rehearsal dinner here and I couldn't have asked for a better place. The food was incredible, the atmosphere nice, and the service fantastic.
DATE: 2004-03-16
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8

The Gem is a 10
DESCRIPTION: A wonderful experience. A must in Carmel. Sand dabs are to die for. Mudslide pie is amazing!
DATE: 2005-01-16
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Sand dabs

We were completely ignored
DESCRIPTION: My boyfriend and I were in Carmel this past weekend just for the long weekend. We are from San Diego. We had done a lot of online research on places to eat and came across the Gem restaurant. We decided to eat there Sunday night. We arrived at the restaurant around 8:15-8:30, at which time the restaurant was not completely full. A waitress came over and showed us a table for two which was right by the door and right by the stairs. My boyfriend asked if we could have a table that was not so out in the middle of everything, over on the side of the restaurant. The waitress did not seem happy about this, but reluctantly sat us there instead. We were brought waters after about 5 minutes, and that was the last service we received. We sat there for about 10-15 minutes with multiple people walking by us and not offering to take our order, not even a drink order! The waitress who sat us said in passing that she would be over, but that never happened. We saw her go over to another table at least twice, but she never came back to us. Embarrassed and hungry, we decided to leave. We could not believe the rudeness we experienced there. My boyfriend and I have both worked in the restaurant industry, and so we are both willing to give the benefit of the doubt when there is poor service, but the restaurant was not even busy when we were there. There was no reason why we should have had to sit there without even a drink for over 10 minutes. As I do not expect to be up in Carmel again any time soon, unfortunately they will never get the chance to make things right. I hope other diners do not make the same mistake we did wasting their time at the Gem; go somewhere else!!
DATE: 2006-02-21
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : nothing!

Great choice
DESCRIPTION: The foods are great. The smiles from servers are most wonderful. We enjoyed the beautiful night at here. Your service and food both are superb! We will definitely recommend to our friends! Good night!
DATE: 2006-02-23
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Filet Mignon

Yum
DESCRIPTION: The Common Grill would have to be my favorite restaurant in the whole of America. I live in Australia and every year I come over to spend the summer in Jackson. As soon as I fly in the Common Grill is the first place I go. I'm in love with their bread rolls! And the staff are not half bad either! Kidding, they're fabulous!
DATE: 2001-04-12
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : I cant pick just one they are all so good!

Excellent Bistro
DESCRIPTION: The food is excellent, always fresh and delicious. Warm and inviting casual atmoshere, wonderful service. Chef makes wonderful use of in-season local ingredients. Not pretentious. Just delightful.
DATE: 2002-08-22
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : all of them

My Favorite By Far!
DESCRIPTION: The Common Grill is my all time favorite restaurant. The atmosphere is awesome and accommodating no matter what it is you're looking for. The food is always satisfying.
DATE: 2002-08-24
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : my personal favorite is chicken fettucini Chef Craig, though sometimes I can't resist the sea bass, always a tough decision to make

Phenomenal Firecracker Shrimp
DESCRIPTION: Dear God, thank you for putting Craig Common in a kitchen and for the succulent morsels which are served up at his restaurant. The wine selection, the appetizer choices, and the ever changing meal specials just may be the most difficult decisions facing customers. The service is top notch and the atmosphere whispers of casual decadence. A must for anyone in the area.
DATE: 2002-11-10
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Firecracker Shrimp, White Wines, Sirloin Salad (and, of course, the bread!!)

Why did I ever wait so long?
DESCRIPTION: I had always heard about "how fantastic The Common Grill was", and "how I'd be craving the food'". Well they all were right. I was lucky enough to be treated to a business lunch there and wow! (like the person before me-- thank you, god for giving that man the knowledge to use his talents. It's worth the trip-- really... even in the snow...
DATE: 2003-01-07
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Anything, especially the rolls

A Bad Night at the Common Grill
DESCRIPTION: We went to the Common Grill recently. We were told we'd be seated at eight pm. We were not seated until nine. We got our first orders (salads, and in my case oysters) at about 9:30. The oysters, while not spoiled, had obviously been opened early in the evening. And then we waited. I finally called the waitress over (not her fault)and told her she had two minutes to deliver our entrees. She brought them in one minute. While the food was good, it simply did not make up for the late seating. Also, the acoustics are so bad that it's impossible to hear across the table. Someone from the restaurant came over to the table to apologize and offered us some desserts. I have eaten in many great restaurants in the US, Europe and South America. This was a truly bad dining experience.
DATE: 2003-05-06
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2

Best in midwest
DESCRIPTION: I have eaten all over the world and the food here is world class. A treat. Sensational in a land of over-priced pretentious joints catering to inexperienced eaters who think the worst is great because the presentation is good. Most local people have never dined, just eaten. Here you may dine.
DATE: 2003-06-29
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10

Hey ...
DESCRIPTION: I love the place...it's great... but I'm biased..I worked there as a saute chef for 2 years.
DATE: 2003-10-30
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Firecracker shrimp...walleye... Tuna....

poor food at common grill
DESCRIPTION: Well it turns out that a couple that we know had some free tickets for the Purple Rose due to illness. They offered the tickets to us and we accepted them. They told us that they usually go to the Common Grill after the show with a group of about 20 people. They want to know is we wanted to come along. We told them yes-big mistake! Here is a synopsis of my experience. 1. Ordered the Onion Soup. It was salty and the onions were crunchy (undercooked) 2. The salad was very good 3. Now the entr e . Terrible. I order the Flat steak (what the heck ever that was) for 22.00. I ordered it medium rare and it came well done. It was tough like leather. Cold and had very little taste. The steak was scored only on one side when cooked? The portabella fries were just terrible. I don t like mushrooms buy my wife does, she could not even eat them. There could not have been more than 4 (FOUR OUNCES) of meat in the meal. A shame for what you charge at your restaurant. 4. Normally I would have talked to the manager. But we were with 18 other people and I didn t feel that I wanted to wait for another dinner to me served me. 5. I know that I can get busy when large groups show up. But there was time enough for our waitress to come to the table and ask how is / was your meal . Never happen. 6. All in all I found it very disappointing and would never go to your restaurant again. For 2 reasons: Poor food, and way too much money for what they serve. Thomas Koriles -- Trenton, MI
DATE: 2004-01-28
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2

My Favotrite
DESCRIPTION: We regularly drive 80 miles to the Common Grill and all we talk about both ways is the food. The fish is fresh and fantastic, pasta dishes always flavorful and service has never been less than wonderful. The Smoked chicken angel hair pasta is my favorite, but recently had wild mushroom ravioli. mmmm...
DATE: 2004-10-03
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Pasta Jambalaya, Walleye

Fair to good
DESCRIPTION: Having had a positive experience with business lunches at this restaurant, I suggested it for dinner for our anniversary. Big mistake. In spite of using the call list system offered (actual reservations for 6+ group only) we waited for an hour for our seat. There was no place to sit, standing near the door, we were jostled and chilled each time the door opened. It was a challenge to get to the bar for a drink, much less find a place to sit. The room was thundering with people trying to be heard over the din of other people yelling to be heard. A nightmare!! When seated, we felt compelled to hurry through our meal to get out of the place! Food: grilled salmon delicious with vegetables, all seasoned well and simply prepared. Salad OK but fresh. Bread: overly salted and a bit underbaked. My husband's paella was a real disappointment,and more like a rice seafood stew, not the fluffy, saffron colored, flavorful stuff found with credible paella. The decaffeinated coffee (necessary per how late we were seated...) was quite weak. In general, would not recommend lengthy travel to go to this restaurant and do not expect even close to a pleasant dining experience unless you go for the beer hall or sports bar sort of setting.
DATE: 2005-12-18
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : grilled salmon with chimchurri

Special place in my heart
DESCRIPTION: I am in love with this restaurant! It is a must go for anyone who likes to eat, so everyone. This is a place I will not soon forget because it is where I learned that I was allergic to fish :( However I would risk going into respiratory failure just to have one more taste of their miso glazed sea bass, literally. The service is friendly and oh so un-pretentious. The food is made with the most delicious ingredients and the most creative combinations, absolutely out of this world. A must go to brunch spot as well. I am in love with this restaurant!
DATE: 2006-04-01
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : sea bass, oysters, creme brulee, pear-maple waffles

DESCRIPTION: The cuban chicken was outstanding service was great prices were right online with food quality
DATE: 2004-01-27
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8

Brunch Buffet at a Reasonable Price
DESCRIPTION: With two new chefs, the restaurant at the Grand Ely Lodge gets better marks for their Sunday brunch in 2003. They've restyled the buffet table, adding freshly carved tender prime rib, and served up a combination of breakfast and lunch items like scrambled eggs and bacon (with optional salsa), home fries, salad, fried chicken, ravioli, a bean dish and mashed potatoes and gravy. Their famous bread pudding and assorted desserts round out the $13.00 buffet, complete with a live electronic keyboardist playing and singing standard fare. Right outside of Ely with a beautiful view of Shagawa Lake, this is a very pleasant place for a Sunday brunch.
DATE: 2003-06-15
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : prime rib, bread pudding

DESCRIPTION: I've been here 4 times at differnet times of the day, and each time the meal was substandard. Getting a replacement was no problem (to the servers' credit), but the second meal was as dissappointing as the first. Not worth the price, which was noticably higher than other local restaurants. The bar was fun, though, and the food went down easier with some drinks.
DATE: 2005-04-08
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 6

Wasn't the greatest
DESCRIPTION: We got the Romantic package which included two dinners and four breakfasts at the Evergreen Restaurant. Our first night there we used our dinner vouchers -- and there was a hair in my pasta. The next morning I got coffee and the waitress provided a surprising variety of individually-portioned creamers. I picked a few up to look at the flavors and one looked as if something icky had dried on the side of it. Our final morning there I went to use my spoon to stir creamer into my coffee and there was something green dried to the tip of the spoon. The silver was rolled into the cloth napkins so there's NO WAY that someone should have missed this. The staff was pleasant but the food wasn't the best. Breakfast food was good -- but dinner was disappointing. The pasta was served on a dinner plate and not in a pasta bowl. It had drippy sauce and no "twirling spoon." I'm no food snob, but it felt like it was just flung onto a plate and a shred of curly lettuce thrown onto the side for color. My husband got pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon -- the Calypso Tenderloin. The meat was very dry. You'd figure for being in a marinade and wrapped in bacon that it would retain some moisture -- but it was not the greatest. Overall I would not recommend this place unless you want good blueberry pancakes or a Belgian waffle. That's about it.
DATE: 2005-06-27
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Blueberry pancakes or Belgian waffle

Wonderful!
DESCRIPTION: We spent some time in Castroville this past winter and found it to be a charming town, but the Alsatian was a delight for sure. Everything we had was excellent. The atmosphere is cozy, the service was the best and the food -- again was worth the trip!
DATE: 2001-03-18
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 10

DESCRIPTION: We eat here everytime we're in Castroville fairly regularly) cause it's simply the best. I love the way they prepare their special Castroville sausage and sauerkraut. My wife and I highly recommend you eat here.
DATE: 2001-11-15
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8

Sweet Place
DESCRIPTION: We dined at the Alsatian for the first time last night. We were seated in the back of the cottage near the windows that face the backyard. A family was celebrating a birthday outside on the patio. They were obviously having a good time. It was nice to see. Anyhow, we started with an appetizer of sausage and cheese. It was garnished with red onion, tomato and black and green olives. Interesting. My husband had the filet mignon and grilled shrimp. I had the ribeye steak. Both steaks were tasty but not real tender. The shrimp were highly peppered but fresh tasting. The meals were accompanied by roasted new potatoes, sauteed squash and very good red cabbage. The wine prices are incredibly reasonable and we found the house burgandy was a good cheap choice. Our server was Angel and an angel he was. Excellent service. We'll definitely return and try the German food.
DATE: 2002-03-31
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8

A Perfect Dinner
DESCRIPTION: Five of us went to the Alsatian Restaurant in Castroville and had a perfect meal. Since at least two of us were professional foodie, and another two of us had travelled the world, that is a serious compliment. I had the jagerschnitzel. It was crisp, perfectly flavored, and though decorated with a white wine sauce and a grape sauce, not mushroom gravy, was still the best pork I have ever eaten. The side vegetables-redcabbage, kraut, and sweet carrots made the perfect taste contrast. Each in itself was also a delight. We had a variety of dishes, but I think the jagerschnitzel was the best. For afters we shared bread pudding, a thing I disliked until that dinner, cherry cobbler and German chocolate cake, all splendid. Our server was delightful, attentive, funny, prompt and helpful. In all it was a perfect dinner.
DATE: 2004-04-14
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Jagerschnitzel. Bread pudding.

Yummy
DESCRIPTION: Cozy, nice waiters, great food.
DATE: 1999-12-06
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 6
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8

Good healthy food
DESCRIPTION: This is a great place to stop after a long camping trip in the North Carolina mountains. The food is vegetarian and really good. Also, there is a very pleasant bar downstairs.
DATE: 1999-12-08
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10

Macro In The Mountains
DESCRIPTION: I discovered this place by accident while shopping at the world's largest shoe store - which is only a few blocks away. The Seed is a rather modern approach to the world of health food restaurants. The peasant dresses and Birkis reminded me of my hippy past but the food was quite new and innovative. This was my first experience with fusion food - mine being Mex-Japanese. The macro dishes were outstanding and after having eaten there three time there was not one dish that I didn't love.
DATE: 2003-08-07
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Macro and Fusion Food Dishes, Also Great Desserts

Steak & Jazz a fabulous combo
DESCRIPTION: The dinner was absolutely great, this restaurant is such a great find on the Upperwest side. They have live Jazz 7 nights a weeks & Live Jazz for Saturday & Sunday Brunches.
DATE: 2003-05-07
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Porterhouse Steak & the Crab Cake filled to the max with crab

Come for the Bread, Then Leave
DESCRIPTION: I write this review with a heavy heart. Cafe Miranda was presented to me by a friend who raved about the place. My expectations, therefore, were high. Unfortunately, the problem with high expectations is that, when dashed, the experience feels so much more disappointing. I'll try to boil it down for you. The bread gratis was good. The olive oil was even better. After the bread, though, the experience made a turn for the worse. The over-ambitious menu made for a lack of focus in the kitchen. The calamari appetizer was overcooked and greasy. The entree was, oddly enough, both overcooked and undercooked. To explain, the chicken was dry and obviously cooked at too high a temperature while the shrimp was not cooked fully through. Strange, in my opinion. The dessert was o.k. but, since the coffee order was forgotten by the waitress, proved an overall letdown. To that point, the service, was quite sub-par. Often overlooked, my water glass remained empty most of the meal and I spent several anxious moments wondering if my waitress would ever reappear. One final thought, there appeared to be friends of the owners in the cafe at the time I dined. Because of the relationship with the owners, the friends took it upon themselves to be loud and obnoxious. In addition, they literally ran amuck about the dining room spaces. As a result, my opinion is that, if you come at all, come for the bread, then leave.
DATE: 2004-11-05
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 4
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Bread and Water (if you can get it)