Rustic Road

Right before Christmas I went with a couple co-workers to Rustic Road, a Kenosha bar and restaurant. After a frighteningly long 40 minute wait for lunch - despite being some of the only diners - they delivered me the wrong dish. As we needed to get back to work, I couldn't wait for it to be redone, so they gave me a $20 gift card for my trouble. 

Well, back on Jan 9th we went there again, this time with Lorenzo in tow. This time, they got the dishes right. 

They just weren't very good. 

Sandwiches? Mid. 

Tater tots - dang good, I'll give them that. 

The chili? Bland. 

To top it off, that $20 gift card I was given? I presented it for payment and it was empty, with a zero balance LOL

To their credit, they honored it. 

Regardless, if I go back, it won't be for quite awhile. 

Open Flame

Back on Jan 5th, the 47th anniversary of my paternal Grandpa's death, Lisa treated me to lunch at Open Flame, a restaurant on Hwy 100 that she'd been to as part of the "lady's lunches" she attends with her Mom. 

She loved the Christmas decor and excused herself from the table to get these pics. 

As for the food: 

The french onion soup was delicious and affordable. Unlike most places, who so water down the broth you can barely distinguish it from water, the flavor was strong and fresh. 

The complimentary bread and oil was ok, but I found the oil terribly bland, despite the seasonings that had been added to it. 

Lisa enjoyed the vegetable soup. I don't get it. I can think of few soups less appealing, and I don't like soup at all.  But she's a soup person, so take her word on it. 

My burger was ok, but the meat was melt in your mouth soft. If I'm eating a burger, I like a textural difference between the bun and the meat. 

Lisa adored her steak and shrimp, taking enough home for a second full meal. 

I didn't care much for the service, although one server/one visit isn't enough for me to call that a concern. I did NOT like that the restaurant's bar was filled with Packers fans cheering, booing and screaming along as they watched the Packers lose to the Bears in week 18. At times it was too loud to carry on a conversation, which I find obnoxious given the location. I'm fine with that at a tavern or a Buffalo Wild Wings. Not so much at a restaurant charging what they did in the middle of the day. 

Now stay off my lawn! 
 

New Glasses and a Trip to Chicago

 On December 28th, the morning after Seth's birthday get-together, Lisa woke me up, on very little sleep, to go with her to pick out new glasses. 

Afterwards we had breakfast at La Crema. Lisa ordered chilaquiles, which were a bust, and I had some  so-so bisquits and gravy. 

 We like the place, the location, the atmosphere, but the food continues to miss. I'm not sure we'll be back anytime soon. 

Afterwards, although I was completely exhausted, I accepted Seth's invitation to go down and spend the day in Chicago. His wife was going with, and he told me that instead of his normal ride, he'd be taking her Suburu. He sent a text saying he was on his way. 

So a few minutes later, when a Suburu pulled up in front of the house with a woman in the passenger seat, I walked over, opened the rear passenger door - 

aaaaaand it wasn't Seth and his wife. 

That's not the first time I've made those types of mistaks. Once, a few years back, I got into a  silverMazda CX-9 at Dollar Tree, and got upset when my key didn't start it. You guessed it. My car was parked a few spots down. 

It's a good way to get shot, to be honest. 

Anyway, we drove down to Chicago, scooped our friend Eladio from his north side home, and traveled to the south side of Chicago, to Ricobene's.

Eladio seconded the propaganda the restaurant puts out: that they serve the best sandwhich in the world. This "masterpiece" is breaded steak on a hoagie bun, toppped with marinara sauce and, if you pay extra, peppers and shredded mozzarella. 

It was fine. 

Was it worth a ride to Chicago when I was that tired? No

Was it worth a ride to Chicago had I been fully rested? No

Was it worth a ride across Milwaukee if there was a location there? No

Was it worth stopping in if you're in the neighborhood? Yes. 

Afterwards, after driving past Seth's alma matter of Loyola, we stopped in Lincoln Square. 

First stop, an upscale meat market called Gene's Sausage Shop, on the site of a famous defunct Chicago deli called Meyer's. 

Then it was down a few doors to a bookstore, The Book Cellar. I guess the identically named store in the Central Milwaukee Library isn't as uniquely named as I thought. 

Lastly, to a tourist shop, where I saw the Taylor Swift ornaments below, and then an apothecary. 

Our departure from Lincoln Square was delayed by a heavy police and fire presence. that boxed in the car. At first I  thought they were there to treat a man I saw trip and bust his nose on the sidewalk, but it appears they were there to prevent any trouble at a televised interview at the large menorah in Lincoln Square. 

From there we dropped off Eladio and then headed back to Milwaukee. 

Suprisingly, sometime after the meal, I broke through my wall of exhaustion and felt pretty darn good, so in the end I greatly enjoyed the Chciago trip. 

A good day start to finish. 

La Crema

So after an adventurous morning at Walmart (a man jumped out of a car,  assaulted his girlfriend,  intentionally tipped over her cart *with their baby inside* then fled) Lisa treated me to breakfast at La Crema in Cudahy.  

It's primarily a breakfast place,  although they do have a lunch menu.  

Lisa ordered avocado toast

As my norm,  if I see it on a menu, I'm gonna test out their egg Benedict.

The verdict was mixed.  It was all good,  but I would not grade any of it as exceptional.  The avocado toast is merely a smashed avocado, without garnish or flair.  The Benedict was tasty but unimpressive, and the American potatoes lacked seasoning.  

It was my first visit,  but Lisa has had several positive experiences there, so maybe this meal was an outlier.

I would try the place again,  but I am in no rush to do so. 

Why?

Restaurants will give you a basket of bread for free but charge you for a slice of toast.  Make it make sense 

Tacos El Norte

For lunch today at work we tried Tacos El Norte. 

Located in one of the crappiest strip malls you've ever seen,  we were surprised by the well appointed, clean,  and spacious interior. 

Chips and salsa were complimentary, with the salsa having just enough kick to keep you interested. The guacamole was an upcharge.

Eladio was slumming it elsewhere,  so we were down one of the crew. 

My choice was a beef chimichanga with rice, beans, and guacamole, hold the sour cream. It was quite good and well worth the menu price.  (Note from the picture the size of the drink cups!)

This place was a winner and will get our business again in the future. 

The Annual Work Conference

This past Thursday and Friday I found myself in my hometown, as the state conference brought everyone downtown for the annual event. It was, as expected, largely a boring collection of lectures of dubious value to the job, but whatever. It was something different than the normal 8 to 5 we all experienece. 

Thursday evening I met Seth and Eladio at Carini's, an Italian restaurant on the East Side. Lorenzo had been invited, but declined, the bum. 

The shared appetizer of Arancini Piccolo (rice balls) was quite good, and so was the bread they bought out with the oil. 

As it was my first time there I wanted to sample their menu basics, so I ordered an excellent fettucine alfredo with homemade Italian sausage. Seth got veal, Eladio the chicken parm. 

It was a fun time and a great meal. 

On Friday we listened to a lecture by Rick Jones - who would tragcally pass over that very weekend, may he RIP- and then Seth gave me a ride home, stopping for a quick dinner at Classic Slice. 

Current Sitch at Midnight, Saturday/Sunday

Church in the Park

Back on September 8th, at the request of my Mother-In-Law, Lisa and I attended a multi-denominational Christian service in the park . 

(I had already gone to Mass the evening before). 

 

It was gorgeous weather, the turnout was good, and the crowd was friendly.  During the Eucharist someone dropped a plate of the bread and no one moved to pick it up from the ground, during or after the service. That bothered me, even if it was just symbolic of Christ. Other than that, it was a pleasant experience. 

Afterwards, we stopped and had breakfast at Landmark Restaurant, sitting in Team Slap's old booth.