NYPD Pizza

Abbe and I went to NYPD Pizza in Draper, UT for my birthday lunch. It wasn't busy, which I like. Our waiter was friendly and welcomed us to our table. We decided to each get a couple of slices. We each had a slice of the Alfredo pizza and I had a slice of pepperoni and Abbe had a slice of Hawaiian. It was good. I liked the crust and the flavor was fine, but nothing to write home about. Wait, I am writing home about it. The best part was the Zeppoles: fried dough with powdered sugar. I could have eaten my weight in Zeppoles!!! They also offer pasta dishes and sandwiches in addition to a wide variety of NY cop themed pizzas. I gave this place 3.5 smiles out of 5.

NYPD Pizza
www.nypdpizzeria.com

Astro Burgers

Driving down the road last Saturday looking for a place to eat and decided to give Astro Burgers a try. Middle of the afternoon on Saturday and we were practically the only ones there. That's OK because I like it quiet. I got the Astro Burger. It came with pastrami, beef patty and fixings and the first couple of bites were pretty good. After a few bites it just wasn't that great. By the time I finished I was tired of the flavor. I mean, it was fine, but not worth repeating. What if I just took the first few bites and stopped there? Then I could turn over the rest of the burger to my son who will pretty much eat anything. I give this experience 2 out of 5 smiles.

www.astroburgers.com

Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches

My wife's parents were in town for a weekend and wanted to take the two of us to dinner, sans children. They didn't want to spend too much, so we decided on the new Jimmy John's a few miles north of our neighborhood. This was a brand new location and was extremely clean and the staff was still all smiles. I placed the order for my sandwich, the Beach Club (no lettuce) and by the time I got to the end of the counter it was finished. Turkey, provolone, avocado, cucumber, sprouts, tomato and mayo. It was about a foot long, but not huge. I wondered if I would be able to finish, but every bite was delicious and I think the last bite may have been the best one!! All four of us ate for under $30.00:) I loved the quirky signs around the restaurant and I don't know if the playlist was standard, but I loved the late 70's classic rock selection. They won my heart and stomach. I give this experience 4.5 smiles on a scale of 1-5 smiles

Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches
www.jimmyjohns.com

Pat's BBQ

My buddy, Ryan and I decided to meet here for lunch several days ago. He had been wanting to try the "burnt ends" that are only served on Friday's. Rumor has it that if you don't get there early on Friday, you're out of luck. They opened at 11:00 am and there was already a line out the door. Fortunately, we did get there early and were about fourth in line. This place is in an industrial area and the inside is industrial strenght. Concrete block walls and picnic tables. We both got the "burnt ends" and I must say they were well worth the effort to get there early. These are twice smoked tender brisket tips. I also ordered the coleslaw (very tasty) and it came with a small piece of cornbread. The staff was great and enthusiastic. The BBQ sauces at the table were very good. I liked the spicy sauce. At first taste it's sweet, but a moment later the heat hits you. A bit pricier than my normal lunch budget, but, boy howdy, it was worth it. I gave this experience 5 smiles out of 5

Pat's BBQ
155 West Commonwealth Ave
South Salt Lake, UT84115
www.patsbbq.com

Lone Star Taqueria

It had been a few years since we've been to the Lone Star Taqueria on Fort Union in Salt Lake. the place is great. Industrial strength wooden chairs and stainless steel tables inside and out. You can order in spanish if you like as the entire staff is mexican. And boy, can they make tacos. They have burritos and some other dishes, but I have only tried the tacos. This visit I had carnitas and carne asada tacos. I love their fresh hot sauce and it is quite a bit stronger than anything that Taco Bell puts out. The tacos were two corn tortillas filled with the fixins and were absolutely delicious!!! I could make this a daily stop if I lived nearby, but alas, it is about 20 miles from my home. Dang! I give this 5 smiles on a smile scale of 1-5.

Lone Star Taqueria
2265 East Fort Union Blvd
Salt Lake City, UT 84121
801-944-2300
www.lonestartaqueria.com

Panda Express

If you want Americanized Chinese fast food, this is the place for you. Make sure you're hungry or have space for leftovers in your fridge. The portions are quite generous. The food is exactly the same no matter which Panda you go to. Abbe and I split a three entree dinner and a soda. We got the chow mein and orange chicken, sweetfire chicken breast and Beijing Beef. We also got a serving of three cream cheese rangoons, which were might tasty. Needless to say there was plenty of food for both of us and we probably could have gotten away with a two-item entree. I love it that some of the menu items say "spicy" on the label, but to me they aren't spicy. I wish they would really have some kick to it, but I know they have to appeal to the masses and avoid lawsuits. Still the flavor is good and the restaurants are clean. I give Panda Express 4 smiles on a smile-scale of 1-5.

Panda Express
www.pandaexpress.com

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

I've been to Kneaders Bakery & Cafe before and had their sandwiches and a couple of their desserts, but I really wanted to try their breakfast foods. My wife and I went yesterday morning and shared each other's order. I had a breakfast sandwich with eggs, cheese and bacon on ciabatta. For about the same price as a deluxe egg muffin at your local fast food joint you get more sandwich and better flavor. Abbe ordered the Chunky Cinnamon French Toast. It was two largish pieces of French Toast made out of their own Chunky Cinnamon Bread with syrup and whipped cream and it was amazing. We each had a slice and I slathered the whipped cream over mine. The toast was cooked to perfection, not too well done and not soggy, but just right. We'll definitely make a return trip. I only spent about ten bucks for the two of us. On a smile scale of 1-5 smiles, I give this experience 5 smiles!

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe
www.kneadersbakery.com

Pei Wei Asian Diner

A good friend recommended this place to me. I like the Americanized Asian food and went with a buddy to check it out. It is an upscale joint with video menu boards just inside the entry. I was a little distracted with the menu "playing" in front of me, but was finally able to settle on the Thai Dynamite with chicken: the menu lists the ingredients as: Siriracha chile sauce, soy, fresh lime, scallions, garlic, red bell peppers, carrots, Thai basil. I had mine over a bed of fried rice. It was all quite tasty. Fortunately they gave me a small shovel to eat with because the deep-fried chicken pieces were about the size of a racquetball. I liked the scallions and the overall flavor, but after so much of it the "dynamite" began to fizzle. I was expecting a little spicier dish, but it was still good. On a smile scale of 1-5, I give this experience 4 smiles.

Pei Wei Asian Diner
www.peiwei.com

Pirate Island Pizza

My son, Ethan, and I were on our way home from Los Angeles area yesterday and stopped in St George, Utah. I remembered there was supposed to be a Pirate Island Pizza somewhere. I stopped at a local gas station and luckily the gentleman there knew exactly where it was. We found it and had just missed the all you can eat buffett. You could tell they were busier during the buffett time because some of it was still all over the floor. However, in all fairness, they were still cleaning up. The decor was really cool and made me want to decorate my house like a pirate ship. The young lady who waited on us was friendly and didn't seem put out to have to wait on us. We ordered a small (schooner) pizza for the two of us. We got the Ark Royal, which is your basic meat and veggie combo pizza. I was surprised that it was actually delicious. The crust was just right and just enough toppings to keep you interested. Sadly, we couldn't finish the pizza, but took the rest and ate it a few hours later on our drive home. By far, the coolest part of the experience was the decor. It reminded me of an eatery that you might find at Disneyland, without the entry fee. On a smile scale of 1-5 smiles, I give this experience a 4 smile rating.

Pirate Island Pizza
www.pirateislandusa.com

Baker's Dozen

I got to drive up to Rigby, ID last night and retrieve my daughter from her cousin's, where she has been hiding out the last two weeks. On our way home this morning we stopped at a little donut place in Idaho Falls, ID. the Baker's Dozen was a little place and the display was not even as long as our couch. The donuts were the standard variety available at any Wal-Mart or grocery store and tasted about the same. My wife liked the old-fashioned donut I saved for her. They didn't quite taste as fresh as I was hoping at 10:00 in the morning. I give this location 2.5 smiles out of 5.

Baker's Dozen
561 S Woodruff
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
524-1833

Carls Jr

I'm much more likely to try a place to eat if I've got some sort of coupon. I happened to have a Carls Jr game prize for a free fries and drink with purchase of any six dollar burger. Luckily, the six dollars aren't six dollars. Abbe and I took a knife to cut one in half because I knew they were pretty big servings. We tried the guacamole and bacon burger and it was very tasty. Abbe especially liked the sauce they used and will probably try to replicate it at home (Computer, make secret sauce from Carls Jr.). I think they changed their fries as I don't remember having skins on Carls Jr fries before. In any case, the burger was really tasty, if not a bit drippy, but not quite as drippy as the commercials let on. I give this visit 4 smiles out of 5.

www.carlsjr.com
Jordan Landing
West Jordan, UT

Chick-fil-A

We had a couple of coupons for free sandwiches at Chick-fil-A and decided to use them. Free food isn't necessarily the best food, but we were pleased with our sandwiches. Abbe had the classic chicken sandwich and I had the spicy chicken sandwich. So, this sandwich comes with nothing on it but the chicken and two pickle slices. If you're only going to put one thing on the sandwich, please don't let it be sad little pickle slices. After I removed those I applied mayo and was pleasantly surprised. We also had the fancy waffle fries. Someday I'll go back. On a smile scale of 1-5 I give this visit to Chick-fil-A 3.5 smiles.

Chick-fil-A
www.chick-fil-a.com

Hi-Mountain Drug

We picked up our son, Grant, from camp yesterday and stopped in Kamas, UT on the way home to try the Best In State Burger at Hi-Mountain Drug. This place is an old drugstore with a kitchen added on as an afterthought. Very little seating and run-down. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the restroom. Hah, not much different from home, so I felt at ease. The young man waiting on us was very friendly and courteous. I looked at the menu for milkshakes and knew I had to have one. Abbe and I split the "Divinity" shake with marshmallow creme, cherries and almonds. It was to die for. I had the "Backyard Burger" with fries. It was a traditional burger and was very tasty. Grant and Abbe both really enjoyed their burgers as well. If you're headed that way, just east of Park City and Jordanelle Reservoir, you should definitely make the stop, but take note that this is not a dollar menu place. I give Hi-Mountain Drug 4 out of 5 smiles.

Hi-Mountain Drug
40 N Main St
Kamas, UT 84036
435-783-4466

Denny's

We took our youngest son to Denny's today for his birthday meal. He picked Denny's because we're going to Smashburger anyway in a couple of weeks with Grandma Shari. I had the "Build Your Own Slam" breakfast. I got to choose four items, so I chose bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and hash browns. I love Denny's hash browns and these were just right. The eggs weren't as buttery and fluffy as I've had in the past and were actually a bit tough. Our waitress did a great job, but the meal was average. Breakfast is the only meal I enjoy at Denny's. I give this round at Denny's 3 out of 5 smiles.

Denny's
www.dennys.com

Red Rooster Waffle Company

Abbe and I thought we'd try this one on our list of restaurants to try. It was Saturday afternoon and so it was pretty quiet in the restaurant. She ordered the chicken fried steak with scrambled eggs and potatoes. I believe she is on a quest to find the best chicken fried steak in existence. She thought it was about average from her experience. I had a "tres leches waffle." It came with the standard tres leches milks and topped with whipped cream. The waffle was thick and pretty good. I was expecting it to be a little sweeter, but if it had been much sweeter I wouldn't have been able to finish the meal. The service was decent and the food was good, but forgettable. You should try it at least once. On a smile scale of 1-5, 5 being the highest, we give this place 3 smiles:):):)

Red Rooster Waffle Company
7742 Campus View Dr
West Jordan, UT 84084
801-280-4074
www.redroosterwaffleco.com

JCW's Restaurant

Abbe and I went to JCW's Restaurant-The Burger Boys in Lehi on Friday night. The place was packed and really hoppin'. She had the all-American cheeseburger and I had the Avocado Bacon Burger. They were really tasty and worth the few minutes wait. The bacon was real and had to most delicious flavor; maybe that means it wasn't from a package...The burger wasn't enormous, but good sized and the meat was done just the way I like it (cooked through). If you're down that way try it out. On my smile scale of 1-5, I give this location 4.5 smiles.


JCW's Restaurant
3605 Thanksgiving Way
Lehi, UT 84043
801-341-6680
www.jcws.com

Smashburger

My son, Quinn and I went on a dad date last Saturday and decided to try Smashburger. Boy, are we glad we did. Not the cheapest burger around, but not real expensive either. I paid about the same as I would have at a Carls Jr. Somehow they smash the patty in the cooking process to lock in the flavor. Whatever they do it works, really well. I had the Spicy Baja Burger with pepper jack cheese, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, onion, chipotle mayo and fresh jalepenos on a chipotle bun. It had a nice kick to it, but my favorite part was tasting the rich flavor of the beef and the little crispy bits from the grill. Mmmmm, Mmmm! We also got the herb enhanced Smashfries and Haystack Onions with dipping sauce. These were I think the best Onion rings I've ever had and surely the burger was in my top five burgers ever consumed. Quinn loved his meal of chicken strips. Real chicken, not shaped, but battered and fried. On a smile scale of 1-5, I give Smashburger 5 smiles!!

Smashburger
2100 S 1028 E
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
801-478-0158
www.smashburger.com

A&W Restaurant

Stopped for lunch today for an old fashioned Papa Burger at A & W in Sugar House in Salt Lake City. My mouth was watering from memories of the most delicious, biggest burger I ever ate as a kid. Too bad today's taste experience was overwhelmed by the cheese on the burger. Normally, I don't get cheese on my burgers because it tends to dull the taste of the beef. I must have forgotten that the Papa Burger is standard with cheese. It was filling and had lots of fixins, but was mediocre at best. No contest the best part of visiting A&W restaurants is the root beer floats, but alas, I was driving and didn't want to fuss. My loss. I gave today's experience 3 stars on a 1-5 scale, 5 being the highest.

A&W Restaurants
www.awrestaurants.com

El Chihuahua Restaurant

My wife and I love Mexican food and took a chance on a recommendation and went to El Chihuahua Restaurant in Holladay, UT. The chips and salsa were good, but then they brought our meals. I had a beef taco and beef enchilada with rice and beans. I was surprised to see the beef filling was the same type of ground beef served at Taco Bell, however, Taco Bell does it much better. I wanted to apologize to Abbe every time I looked up from my plate. There are so many really good Mexican restaurants around that there is no point in spending time and money on mediocre fare. She felt the same way about her meal. We give this visit 2 smiles on a scale of 1-5 smiles, 5 being the highest.

El Chihuahua Mexican Restaurant
3926 Highland Dr
Holladay, UT 84124
801-272-8091

Pizza My Heart

Can I say, "WOW"!!! This was the best pizza I think I have ever eaten. Downtown Santa Cruz, CA with my buddy, Shawn. A slice and a t-shirt for $5.00. I had a slice of "The Hook", with tomatoes, olives, onions, bells, mushrooms, artichoke, parmesan. There was so much stuff I had to eat half of it with a fork before I could pick it up with my hands. Now that is a lot of toppings. Not only that, but the slice was humongous!!!!!! The crust was done to perfection and would have been a delectable treat all by itself. They have a dozen or so locations around the bay area, but have kept true to their roots--filling up hungry surfers after a day in the water. Its green and organic, but also serves pies with meat and I can just imagine how good those would be. I'm starting to salivate just thinking about it. I give this place 5 smiles on a scale of 1-5 smiles.

Pizza My Heart
1116 Pacific Avenue #B
Santa Cruz, CA
831-426-2511
www.pizzamyheart.com

Longhouse Restaurant

While I was visiting Shawn in Gilroy we went to the Longhouse Restaurant for breakfast. This is an establishment that has been there seemingly forever. I think only locals venture in because it looks kind of old, probably because it is. I must say it was one of the best breakfasts I've ever eaten in my life!!!! The service was great and personable. Regardless of the breakfast you order you also get pancakes on the side. I had scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausages, pancakes and a side of bacon. The eggs were unbelievable, hash browns were done to perfection and the pancakes fluffy and melt in your mouth. Very few breakfasts even come close to how delicious this one was. Reasonably priced, too. I give the Longhouse Restaurant 5 smiles out of a possible 5!

The Longhouse Restaurant
8195 Monterey St
Gilroy, CA 95020
408-842-7664

Chili's Grill & Bar

Last week my buddy, Shawn and I had a late evening dinner at Chili's in Gilroy, CA. Service was great, burger was ok. I had the Jalepeno Smokhouse Bacon Burger. When it first arrived it was at least six inches tall and I wondered if I would have to eat it in layers. I smashed it down with my hand and still had to pop my jaw in order to get my mouth around it. I didn't think bacon was supposed to be that crunchy and then remembered the burger had tortilla strips on it (kind of an odd combination). I did finish the whole thing, after all I was on vacation and was trying to gain as much weight as possible. I was glad that the meat was done the way I liked it: dead and cooked through. I know Chili's has a great menu and someday I'll return to try something else. I give this meal 3 smiles on a scale of 1-5 smiles, 5 being the highest.

www.chilis.com

Erik's Delicafe

I was visiting my hometown of Gilroy, CA with my lifelong best bud, Shawn and we had to get to Erik's Deli. Very few people there which gave us a chance to talk and laugh out loud. I had to have the Marakech Express. It is a half a pita filled with pastrami, jack cheese and Erik's "secret goo." This time it had sprouts, which I think make the sandwich. Last time I ate there was ten years ago and they said they couldn't serve with sprouts anymore because of the ecoli risk. Glad to see the sprouts are back. While the sandwich was good, it somehow didn't live up to my memory from years ago. More secret goo!!!!! Thinner pastrami and more of it!!!! Please, Erik's, don't fade into history due to mediocrity. On a smile scale of 1-5, I gave this visit 2.5 smiles.

Erik's Deli
8300 Arroyo Circle
Gilroy, CA 95020
www.eriksdeli.com

Barbacoa Mexican Grill

We tried the Barbacoa Mexican Grill with another couple and were delighted with our meals. www.eatbarbacoa.com. I had a couple of tacos, one with the barbacoa and one with sweet pork. Both were really tasty. Abbe had a burrito with a variety of fixins and it was huge and since she couldn't eat it all, I took over the rest. Quick service. Fast food atmosphere. Good chips and salsa. Worth the trip. I give this 4.0 smiles on a smile scale of 1-5, 5 being the highest.

Barbacoa Mexican Grill
1717 West 7800 South
West Jordan, UT 84088
801-566-1872

Yanni's Greek Express

I love a good Gyro and have had few really good ones outside of Germany. This one was pretty good, but mainly for the white sauce. The service was quick and pleasant. Plenty of fries with my Gyro and also had fry sauce. I would go back, but there are still so many Greek restaurants to try. If you're in the area it is worth the stop. I give this 3.5 smiles on a scale of 1-5, 5 being the highest.

Yanni's Greek Express
2761 Highland Dr
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
801-466-6525

Banbury Cross Donuts

I have driven by this donut shop many times, but never had the time to stop. Well, I'm telling you now, to stop the next time you go by. Banbury Cross Donuts has won best in state and they were right!!! I bought a dozen....$8 and worth twice that, but don't tell them. I had a chocolate glazed boston cream and it was melt-in-my-mouth fantastic. My family ate the rest of the dozen in about 15 nanoseconds after I walked in the door. Would I go again? How about right now??? On a smile scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest), I give this baked goods paradise, 5 smiles:)))))

Banbury Cross Donuts
705 S 700 E
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
801-537-1433

Dominos Pizza

I haven't had a Domino's Pizza in many years, but saw their commercial about changing the menu from cardboard to pizza and was intrigued. www.dominos.com We had a couple of pizzas, one with pepperoni and sausage and one with pepperoni and steak (which I've never had on a pizza before).
I was pleasantly surprised. Loved the crust, especially the edge with the garlic butter brushed on before baking. Plenty of toppings and a pleasing sauce. We did order on-line and my kids loved the minute by minute updates on the progress of the pizzas and that they were told the name of the staffer creating our comestible. Not the best pizza on the planet, but definitely worth repeating. On a smile scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest), I give Domino's Pizza 3.5 smiles.

Domino's Pizza
7896 Airport Rd
West Jordan, UT 84088
801-280-7077

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

I've been to Five Guys Burgers & Fries a few times now and am never disappointed. www.fiveguys.com This time my wife and I took our newly turned 16 year old son. I was smart and only ordered a regular burger with spicy stuff and cajun fries. The boy ordered the big burger with two patties and double cheese along with his toppings. Abbe got the hot dog and we also got a regular fries. I knew we wouldn't get anywhere near finishing the fries, but the burgers and dog were gone, pronto. I love their burgers, mostly because I get to select the toppings and not just mayo, ketchup and mustard. I had jalepenos, which were fresh and not from the jar, added onions and hot sauce and I was really satisfied with my burger experience. I love that they have the free peanuts available to all patrons. I will continue to go back, but only when I'm feeling flush. Not the cheapest burger in town, but one of the best!! On a smile scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest) I give them 4 smiles.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries
2917 S Glen Eagles Dr.
West Valley City, UT 84018
801-963-8003

Buca di Beppo

Today is our 19th anniversary and we needed to go out to eat. We hadn't decided where to go from my list of many places to try in the area, but we headed towards Fort Union and ended up at Buca di Beppo. http://www.bucadibeppo.com/ Our son had eaten at their other location a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. It was lunch time and kind of quiet, but I like it that way. We were delighted with a quick tour of the kitchen on our way to our table and were greeted happily by all in the kitchen. They also have a table seating six in the kitchen that you can reserve (that sounds like a lot of fun.) Jeff was our waiter and we were told he was the fifth best waiter in the restaurant, but he was tops in our book. We were treated like we were the only couple in the restaurant. Had money been no object I would have tipped the amount of our meal!!! We were given fresh bread and dipping oil with balsamic vinegar. We decided on the Quattro Al Forno, which featured servings of cheese manicotti, chicken cannelloni, baked ravioli and stuffed shells. It was big enough for the two of us. We didn't leave stuffed, but we were very satisfied. The first bite was amazing and was delighted each bite through the meal. I think I may have even groaned a few times, revelling in the amazingness of the meal. If this is what real italian food is like, send me to Italy!! We left for just over $30.00 and it was worth every penny. If you have the opportunity....GO!!!! On a smile scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest), we give this location 5 smiles:)))))

Buca di Beppo
935 E Fort Union Blvd
Midvale, UT
801-561-9463

Big Daddy's Pizza

My brother and his family were over for the evening last Saturday and we decided to use our Christmas present from my sister's family and get take-out from Big Daddy's Pizza, http://www.bigdadpizza.com/ We got two large pizzas, but not the 26" ones. Nine of us couldn't quite finish the two 18" pizzas. One was half combo, half coronary (many meats) and the other was half hawaiian and half veggie combo. They were all delicious. I especially enjoy the sauce on Big Daddy's pizzas. It tastes like it has extra garlic, which I really like. The crust was just right, not too thin, not too thick, but just enough crust for each bite. Our kids really like it too. Some of the combinations can get a little pricey for a family on a budget, but it is a great alternative to nationwide chains for the same price. The combinations we had were just over $36.00. On a scale of 1-5 smiles, we give Big Daddy's Pizza 4.5 smiles.

Big Daddy's Pizza
4950 W 6200 S
Kearns, UT
801-982-7499

Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill

Rubio's is famous for their seafood mexican food; www.rubios.com . Fortunately, for me they have some menu items without seafaring substance. I had two of their gourmet tacos; one with pork and one with steak. I also had the chips and spanish rice. The spanish rice was mediocre at best and the chips were not even mediocre. The tacos were good but not memorable. Abbe had a kids meal with refried beans and taquitos and felt like her money would have been better spent with a box of frozen taquitos. I believe the food must have been made fresh because it took a while for it to be ready. I appreciate the fact that they're making them fresh, but these were tacos and shouldn't take twenty minutes. If you're looking for a truly forgettable experience then this is the place for you. With so many really exceptional mexican restaurants in the Salt Lake Valley it doesn't make sense to go back to this one. On a smile scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest) we give this location 2 smiles.

Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill
7251 Plaza Center Dr
West Jordan, UT 84084
801-282-5687

My Dough Girl-gourmet frozen cookie dough

I was really excited to check out My Dough Girl in Salt Lake City after seeing an ad in a local news weekly. www.doughgirl.com This place makes fresh gourmet cookies and frozen dough if you want to take home and bake on your own. I got a dozen with one each of the cookies on the menu. We cut them up and tasted them with our children. I didn't try any that I didn't like. Each of the cookies is named after a girl and has a pin-up picture on the sign in front of the cookie tray. Honestly, I was eager to check out the pin-up theme at the store, but was a little disappointed that there wasn't more than just a few smallish pictures. Even still, I found the staff delightful and enthusiastic about their product. They have a right to be enthusiastic because their cookies are wonderful. I thought the price was a little steep, but I've got to say it was worth it. I loved the "Audrey," which is an almond dough with almonds, cranberries and white chocolate. On a smile scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest), I give My Dough Girl 4.5 smiles.

My Dough Girl
770 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, UT
801-834-6111

Finn's Cafe

I'd been wanting to get to the rave breakfast at Finn's Cafe since I saw a blurb about it in Salt Lake magazine. Since I'm on vacation this week Abbe and I were able to grab a late breakfast there. Check it out at: http://www.finnscafe.net/ The cafe is delightful and true to their scandinavian theme. I loved the blonde wooden decor and was completely comfortable there. I had the omelette special with chorizo and avocado. It was delicious and the side of hash browns were perfect. Abbe had the sourdough french toast and thought it was good, but not stellar. The portions weren't small, but also not huge, but just right. This location is only open til early afternoon, but its worth the effort to get there. They also serve a lunch menu, but I would heartily recommend the breakfast. On a smile scale of 1-5 (5 being the highest), we give this location 4 smiles.

Finn's Cafe
1624 South 1100 East
Salt Lake City, UT
801-467-4000

Hire's Big H

I was feeling a little nostalgic on Thursday and so a good friend and I went to Hire's Big H in Midvale, UT. http://www.hiresbigh.com/ I got a root beer float and the Hires Big H famous single burger. She brought the float out first and so I took several spoonfuls of the delicious softserve ice cream off the top lest it melt down the sides of the frosty mug. The burger was good, but not out of this world, but was reasonably priced. Delaney ordered fries with his which was a generous serving of fries and included fry sauce. Mmmmmm. Enjoyed the meal, but the ice cream on the float was the best part. On a smile scale of 1-5, 5 being the highest I give this experience 3 smiles.

Hire's Big H
835 E Fort Union Blvd
Midvale, Ut

The Counter

My wife and I had some time to kill last Saturday before our son's choir concert and decided to finally try The Counter at the Gateway in Salt Lake City, UT. Check it out at www.thecounterburger.com. This is not fast food, nor is it cheap. I was at peace knowing my burger was from corn-fed, hormone and antibiotic-free beef. The smallest burger was 1/3 lb after cooking. We probably would have split a burger, but we never would have been able to agree on the toppings. You can choose your own toppings, cheese, sauces and bun type. Had I known that medium well was so pink I would have ordered well-done. Lesson learned. I decided on a 1/3 lb burger with pepperjack cheese with jalepenos, roasted chilis, with sprouts and a chimichurri sauce. It was really good. I enjoyed the meal up until we got the tab, which I should have been more prepared for. We each had a hamburger and a soda. With the tip we left $30.00 poorer. Ouch!!! That was a hamburger!?!?!?! We didn't even get fries. On a smile scale of 1-5, 5 being the highest we gave this experience a 3.5 smiles.

The Counter Gateway
188 S Rio Grande St
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Barry's Parkview Drive-In

We were passing through Spanish Fork, UT last Friday evening and decided to try this local "sensation" because I saw a review of it in a magazine or newspaper some time ago. They were raving about the Reuben and so I ordered that and Abbe ordered a burger. She enjoyed the burger. The fries were OK. I had the Reuben which was served on rye with sauerkraut. It was really hot (temperature-wise). It was good, but I wouldn't have voted it the Best Reuben in Utah. None of the flavors really stood out for me. On a scale of 1-5 smiles, 5 being the highest I give Barry's Parkview 2.5 smiles.

Barry's Parkview Drive-In
115 S Main St
Spanish Fork, UT 84660
801-798-2257

Diva's Cupcakes and Coffee

We wanted to try another cupcake place and found Diva's Cupcakes and Coffee on the East side of Salt Lake City. www.divascupcakes.com Once we found the location and were about to park we discovered the drive-thru which suited us fine because we were in a hurry. I cannot comment on the store itself because we didn't go inside. We drove up to the window at the back and were presented with a wonderful view of the kitchen sink. $2.50 per cupcake. Smallish, but they were delicious. I had the vanilla bean and was delighted with the frosting and the cake was light and fluffy. Unfortunately, the frosting was really tall and made it difficult to get a bit of frosting with each bite, which is what I look for in a great cupcake. I would have liked a cupcake a little bit bigger for the $2.50. We aren't coffee drinkers so don't know how their coffee is, but can guess from the quality of the cupcake that it's probably pretty good. The best place to find a parking space is on the west side of the building, otherwise you're really gonna get frustrated trying to find a place to park. Check them out at 1560 East 3300 South, Salt Lake City, Ut 84106, 801-485-0619. On a smile scale of 1-5, we gave this location 3 smiles.

Cafe' by Rico

My wife and I tried the Cafe by Rico at the plant for Rico's Mexican Market. Mostly they make mexican food and sell the items through local retail locations. We went on Saturday afternoon, so we were the only ones in the place. That way we're able to dance on the tabletops without being booed out of the cafe'. Abbe had the beef burrito with beans and rice and I had the tacos with carnitas. Mine was basically two corn tortillas with a heap of meat on a plate. I split the mound of meat into two piles, one for each tortilla. By itself they were delicious (and only $2.00 for both), but I added some of their homemade salsa with each bite and was in heaven. One thing you would never guess about Salt Lake City is the plethora of authentic mexican restaurants. I was glad to finish off Abbe's burrito which had some cheese mixed in and topped with more of the salsa was completely satisfied. Loved the decor in the cafe' and would take extended family to this place. Makes me want to try one or more of their pre-made burritos from our local grocery store. On a smile scale of 1-5 we give this place 4.5 smiles. Cafe by Rico is located at 545 W 700 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. 801-983-6692. You can also check out the menu at their website: www.ricomarket.com

TGIFriday's

TGIFriday's, Sandy, UT. www.tgifridays.com Yesterday, Abbe and I went to one of the two TGIFriday's in the Salt Lake Valley for lunch. It seemed like everything on the menu was flavored with Jack Daniel's. Since I have no idea what Jack Daniel's tastes like it didn't make much difference to me. Abbe had the petite sirloin with mashed potatoes. Her sirloin was fantastic! I had the spicy shrimp and sausage, which was cajun shrimp and andouile sausage in a cayenne/chipotle sause. I love spicy dishes and when I see the "cajun" tag I secretly hope its going to make my eyes water and my nose run. But, alas, not in a chain restaurant. It had some zing to it, but I've had spicier dishes at Taco Bell. While I did enjoy my meal I fantasized about taking Abbe's steak while she went to the restroom. Sadly, even with two diet Cokes she never did have to go and so I remained content with my meal. I was happiest that I was using gift cards to pay for the meal. Still, I would go back for that steak!! On a smile scale of 1-5, 5 being the best we gave this one a 3.5-4 smiles.

Argentine Corner

Argentine Corner, 442 North Main Suite J, Clearfield, Utah 84015, 801-773-9909. Web address is www.argentinecorner.com. We took our three youngest with us to this place today. It had been on my list for a while and since we were planning a drive that direction we decided to check it out. My wife spent time in Buenos Aires and was wanting to see how authentic it was. Let me tell you, it was authentic to a T. We didn't have any tea, but the empanadas were fantastic. As near as I could tell it was a one-man show. Our host was, presumably, the owner, chef, maitre d and cashier. He was fabulous and really made us and our kids feel very welcome. The kids each had empanadas, Abbe and I each tried a different empanada as well. She really enjoyed the sweet onion and cheese filling. Mine was blue cheese, walnuts and celery and was delicious. The crust was perfect!! Abbe had the choripan sandwich and I had the milanesa sandwich and it was filling and very tasty. I dipped mine a time or two in the chimichurri. I'm still tasting the garlic from the chimichurri, but that's how I know it was strong enough. On our way out we each selected a pastry and enjoyed those in the car. They are authentic Argentine pastry, not as sweet as American pastries, but quite satisfying. On our scale of 1-5 smiles, 5 being the highest, we give the Argentine Corner 5 smiles. (Quinn said he would give it 10:)