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Tuesday’s Treats #104

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Ostannya Barykada (or “The Last Barricade”)

Location: Kiev, Ukraine

From the secret code needed to gain entrance into the hidden door to the walls covered in Ukrainian memorabilia, the restaurant surrounds you with the pride and patriotism of Ukraine. You cannot help leaving feeling like you’re taking a bit of Ukraine home with you.

The menu is in both Ukrainian and English; so, don’t worry if you don’t speak the language. Be sure to start with the warm bread that is a bread bowl with melted Brie inside. Oh. My. Goodness. Yum! It is rye bread of which I’m actually not a big fan; yet, when paired with the cheese and jam, it is absolutely delicious! The chicken Kiev and fried potatoes and mushrooms are absolutely incredible, as is the steak and cherry dumplings. We weren’t brave enough to try the mashed potatoes with catfish, but one in our party did get regular mashed potatoes, and they were quite tasty.

The whole experience is definitely worth the effort to find this hidden gem in the middle of Kiev. I found an article on the restaurant, and I will share it here, as it doesn’t seem they have an actual website.

Tuesday’s Treats #96

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Jersey Boardwalk Pizza

Location: Key Largo, Fl

If you’re looking for good pizza in Key Largo, Jersey Boardwalk Pizza is the place to go! The pizza is delicious, and they have other options as well. Our son got wings one night, and we shared a calzone and chicken Caesar salad another. It was all good; however, our favorite was the pizza! YUM!

They have a few booths inside, and they have plenty of patio seating outside. Take your pick, and go get you a slice! 😉 They actually have 3 locations to choose. Check them them out here.

Tuesday’s Treats #92

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The Swan Coach House

Location: Buckhead, Ga


Ok, so I have to be completely honest. I’m not what many would call a “girly girl.” I’ve always leaned toward the more rugged, tomboy type, or maybe just down right practical. I am much more comfortable in jeans and a T-shirt, boots and a ball cap while packing a pistol than I am dressing in frills and thrills, painting my nails and accomplishing the latest trendy shopping list.

It’s not that I have anything against all that stuff or any angst against “girly girls,” and it’s not like I can’t hang with the best of them. I’m a pretty good “adapter” when the occasion calls for it, and I have a huge variety of personality types in those who are close to me. In fact, two of my very best friends in the whole world are exactly that, girly girls, and they won’t be ashamed to say it. So, you shouldn’t fault me, or even shame me, for not being a “girly girl,” ok? It just hasn’t been my thing. Ever. In my whole life. In. My. Whole. Entire. Life. I’ve simply accepted that fact about myself and, despite being looked at as being weird sometimes, I’ve just learned to become comfortable in my own skin.

I went on that little diatribe to describe to you just how much I might not have been necessarily giddy the day I was to meet some of the most amazing women I know at this well known restaurant in Buckhead. I had never heard of it before, but the website was definitely full of “sugar and spice and everything nice,” metaphorically speaking.

So, I dressed appropriately, in a cute little black and white, trendy apparel, planned to arrive a little early, and just enjoy the people I was joining for lunch. I can say, from the moment the valet took the keys to my truck, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed.

Everything gushes with Southern Belle charm, and it is absolutely beautiful. We were escorted up the elevators and directed to Sally’s Porch, which is completely “described to a T” on their website:

Sally’s Porch is a radiant glass-enclosed front porch where sunlight filters and flows in through full-height glass windows. Furnished with four antique round tables and green curtains, this is an excellent choice for daytime soirees.

…I’m not even sure I knew what a soirée was before that day. I’m just kidding, but it was quite stunning with the sweet roses on the tables, the charming decor and the beautiful floor to ceiling windows with the warm sunbeams shining through.

The meal was tasty with their famous timbales of chicken salad, a frozen fruit salad and Swan House cheese straws, complete with a beautiful flower center. It was finished with a yummy slice of key lime pie. Everything was done to perfection and great care was taken in every presentation. A nice little gift shop is located downstairs where there is a plethora of specialties from which to choose, including a cool gallery of local art, pottery and such. After our lunch meeting, we went to tour the old Swan House Mansion and learned of its beautiful history and character, too. It was very intriguing, to say the least. (Oh, and Hunger Games fans, there’s even a sweet surprise for you inside.😉)

Treat yourself to a day of purely feminine, Southern Belle charm, this is the place to go. If you’re looking for a fun girls day lunch or dinner, this is your place. If you’re looking for a great place to make your daughter feel like a true princess on your Daddy-Daughter date, this is a wonderful choice.

…You get the picture. 😉 I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, and I think you’ll find this to be true, as I was reminded that day, it’s a beautiful thing when you can elegantly move past your own place of comfort and familiarity and join someone else in theirs to form a beautiful bridge of friendships, both old and new.

Please, be sure to check out their website for all the beauty and details.

Tuesday’s Treats #78

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Doolittle’s

Location: Anderson, SC

Doolittle’s is a great little place in downtown Anderson that everyone needs to try at least once. To be honest, the inside could stand a little upgrade, as it definitely gives the throwback to a few decades, but we opted to sit out on the open, brick laid patio during the beautiful Spring day on which we arrived. We did not leave disappointed.

The pictures can pretty much speak for themselves, but I will describe it for you… The country fried chicken, mac and cheese and broccoli was “hit” with our oldest son who absolutely loves chicken. The mac and cheese wasn’t quite homemade, but it was still cheesy and yummy. The cheese steak was a bit heavy with the hoagie bread, but it was still scrumptious covered in all the cheese, mushrooms and bell peppers. The burger was juicy and delicious, as well, complete with cheddar, lettuce and tomato with fries on the side. Oh, and they also have a soup of the day, and on that day, it was corn chowder… Oh, Wow!

Like I suggested, if you’re headed to downtown Anderson, it’s worth a stop, and you’ll probably want to sit outside on a beautiful sunny afternoon. For more information, here is their website.

One last thing, while you’re there, save a little room for dessert and head down the street to Figs Beanery and Creamery! … I’ll tell you more about it in next week’s Tuesday’s Treats! 😉

Tuesday’s Treats #73

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Country Cupboard

Location: Dillard, GA

If you’re looking for great country cooking, this is one of the few places in North Georgia that you can enjoy it! They have an incredible selection of veggies, chicken and the like. There is a great salad bar, Ana the desserts are to die for!!

They also have a great gift shop for shopping after meal, too. If you’ve got time during the day, you can drive down to several of the antique shops as well. They don’t seem to have a website, but you can find out more information here. 

Tuesday’s Treats #63

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Jenkins Deli

Location: Cleveland, Tn



Tuesday’s Treats #58

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Rotolo’s Pizzeria

Location: Gulf Breeze, FL

This place is great! We found it on a recent trip to Florida, and we will definitely be making it one of our “go-tos” while on the coast. Rotol’s has a great atmosphere, and the staff are friendly and helpful. I love the brick walls and motif, and they have booths, tables and chairs, as well as, high tops and chairs to accommodate all types of seating endeavors.

The pizza was incredible, and I wish it hadn’t been so late, because I so wanted to eat the whole pan! However, I suppose, it was a good thing, because I would never go to a pizza joint to get a soup and salad. Yet, that’s exactly what I did, and I didn’t regret it one bit! You get to pick your soup and your salad; so, I chose the tomato basil soup with the spinach, cranberry, walnut salad. It was delicious!!


We will definitely be back again and again! Check out their website for more information, menu items and their various locations. Evidently, you can enjoy Rotolo’s not only when you are in Florida but in Alabama, Louisiana and Texas, too! It is so good, you’ll want to try it!

Tuesday’s Treats #47

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Sullivan’s Downtown

Location: Maryville, Tn

We love, love, love Sullivan’s! The atmosphere is great. The staff is always inviting, and the food is incredible. We haven’t had an item yet that we don’t like. One of the cool things about this restaurant is it used to be the old JC Penney’s building, and at the tile at the front door has the JCP tile. The interior is really neat.

Okay, so if you’ve read many of my Tuesday’s Treats, you know I love desserts, and this place has an INCREDIBLE key lime pie! It’s got a thick graham crust and just the right key lime flavor. I’m not crazy about all the whip cream on top, but I just like key lime pies with less toppings. 😉 It is delicious!

The shrimp and grits, called Shrimp Charleston, are absolutely scrumptious! The shrimp are seasoned and cooked just right with just a little bit of a kick. The grits are so creamy and delicious. These are some of my favorite!

The Northshore Salad, full of feta, cranberries and candied pecans on a bed of spinach is delicious. The fried green tomatoes are just as incredible. I don’t even like tomatoes, but these little items are a tasty delight, AND they are set upon a bed of those creamy, scrumptious grits. I’m not a huge fan of balsamic vinagrette; however, this mixture of grits, fried green tomatoes, feta and vinagrette is like a party in your mouth! Yum!

If you are in the Maryville area, you don’t want to miss this wonderful restaurant. You can check out more on their website. They have two locations, one in Maryville and one in Knoxville. I’ve been told the Knoxville location is just as good.

When you get done, and if you don’t get too filled from your wonderful dinner, you’ll want to walk down the street for another delightful treat at the Capitol Coffee Shop in the old Capitol Theater. That’s a really cool venue, too; however, that will be for another post. 😉

 

Tuesday’s Treats #40

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The Peddler

Location: Gatlinburg, Tn If you are vacationing in Gatlinburg, and you’re looking for a great steakhouse, don’t waste your time on those franchises and “hyped-up-advertisement” buffets that claim they have a great steak. Save your money and your appetite, and go to the Peddler. You will not be disappointed!

They have the best steaks around, and you get to choose the cut you want. Yes, that’s right. They have a “peddler” who comes by your table with a cart of covered meat. He/She removes the cloth and asks you which steak and how much you would prefer. Then, it is taken to cook exactly as you requested.
You then go to help yourself at the “all you can eat” salad bar, which is included with your meal. This salad bar is always fresh, and it has almost any topping you could imagine, including artichoke hearts, anchovies and fresh fruit and croutons. The waiter will then bring warm yeast rolls to your table, as you enjoy your salad, awaiting your entree. (*I do apologize for not having a pic of the meal! We were so distracted by the yumminess that I forgot to pull out my phone until it was almost gone!)
Then for dessert, if you happen to have room, there is always a seasonal dessert, like the delicious blackberry cobbler, pictured above, as well as, several other incredible desserts from which to choose. We always leave here so full and satisfied. … Just writing this review makes me want to head north to see the foliage and enjoy a delicious meal!

Oh, please note, they do not open till about 4:30; so, please don’t try to drop by for lunch as we did one time, because you’ll have to leave disappointed, or just want to wait around, starving to await dinnertime! 😉 Also, if you do show up a little later in the evening, and the wait is simply too long, go just up the road to their sister restaurant, The Park Grill, where you can enjoy another incredible meal!

Here is the website to find location, menus, and other needed information.

Tuesday’s Treats #22

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Aunt Catfish’s

Location: Port Orange, Fl (Daytona)

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This is this is one of our favorite places to eat in Daytona. The seafood is wonderful, and the huge salad bar and “fixin’s bar” is to die for! It. Is. SOOO. Good!! The salad bar has so many great choices, and the fixin’s bar is full of cheese grits, baked beans, fried cinnamon apples and cornbread. You could simply fill up here, but the seafood is worth ordering. They have tons of choices, from fried shrimp to blackened swordfish.

We have had several different entrees, and the menu is quite extensive. I think our absolute favorite is the blackened swordfish and the bblackened mahi mahi. Oh. My. Word! It is so delicious!! You even get a homemade cinnamon roll served with your meal. Oh, I’m craving these things right now. Yum!!

Check them out here:

http://auntcatfishontheriver.com