Category: restaurant reviews

NON-RESTAURANT REVIEW

Today, after shopping for what seemed and actually was, hours, we were hungry and interested in local fish. We decided to fly in the face of family lore and headed to a place called Captain Jerry’s. Imagine our surprise when we found out it was actually a fish market in Naples, FL. They had lots of exciting fresh fish plus gourmet groceries and fresh vegetables. What a find! We have a great fish market here on Marco as well, the Paradise Fish Company. Captain Jerry’s had a much larger selection but it is a distance away. In any case, it is great to find local fish that is fresh with knowledgeable people to help.

Kretch’s, Marco Island, Florida

This restaurant which sort of looks like a 50’s motel from the outside was a pleasant surprise. Although they have several meat entrees, we were there for the fish. When we got the menu, it was like being in the Monty Python Cheese Shop. There were eight specials but four were crossed out. Our waitress, who called us “kids,” proceeded to tell us what other things they were out of. So, of the fish left there was a Cajun grilled Key’s dolphin and a batter-fried haddock. Since eating deep fried things on vacation violates Vacation Diet Tip #3, we had the dolphin. This came with a choice of caesar salad or tossed salad. John had the caesar and they asked if he wanted anchovies on top. The tossed salad was your basic Eastern salad – mostly iceberg lettuce. We also got a basket of freshly made rye bread which, while odd, was very good. And a container of whipped butter (or margarine.) Why do they do that? Is it cheaper? Give me real butter or olive oil. Anyway, when the fish came, it was a thick piece that was cooked perfectly. Not dry and overcooked. Many kudos for the fish.

So big pluses for the fish, the bread, the anchovies and the inexpensive house wine, and small minuses for the overly exuberant waitress, the lack of ambiance, the whipped butter and the Cheese Shop routine. Also bad name.

I give Kretch’s B+ (John agrees)

First let it be said that no one in our family enters a restaurant with “Kitchen” in its name without trepidation. Long ago, we put down rules for eating out after many unfortunate experiences. One must NEVER eat in a restaurant whose name includes the words Captain (or, worse Cap’n), Mom (Ma or Mother), or Kitchen. Also taboo are establishments who advertise Home Cooking, Home Made or the terrifying Homade. We pronounce that ho-mad-e (long e). The funniest-ever joke in our family is when a 12 or 13 year old Jonathan made the comment that the awful meal prepared by his grandmother was good enough to be served in Captain Mom’s Kitchen. It makes me laugh just to type it.

That being said, the restaurant review is of Shelby’s Kitchen, Deerfield Beach, Florida

We were on the search for deli. Good Jewish deli. John was craving corned beef and hoping that I would order chopped liver so we could make our famous corned beef and chopped liver combo. It’s after 1:30 and we are hungry. So we start by going to Mr. Deli, a place we’ve been to on previous trips. Oh no, out of business. John’s dad suggests Bagel Dream, we try that next but now it’s after 2 and the place is closed. But three times is the charm. We go, against our better judgment, to Shelby’s Kitchen. We have a waitress who has to write everything down in long hand and has trouble dealing with our order, even though we are the only people in the restaurant. (Older people eat early.) But the corned beef is warm and not fatty and the chopped liver is wonderful. We are a family who loves chopped liver whether it’s served on crostini in Florence or made into an exquisite mousse by Sarah. But, getting back to the sandwiches, the only downside is that the rye bread is a little flabby. John and I make our combo and it’s like Jewish heaven. (John says that Jews believe in heaven more as a metaphor than a reality, but you get my drift.)

Due to the lack of ambiance, incompetent service and flabby rye bread but because of the great chopped liver and good corned beef , I give Shelby’s Kitchen a B+ (John agrees)

NEW! RESTAURANT REVIEW

Since we like to eat out (but not in Utah), and we get to do so in lots of different places, I thought I’d occasionally include a restaurant review.

Snook’s Inn, Marco Island, FL – We went to this place for lunch the first day we got here. We wanted some Florida island ambiance. Snook’s has plenty of ambiance. You can eat outside or inside right next to the water. People tie up their boats and come in for a meal. So, it definitely filled the bill for the island experience. We both ordered the Snook’s Inn luncheon specialty, grouper sandwich. It comes with salad bar and fries. You don’t see many salad bars anymore. It was typical except for a vat of large, half sour pickle pieces. Since I still I have to write my diet tip, let’s say I merely sampled a french fry or two in the interest of reporting. They tasted as if they had not been double fried. Not creamy enough on the inside and crispy on the outside. The grouper, however, was great – broiled so that it was just cooked through. The bun, however, was flabby and uninspired. Grade for Snook’s Inn – C+ (John says B-)