D. Taylor's Food & Travel

Restaurant Review – Osaka Sushi and Hibachi (Coon Rapids, MN) I was visiting friends in Minnesota and the group decided it would be fun to visit Osaka Sushi and Hibach i. I hadn’t been to a hibachi grill for many years and thought it would be great fun. We made reservations the day before and arrived as a group of seven about 10 minutes before our reservation, but we still had to wait before we were seated. Ordering One of our party asked the server for hashi. The server server responded to see if she wanted her sake hot or cold. Upon further explanation, it became clear that the server didn’t know what hashi are. (It's the Japanese word for chop-sticks.) The server said she was Vietnamese and didn’t speak Japanese.  I admit, I don’t speak Japanese either, but I do know the word hashi and a server at a Japanese restaurant should know what hashi are. Food Arrival Shrimp Tempura - Osaka Sushi & Hibachi I wasn’t happy with the arrival of ...

The New Moon, Saco ME Photo by Google Maps We had some business in Biddeford and decided to grab lunch on the way home in Saco .   Downtown Saco has several restaurants, and we haven’t been to any of them. We turned in at Pepperell Square to see what might be good. Within a half a block there was pizza, sushi, a diner, and an adorable little place called “The New Moon Restaurant.”   Looking like something transplanted from the Swiss Alps, The New Moon has a mountain-steep roof and yellow paint. A sign on the front door let us know that they are closed from 2:00 PM (the end of lunch) until the start of dinner (5:00 PM). It was a bit after Noon, so we were good.   Tables and chairs were close; but our hostess brought us to a table that seemed to have enough room, although it would have been uncomfortable if someone was sitting directly behind me.   Bloody Mary at The New Moon We ordered our usual water with lemon and took a look at the me...

The Miss Portland Diner is a 1949 Worcester Lunch Car Company railroad dining car. It was originally located on Forest Avenue, but moved to 49 Marginal Way in 1964. Besides the original dining car there is an addition which provides additional kitchen, storage, bathroom, and dining space. Coffee Mug Miss Portland Diner - Est. 1949 A “seat yourself” sign let us know to wonder a bit.  The upstairs was fairly full, although there were some spaces at a long lunch counter area, so we decided on a booth in the addition. Our server took our coffee orders quickly and was back in a flash.  The coffee was served in absolutely beautiful, old fashioned cups.  The cup was the kind that would make a great souvenir. I later learned you can purchase one for $10.00. A great addition to my cups at home.   Corned Beef Scramble Our server was really helpful and attentive.  When I asked if the hash was locally made or Mary Kitchen™ out of the can she indicate...

The Bean Coffee and Wine Cafe Andover, Minnesota E corner of Hanson & Crosstown Bullivards I was visiting a friend in Ham Lake, Minnesota, and he suggested eating at “The Bean” a cafe in Andover. It is a strip mall restaurant in a fairly new complex. With a name like, "The Bean," I figured it focused on coffee,  which it does, but, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that they sold wine and beer.  Grilled Tuna Melt with kettle Chips The Bean Coffee and Wine Cafe I don’t drink a lot of beer anymore and the explosion of craft beers has me at a disadvantage in that I don’t know a lot of the new craft beers. I spoke with our server, Amber, about the beers. She was extremely helpful, asking about my preferences and tastes. Finally, we agreed on Tree Shaker by O’Dell which is an Imperial Peach IPA. It wasn't nearly as peachy as I thought it might be which was good.  It a very good beer and Amber was very helpful. My friend and I then ordered. I was unde...

I am “not from around here” and have never lived in a place before where establishments close for the winter. I understand it intellectually, but just haven’t gotten into the mind-set to know that my favorite places to eat in the summer and early fall will be closed for the winter and won’t open until spring. Last summer and fall we went to the Pine Point Grille several times and truly loved the food, particularly their pork entree, so we were very excited to learn that they were opening on March 19th. We couldn’t get there the first couple of weekends they were open but were able to go a couple weeks later. We arrived shortly after opening and they were already fairly busy. Maybe about half the tables were already taken.   In the summer they seat many people in their outside area, but March in Maine – everyone was inside and trying to be as far away from the door as possible. The Pine Point Grill is a nice upscale restaurant. It is probably one of the nicest places I know o...

Restaurant Review – Dogfish Bar and Grille – 128 Free St., Portland, ME We were recently at an event at the Cross Insurance Arena.   After the event, we thought we’d do a late lunch at a restaurant nearby.   The weather was miserable, snow blowing sideways, so we wanted somewhere close.   We decided on the Dogfish Bar and Grille on Free Street about a block away.   When we arrived, there were no other patrons at the restaurant; the weather clearly was keeping folks away. We were met by an attractive hostess who brought us to a table well away from the door, which when opened blasted the inside with cold wind.   Because our walk there was so miserable, we ordered a couple hot toddies to warm our spirits along with our usual “water with lemon.” Bar area - Dogfish Bar and Grill Portland, ME CC BY SA The bar area looked very nice and well kept.   A dozen things on tap, a couple televisions, clean looking and inviting. The drinks arrive...