Favorite restaurants

[Beach Runner]

Has anyone on this Board tried Bud & Alley's since the new chef came from Highlands Grill in B'ham? That place is awesome, so he/she will come with great experience. I love Bud & Allen's location and ambiance, but the food there has been muddled and so-so for too long. Please report.

I love a good steak above almost all else, but Ruth Chris is not a favorite of ours. The quality of the beef is excellent, but you'd better have the paramedics standing by unless you ask them to be sane with the butter. They cook these steaks in about a stick of butter and they come to your table sizzling in it. Talk about gilding the lily...Also, everything is a la carte, so if you want a potato (that will look like it was grown next to a nuclear power plant) or other side dish, be prepared to pay entree prices for it, too.

Cafe 30A offers very good steaks, lamb, and pork chops, all cooked to tasty perfection but without the 911 aspect. Oh, yes...you don't have to wait for escrow to close on your filet mignon or New York strip steak!

We went to Bud & Alley's a little over a week ago. The old menu is gone. The menu changes every night, thus no need for the chalkboard. We asked if pasta dishes could be split as in the past, and the waiter enthusiastically said, "No, you don't have to split them any more because the portions are smaller." And that's supposed to be good news for the patrons of this restaurant? Let's see, I'd much rather spend $30 a person than split a $30 entree for two. My husband ordered a salad (his usual Caesar was not on the menu). Very bland dressing. The full order was smaller than the old half order. And where were the herbs?

My husband says that this is a classic business example of "milking the cow." The cow is about to no longer exist as we once knew it, so the owners are milking it for as much as they can get. In the short term this will be profitable, and we all know that there is just a short term for this restaurant because Seaside will soon be a place much different than we once knew it. I don't blame them for focusing on the bottom line.

I'm not saying that the new chef isn't great; I'm just saying that the paradigm for the restaurant seems to have changed. BTW we went during the height of spring break and had our choice of reservation times - tells you something.

As far as Ruth's Chris goes, I always ask for my steak without butter.

The fact that the parking lot at Cafe Thirty-A is full in the off-season when the area is a ghost town says it all. Harriet, you and your staff are doing a great job.

Just two persons' opinions. Sorry, David.

 

[Miss Kitty]

If you haven't made it over to Blue Orleans, I suggest you do it soon!!! We hit the place everytime we are here. It is definitely...CASUAL :clap_1: !!! We dined there last night and had a scrumptious meal. I opted for the steak which could be cut with a fork and was so delicious I made little noises!!! Mr. K had his favorite....blackened grouper with shrimp etouffee. We shared and had a great surf and turf. Save room for dessert....the homemade chocolate pie is the stuff of legends!!! Gator and his staff are so funn, you feel like you are in someone's home!

Blue Orleans is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The live music starts around 10 pm on the weekends. It is located on 30A in a small strip just west of the old Nick's. Speaking of Nick's....why is that nasty burned building still standing there?

 

[peapod1980]

I like Nick, and think he rolls decent Sushi, but the fish is not as fresh as that to which I am accustomed. ;-) I eat at Nick's bar often, but I know the difference.

Somehow I lost contact with this thread...so I'm late with my reply.
Is there somewhere in Sowal you'd recommend over 331?

 

[audie]

If you haven't made it over to Blue Orleans, I suggest you do it soon!!! We hit the place everytime we are here. It is definitely...CASUAL :clap_1: !!! We dined there last night and had a scrumptious meal. I opted for the steak which could be cut with a fork and was so delicious I made little noises!!! Mr. K had his favorite....blackened grouper with shrimp etouffee. We shared and had a great surf and turf. Save room for dessert....the homemade chocolate pie is the stuff of legends!!! Gator and his staff are so funn, you feel like you are in someone's home!

Blue Orleans is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The live music starts around 10 pm on the weekends. It is located on 30A in a small strip just west of the old Nick's. Speaking of Nick's....why is that nasty burned building still standing there?

my in-laws love to go there for beignets in the morning !

 

[Smiling JOe]

Somehow I lost contact with this thread...so I'm late with my reply.
Is there somewhere in Sowal you'd recommend over 331?

recommend for what in particular? view, food, service, atmosphere, etc?

 

[John R]

Somehow I lost contact with this thread...so I'm late with my reply.
Is there somewhere in Sowal you'd recommend over 331?

so, how old was SJ's quote? i think 331 has the freashest sushi out there. wouldn't you agree?

 

[peapod1980]

recommend for what in particular? view, food, service, atmosphere, etc?

We were talking about sushi. You said Nick's was fine, but you're used to fresher. So, I was asking for your recommendation for somewhere else.
JR, I've enjoyed every morsel of sushi prepared by Nick at 331. And I've always been blessed with excellent company there as well!

 

[Smiling JOe]

We were talking about sushi. You said Nick's was fine, but you're used to fresher. So, I was asking for your recommendation for somewhere else.
JR, I've enjoyed every morsel of sushi prepared by Nick at 331. And I've always been blessed with excellent company there as well!

The best sushi is often found in big cities, such as Atlanta, San Fran, NYC, etc. The sushi at 331 is good and some of the best around here, and Nick does a great job. I will leave it at that. ;-) I highly recommend the Pokey Salad at 331.

 

[peapod1980]

The best sushi is often found in big cities, such as Atlanta, San Fran, NYC, etc. The sushi at 331 is good and some of the best around here, and Nick does a great job. I will leave it at that. ;-) I highly recommend the Pokey Salad at 331.

Oh, OK. I thought maybe you liked somewhere in Sowal other than 331. John R is a big fan of the pokey salad as well--I tried to tell him I'm not a big sashimi fan, so he graciously told lucky13 and me if we didn't like it, he would kindly finish our portions. Let's just say he didn't finish mine. ;-)

 

[spicesea1]

Found some great dining on 30A this weekend. We had a special anniversary dinner at Criolla's, which was spectacular from the Barbecue shrimp app to the chocolate gateau (YUMMMO), killer salads at Smiling Fish, awesome sushi at the 3 Thirty 1, (especially the veggie roll and the spicy tuna), A spicetacular surprise brunch at Blue Orleans (a special called "The Swamp" which was eggs over half red beans and half jambalaya) that place is really cool, the owner is very personable and plays in the blues band there at night. We also enjoyed Shades at the Loop, they had pretty good crabcakes. Love the fried jalapenos and okra in with the calamari there too. The only disappointment was Bud and Alley's. The apps we had there were yuck. Luckily we did not stay for dinner. We were unable to get into the red bar sat. night, but the 3 thirty 1 was great! I recommend y'all try the Great Southern Cafe when they open, those guys are affiliated with the Fish House and Atlas in Pensacola, and both places are excellent. Well, that's all I have to say about that, thanks for reading.