Hablo Taco, Tampa, FL

Oh, Channelside...how do I loathe thee?  Let me count the ways.  First of all, anyone not gifted with an IQ level of at least 100 points will never be able to decipher the convoluted payment system at your "convenient" parking garage.  Hire an attendant and charge more, for gawd's sake, so everyone doesn't have to wade through a human clusterfluck of mass confusion in order to park and get on with their day.  Now that I've gotten THAT out of the way...onward to Hablo Taco.

The vibe here is relatively sterile, more bar-like than restaurant-like and predominately staffed by lackadaisical 21 year-olds.  I've honestly gotten more enthusiastic service at a McDonald's drive-through window.  Expect the place to be noisy, chaotic and awash in a broad swathe of rowdy humanity, especially if a Lightning game is imminent...

...as it was on my visit.  Due to that fact, we were presented with postage stamp sized menus with extremely limited offerings, apparently because it's too difficult to keep up during a local event rush...therefore, several items I specifically came to try were not available.  Sorry, but a full restaurant on a hockey game day is not the same as Christmas Day at the Columbia where a limited menu is a little more understandable.

Moving on to food and bev, there are few complaints in that department.  The Diablo margarita is one-of-kind and not for the faint of palate.  Mezcal, triple sec, blood orange liqueur, lemon and lime juice, simple syrup and jalapeno (heavy on the jalapeno) converge to create an interesting juxtaposition of tangy citrus, boozy goodness and sweat bead-inducing Scoville unit levels of heat in this libation.

Fresh guacamole is available in an array of tantalizing applications.  We zeroed in on the Bacon and Cheese guac, which was a pleasing, generous mound of creamy avocado interspersed with crispy porcine crumbles and queso fresco.  Accompanying chips, however, were greasy and had an aftertaste of fryer oil.

My Southern Tacos (fried chicken, cabbage slaw, avocado ranch, roasted corn salsa and BBQ drizzle) were probably the largest tacos I've ever tried to shoehorn into my mouth...and I got two with a side of rice included for $8.50, which felt like a bargain.  This was an interesting application, but it didn't put me on the fast track to Flavortown.  I supposed I deserved that for making such a wimpy, gringa-sounding selection.

UD's fat, protein-laden Burrito Grande with beef barbacoa, pulled chicken, guac, shredded cojita, dressed lettuce, crema and black beans was the star of this particular talent competition.  I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the rice and bean sides were better than those served at most Mexican restaurants in town. 

While the food (based on our limited options) was mostly good, service, ambiance, clientele and location combined to create a somewhat negative experience.  Hablo Taco seems to be geared towards more youthful diners who will undoubtedly appreciate it more than a couple of cranky old Baby Boomers.

http://www.hablotaco.com/

My blog entries contain the unmitigated, and sometimes unforgiving, dining truths and perceptions I experience as an ordinary restaurant patron. Every meal I post about has been fully paid for by one of the participating members of my personal dining party. I do not engage in the gratis blogger freebie dining events I'm constantly invited to attend and never will. If I ooze font-like love for a restaurant in my blog, it's because they totally earned it…not because they gave me free food or knew I was going to share the experience on the internet.

Red Mesa Cantina, St. Petersburg, FL

Meh.  I shouldn't even try to blog about dining experiences that leave me feeling this indifferent, but here goes.

When we arrived, were greeted by a dead-eyed, heroin chic hostess in micro shorts who was obviously desperately wishing that she was somewhere (anywhere) else.  We elected to dine in the charming courtyard and thus began our interminable wait for absolutely everything.  We were seated for a full ten minutes before we were approached by our server, who was sweet but astonishingly inefficient.  At this point, we didn't need a crystal ball to predict the pace of our meal, so our dining companion, Deb (who was about to have a blood sugar incident) quickly requested tortilla chips and dip while placing her beverage order in the futile hope that something could be obtained relatively quickly.   When our drinks arrived another ten minutes later, the chips were still MIA.  Fearing our server might forget to leave a trail of breadcrumbs leading back to our table, we completed our entire order before she wandered away (two additional apps and three lunch entrees).

At long last, all three appetizers arrived simultaneously. Chips and dips were good...queso was warm and creamy, guac fresh-tasting and cool.  Bombas (shrimp, potato, chorizo and Chihuahua cheese croquettes served with habanero aioli) tasted mostly like potato.  They were okay.

I was not blown away by the $6.00 empanadas.  The ground sirloin picadillo stuffing lacked zip and the soggy, tomatillo sauce-soaked pastry crust made it impossible to pick up the hand pies.

Deb's Taco Salad (romaine lettuce, tomato, avocado, black bean salsa, queso fresco and chipotle Caesar dressing served in a flour tortilla bowl) was standard issue.  She had it topped with a couple of little skewers of grilled shrimp for a $6.00 upcharge, which were fine.

Red Mesa's take on a Cuban sandwich (Telera bun pressed with roast pork, ham, jack cheese, homemade pickles and dijon mustard aioli) sounded better on paper than it actually was.  While it wasn't bad and was loaded with tender, smoky pork, it didn't bear much resemblance to a classic Cuban either in taste or consistency.  It was presented with five yuca fries and some chipotle ketchup for dipping.

UD identified a winner in his duck quesadilla.  The moist, orange braised duck confit, jack cheese, goat cheese and pineapple proved to be a tasty combo that was pleasingly complemented by a honey chipotle vinaigrette.

So, there you have it.  The word of the day was "okay", but food that's only "okay" doesn't get a return visit from me.  El Gallo Grande is a much better choice for Mexican in the downtown/south St. Petersburg area.

http://redmesacantina.com/index.php

My blog entries contain the unmitigated, and sometimes unforgiving, dining truths and perceptions I experience as an ordinary restaurant patron. Every meal I post about has been fully paid for by one of the participating members of my personal dining party. I do not engage in the gratis blogger freebie dining events I'm constantly invited to attend and never will. If I ooze font-like love for a restaurant in my blog, it's because they totally earned it…not because they gave me free food or knew I was going to share the experience on the internet.

El Gallo Grande, St. Petersburg, FL

Let's just cut to the chase.  The tastiest Mexican food I've ever eaten in Tampa Bay was had last weekend at El Gallo Grande.  To add to their endearment factor, the ambiance is decidedly mod-Mex with a sleek bar area, brightly colored tables and chairs, contemporary south-of-the-border style murals and, best of all...no red and green motif, no sombreros, no piped-in Mariachi music (not that it doesn't have its place) and no serapes tacked to the walls.  The vibe is upscale without being pretentious and prices are reasonable for the quality imparted.   It reminds me a lot of Stephen Starr's Philadelphia restaurant, El Vez. Hard to believe the old-school Italian vibe of the resto's former inhabitant, Basta's, has been so completely obliterated and beautifully reinvented (not that I didn't once love Basta's, because it was a favorite of mine back in the '90s).  Kudos to the designer for the resulting eye candy.

I initially thought $11.50 seemed high for a margarita, even one of the"top shelf" variety.  Howevah, my Blood Orange Margarita (sorry, I can't relay its official moniker because EGG's menu is not yet posted online and I drank two...which rendered me unable to feel my face afterwards, much less take notes) was the best I've ever guzzled sipped.  I adored the larger chunks of salt around the rim, the high alcohol content (I know...I'm as surprised as you are) and the way the blood orange juice so beautifully tempered the lime without making the resulting cocktail too sweet.  Behold my new addiction...the color of the sun as it sinks into the Gulf. Sigh.

Before we move forward, I should add the caveat that there are house margaritas available for half the price.

Complimentary tortilla chips and a salsa-like concoction were dispensed while we looked over the menu.  We requested additional apps of house-made guacamole and Queso Fundido.  Both exceeded expectations.  I wasn't expecting the guac to be quite as tomato-laden as it was, figuring it would be easy to eat around my nemesis fruit. It wasn't, but I crushed so hard on its fresh, creamy-meets-chunky texture and the bright flavors imparted by liberal use of ripe avocado, lime and cilantro that I stoically forged on.  Only an isolated, rosy mound of the remnants of my gelatinous food foe remained after I snarfed all of the delectable, green goodness surrounding them.

Queso Fundido was sexily hot, gooey and stringy.  We added a zippy, crumbled chorizo topper which was well worth the small upcharge.

Lunch entrees are served a la carte, so I ordered a small Mexican Caesar Salad on the side (which, as it turned out, was a little more on the large side).  Crisp and delicious, it was adorned with corn and mellow Oaxaco cheese crumbles.  Dressing was not a classic variation, but brought more of a garlicky vinaigrette to mind.  I liked the lightness and crunch of it all.  Perfect for a summer day in Florida.

UD's Tacos al Pastore (marinated pork tacos) disappointed him a tad because he lived in Mexico City for a while and got a little spoiled.  He felt they were somewhat less than traditional, but they looked and tasted all right to this Gringa.

The ubiquitous gummy rice and gloppy refried beans we often receive as sides in Mexican restos are not automatically ladled onto your plate at El Gallo Grande. They're a menu add-on here.  And they probably should be due to the fact that both are well above average and portions are generous enough to share with the table. Refried beans look like refried beans (kind of like a pet "accident") so I won't post a pic even though they were quite good and ratcheted it up nicely with spicy heat.  The rice, however, was gorgeous...the little maize-hued kernels were fluffed heavenward and studded with peas and carrots.  An al dente delight!

My arepas stuffed with tender, zesty chicken (which actually brought a pleasing bead of of moisture to my upper lip), nestled in a crunchy corn shell with fresh lettuce and a crema drizzle were nothing short of amazing. I loved this twist on the standard corn cake application often presented at food trucks around town.

While service was a tad tentative (albeit caring) this was one fine lunch experience overall.  Although I don't get around El Gallo Grande's parts that often, I'll be baaack...if only for another satisfying slurp of Blood Orange Margarita.



My blog entries contain the unmitigated, and sometimes unforgiving, dining truths and perceptions I experience as an ordinary restaurant patron. Every meal I post about has been fully paid for by one of the participating members of my personal dining party. I do not engage in the gratis blogger freebie dining events I'm constantly invited to attend and never will. If I ooze font-like love for a restaurant in my blog, it's because they totally earned it…not because they gave me free food or knew I was going to share the experience on the internet.

Urban Cantina, Tampa, FL

After the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts lured us to downtown Tampa on a recent Sunday,  I needed an afternoon snack after a few hours of being jostled and swept along by the broad swathe of humanity also attracted to the event.  A girl can hardly be expected to subsist on merely a footlong corn dog, a jumbo cinnamon sugar pretzel and a couple of 16 oz. cold ones after such an active day.  God forbid I ever have to go down a pants size.

We wandered around downtown a bit (which is finally beginning to resemble a "real" city where life actually exists on the weekends and after 5:00 PM on weeknights) looking for something new and interesting to try. Urban Cantina seemed to fit the bill.  There were enough clientele present at 4:00 PM on a Sunday afternoon to make us feel like it must have something going for it without being overly noisy and crowded.

The atmosphere definitely falls into the "Sports Bar" category, which doesn't turn me off...especially when I'm just looking for a snack and an icy draft beer.  I have to say that service was friendly, but overly slow and somewhat inattentive.  We didn't really notice that complimentary chips and salsa were being dispensed until ours finally arrived...right after our table had been cleared and we'd requested the bill.  Oopsie.

I went all Gringo with the $7.99 El Chango (two chicken enchiladas and a taco of your choice....chicken, frijols, carnitas or carne asada).  I elected the Carne Asada taco which was right tasty and the enchiladas verde were fine as well, although not really the style that I'm accustomed to. They were a little more like tacos with sauce poured over them.  UD, who spent several years living and working in Mexico City, proclaimed them "authentic", however.  Of course, it was all flanked with the requisite rice and refried beans. While my taste buds weren't ratcheted to new heights of ecstasy, it was a respectable $8.00 meal and I have to give kudos to the lovely texture and flavor of the tortillas.

My better half ordered a trio of tacos and was quite pleased with all of them.  One Carne Asada (chargrilled skirt steak topped with onions, cilantro, queso fresco and avocado), one Al Pastor (chile rubbed pork grilled with pineapple and topped with onions, cilantro and queso) and one Shrimp (fresh shrimp, cabbage, pico de gallo and secret sauce topped with red onions).

Of course, it's almost impossible to go wrong with warm churros, caramel drizzle and ice cream.  These disappeared in veryshortorder.

While I wouldn't consider it a "destination" restaurant, Urban Cantina is a decent spot for a casual bite and the prices are tough to beat.  Service glitches were relatively minor and did not particularly detract from our overall experience. A couple of beers, two generous entrees and a shared dessert set us back around $35 before gratuity.  

http://urbancantina.com/



My blog entries contain the unmitigated, and sometimes unforgiving, dining truths and perceptions I experience as an ordinary restaurant patron. Every meal I post about has been fully paid for by one of the participating members of my personal dining party. I do not engage in the gratis blogger freebie dining events I'm constantly invited to attend and never will. If I ooze font-like love for a restaurant in my blog, it's because they totally earned it…not because they gave me free food or knew I was going to share the experience on the internet.

Taqueria Doña Maria, Brandon, FL

Brandon has recently acquired a new, semi-precious gem in the form of Taqueria Doña Maria. Tucked away in a non-descript strip mall at the corner of Lumsden and Lithia Pinecrest, it could be easily overlooked...but shouldn't be.

While it did have that somewhat sterile "fast-food" vibe upon entry, we began to really appreciate the warm service, gleaming open kitchen and high-quality aggregate tables after settling in.  We were there for "lupper" at around 3:00 PM, which explains the dearth of fellow diners.  The place was filling up nicely by the time we left.  I shouldn't fail to mention that we received excellent service and menu steering from Xiomy.

These guys don't yet have their liquor license, so they do graciously provide their patrons with a beer or glass of sangria (or two) on the house...which pretty much made them my forever friends right away.  Sangria was lovely, fruit-laden, spicy and delish.  My beef empanadas were some of the best I've had in Tampa Bay.  Almost too hot to handle upon delivery, they did not fail to thrill with their crispy, freshly fried crust and savory filling.  I tend to favor picadillo (throw in some tomato, peppers and green olives) in my "emps", but these were damned fine.

UD hoovered down his Pozole (a 100 year old soup recipe consisting of what looked to me like half a hog swimming with hominy in a savory broth).  Complementary add-ons of chopped radishes, cabbage, limes and tostadas were presented on the side.  Simply fabulous and uber hearty.

While my Chicken Tamales didn't quite meet expectations as far as the ratio of masa to chicken was concerned, they were tasty nonetheless and had a respectable kick of heat. Beans and rice were both exceptional and the addition of queso fresco is always appreciated.

UD's Sopes (thick, lightly- fried corn cakes topped with refried beans, shredded chicken, lettuce, zippy tomato sauce and queso fresco) were lovely and did not disappoint.

Decadance time!  Chocolate cake is the most boring dessert imaginable in my world.  Underdog, however, doesn't share my view so he ordered it.  What appeared was a completely forgettable ball of something that tasted like it had just been purchased from a 7-11 and removed from its plastic sleeve.  Quite dry, it was smothered in a waxy blanket of "chocolately goodness" reminiscent of a Hostess Cupcake topper...the only uninspiring aspect of the meal (but bear in mind that this is coming from someone who probably wouldn't like chocolate cake even if Thomas Keller made it with his own hands).

Redemption appeared in the form of one of the best cupcakes I've ever eaten in my life...Mango-Lime with Cream Cheese Frosting.  This thing was so moist that it brought tres leches cake to mind.  The fruit flavors paired perfectly, it was liberally studded with juicy mango bits and the frosting was sheer perfection (nobody scooped this out of a can).  Bonus points for the green sparkles on top!

Final tab with two glasses of sangria, one bottle of beer was a paltry $35 and we took about half of it home with us to enjoy the next day.  Taqueria Dona Maria is a welcome addition to the Brandon dining scene.  Okay, Brandon doesn't really have a "dining scene", but it's a welcome addition nonetheless.  Their fresh ingredients, authentic tasting cuisine, friendly service and affordability garner two paws up from me.

http://taqueriadonamaria.com/



My blog entries contain the unmitigated, and sometimes unforgiving, dining truths and perceptions I experience as an ordinary restaurant patron. Every meal I post about has been fully paid for by one of the participating members of my personal dining party. I do not engage in the gratis blogger freebie dining events I'm constantly invited to attend and never will. If I ooze font-like love for a restaurant in my blog, it's because they totally earned it…not because they gave me free food or knew I was going to share the experience on the internet.

Los Mexicanos, Indian Rocks Beach, FL

When both Keegan's and Slyce Pizza Bar (two of my and UD's casual faves for an inexpensive beach meal) had a wait list on the Wednesday before Independence Day, we started looking for options...mostly because one of us was feeling particularly "beachy" and impatient after fighting Fourth of July weekend traffic for two solid hours during an after-work commute from east Hillsborough county.  While Mexican food hadn't been in the forefront of my mind, Los Mexicanos appeared almost mirage-like after we (okay, I) refused to queue up.  And there was no. line.  Ding! Ding! Ding!

The interior was clean and pleasant.  We were seated immediately and received knowledgeable and courteous service at this outpost of three family owned and run Los Mexicanos locations in Pinellas county (St. Pete Beach, Indian Rocks Beach and Tarpon Springs).  Good salsa and chips were slid onto the table almost as soon as our arses hit the Naugahyde and 2-for-1 margaritas were dispensed posthaste.  I was beginning to breathe again.

Dr. Dawg prepares to medicate me:

Underdog was feeling dainty on this particular evening and opted for a $4.95 Chile Poblano stuffed with beef and cheese from the a la carte menu and a $7.00 troth bowl of Chicken Tortilla Soup.  Both were deemed "muy auténtico" by my former Mexico City resident.

I found myself particularly enamored of the soup, which contained the meat of what must've been at least 1/4 of a large chicken.  The broth had an exceptionally rich poultry flavor with a mean after-kick of heat.  I think someone's been making fresh chicken stock.

Shrimp Chimichangas were presented hot, crispy, slathered in cheese sauce and stuffed to maximum capacity with large, grilled shrimp.  Good guac and rice rounded out this dish and I appreciated the absence of those ubiquitous canned refried beans (which always remind me a little of dog barf) that most Mexican places can't seem to leave off the plate.

The Sopapilla with Ice Cream lent the perfect sweet finish to our meal.  This cinnamon-y, crispy and honey-drizzled delight was delicious in its simplicity and almost brought baklava to mind as far as taste and texture were concerned.

What could be better than enjoying a delicious, relaxing meal in an attractive venue with three margaritas apiece and being presented with a final bill of...wait for it...$42 for two before gratuity?   Los Mexicanos indubitably imparts one of the biggest bangs for the buck to be found on the Pinellas beaches.

http://losmexicanosrestaurant.com/



My blog entries contain the unmitigated, and sometimes unforgiving, dining truths and perceptions I experience as an ordinary restaurant patron. Every meal I post about has been fully paid for by one of the participating members of my personal dining party. I do not engage in the gratis blogger freebie dining events I'm constantly invited to attend and never will. If I ooze font-like love for a restaurant in my blog, it's because they totally earned it…not because they gave me free food or knew I was going to share the experience on the internet.

Green Lemon, Tampa, FL

Back when I was new to blogging about my dining experiences and before I came to the conclusion that it might not really be all that cool or even ethical to accept free stuff from restos in exchange for the expectation of providing them with good "press" (if "press" is even actually the correct term in the world of cyber-journalism)...I was approached via email by Green Lemon (at that time, named "The Lime"...not sure what precipitated the new moniker) to visit them for a complimentary meal.  I debated the idea for a bit before writing back to the owner/PR rep/whomever to say I might open to the idea...but that if I didn't like it, the most I could promise was that I'd pretend it never happened. The closest thing I can compare their (non)response to is an evening forest filled with the chirping of crickets. That's when I made the conscious decision that "food 'ho'ing" would never be tolerated on this here blog....at least not as long as I am Editor in Chief (not to mention, sole contributor).  Easily enforceable.

So, back to Green Lemon.  The day finally came when I was in the mood for a "South of the Border" snack so I decided to stop in (non-gratis).  I liked the chic urban vibe of the place (with nary a sombrero, serape nor pinata in sight) and we were warmly greeted by Tracey, whose sweetness and competence contributed a lot to our overall enjoyment of the meal.

I would classify the menu as Mod-Mex...it contained both old standbys as well as newer twists on the former.  We started off with Tostones (which are pretty much God's Own Treat to begin with...even before they're topped).  These tasty, perfectly fried rounds of mashed plantains smothered in spicy, tender Mojo Pulled Pork, veggies and fresh herbs did not disappoint.

Things got a little dicey after that.  I ordered the Chicken Wiggles Bowl, which was a rice-based dish topped with grilled chicken, black beans, avocado (I think), queso fresco, shredded cabbage and cheese.  I opted out of the additional chopped tomato topper, which seemed to be no problem.

While not an abomination, I'm not sure Taco Bell couldn't have given this thing a run for its money.  The chicken (and I'm no huge fan of chicken breast to begin with, so take this with a grain of salt) tasted like Perdue Chicken Selects that had been tossed into a bland trough of under-cooked rice, adorned with a sprinkling of canned beans and packaged bacon bits, then accented with a lime wedge to make it all "special".  Couple that with the fact that the bowl was presented at room temp (cold food being one of my ultimate pet peeves when dining out...give me crappy service, give me a poor selection of wines by the glass or give me foil-wrapped butter pats...I'm not a fan of any, but all are preferable to food that's obviously been sitting around awhile prior to being delivered).

UD fared a little better with The Street Trio of tacos, although he agreed that the Ancho Chicken offering tasted decidedly prefab.  The Carne Asada version was inhaled without hesitation, but he ultimately wished he'd simply ordered three of the Mojo Pulled Pork variety.   The side of  Black Beans and Rice might've been good but they, also, were presented at a 70-ish degree borderline congealed state so no one was really inspired to dig in.

My $8 Top Shelf Margarita proved to be a fine representation of said cocktail, so I'm dialing down the bitchery from here on out.

We were asked when we entered whether or not we'd ever dined at Yellow Lime (or Green Lemon...whichever it was) when we were first seated, to which we replied that we had not....having no clue that a correct response would entitle us to a fabulous prize.  As newbies, we were thrilled to learn that we qualified for a free dessert, which turned out to be the highlight of the entire meal.  Before we could even clutch our crucifixes, a Beelzebub-inspired concoction of "Churros meet Bananas Foster" was plopped before us. Hot and crispy on the outside/sweet and tender on the inside, cinnamon sugar laced lancets of pastry goodness had their inherent heinousness enhanced via accoutrements of  vanilla ice cream and caramelized banana slices.   Okay...I will, on the rarest of occasions, take free stuff.

Overall, this was an "OK" dining experience saved by a couple of quality spikes that kept me from stomping it into the ground with my boot heels.  The meal set us back $55 before gratuity which included a glass of Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay for me and a Big Nose Ale for UD  (not to mention the outstanding margarita).   Potential exists...follow-through is on them.  

http://thelimetampa.com/

My blog entries contain the unmitigated, and sometimes unforgiving, dining truths and perceptions I experience as an ordinary restaurant patron. Every meal I post about has been fully paid for by one of the participating members of my personal dining party. I do not engage in the gratis blogger freebie dining events I'm constantly invited to attend and never will. If I ooze font-like love for a restaurant in my blog, it's because they totally earned it…not because they gave me free food or knew I was going to share the experience on the internet.

Nitally's Thai-Mex Cuisine, St. Petersburg, FL

Yes...you read correctly.  Thai-Mex Cuisine.  Some Thai, some Mexican and some fusion dishes beautifully converge in this little hole-in-the-wall hotbed of spices.  UD and I met up with my favorite liberal and local blogger (JR, author of the SOG City Oracle) and his lovely wife and fellow foodie, the Belle of Ballast Point (aka She of the Perpetually Gorgeous Mane). As usual, good food and an even better time was had by all.  We knew we were Nitally's kinda people as soon as we walked in the door.  Helloooooo, new friends!

Whatever your beverage of preference, it is here.  A ridiculously extensive non-alcoholic drink menu takes up the wall-sized blackboard...with wine, saki, sangria and a nice beer selection also available for lushes like me.  And trust me, you're gonna need a whistle-wetter of one kind or another (probably in mass quantities), as Nitally's cuisine is unapologetically wicked hot and spicy.

The Thai Chicken Peanut Tortilla wrap appetizer would've been enough to fill up most people in and of itself.  The four of us shared it and everyone loved the tender chicken, fresh veggies, spicy peanut sauce and soft flour tortilla.

The BOBP (SPGM) couldn't resist ordering the Chipotle Pizza.  Smoky chipotle sauce adorned a perfectly thin and crispy crust and was topped with cheese and chicken (I think...but I suffer from "Sometimer's Disease", especially when I'm drinking).  Look how beautiful it was!  In fact, I was very impressed with the presentation of everything placed before us today by our fine young server, Lauren (?).

JR's a little like me in his inability to pass up mussels.  Nitally's did a commendable job with their version of said bivalves, which were steamed in lemon grass, lime leaves and Thai peppers.  Fresh and tasty!

I've been craving Pad Thai since I watched a rerun of Bobby Flay's Pad Thai Throwdown episode a couple of weeks ago, so I zeroed right in on the Shrimp Pad Thai kicked up with Panang Red Thai Curry sauce.  Our sweet server considerately steered me in the "mild" direction after I shared the (not so) secret of my somewhat heat-wimpy palate with her, and thank gawd she did.  Nitally's version of "mild" easily falls into the "medium" category of every other Thai restaurant I've ever enjoyed.  This was a tres delish rendition of mammoth proportions (as were all of the entrees) which managed to make my upper lip bead up and trigger epic hot flashes despite its "gentle" heat level.  The proffered chopsticks indicated that they clearly had no clue that a redneck gurl was in their midst...as if I would ever toil so feverishly to bring to my food to my lips.  No wonder Asian chicks are tiny.

Dogboy ordered his Chorizo Fried Rice at medium temp and paid dearly in sweat, beer consumption and an irrepressible desire to snag sweet bites of grilled pineapple from the plate of BOBP to chill his palate. Tasty and liberally studded with chorizo and fresh veggies, it was still Hades hot. 

BOBP's Pineapple Fried Rice with chicken (mild) had UD bitterly wishing he was her, judging from the copious forkfuls he pilfered over the course of our lunch date.

JR rounded out our world tour by ordering the Thai-Mex Seafood Paella which was also deadly-spicy at medium heat but was a beautiful thing despite a bit of perceived stinginess with the protein of the sea.

No thanks, Satan! 

Nitally's is doing something different and is definitely worth a visit, despite of the fact that the owners seem to go a little cray-cray when they receive any sort of negative feedback online.  I wouldn't recommend complaining about anything while you're there, lest you find yourself on the  business end of a butcher knife (gawd knows what would happen if you expressed displeasure in person).  Be prepared for gargantuan portions and factor in the epic heat level when ordering.

http://nitallys.com/