Review for Savelli's on Sutherland Avenue

Good afternoon and I hope everyone is having a fantastic day!!! Today, I ate local. Today, I went to a restaurant that I have passed on several occasions and told myself I need to go. Well I made it happen and went for some Italian today.

Savelli's is a mom and pop restaurant that was established in 1993. Several people I know have told me great things about the food and being that Italian may be my favorite type of food, I can't miss. Plus going to a place like this insures you will receive some of the most authentic food in the city. It's a small establishment so make sure you get there early. Open Monday-Saturday,  11a-2p for lunch and 4p-9p for dinner. 

The menu gives you all the classics that you expect with some servings of the house specials. Pricing for the food is fair being this is a mom and pop restaurant and cost can run higher.  They have desserts and the whole nine but after my meal a dessert would have had me a sleep at my table.

Today I went with ome of my favorite dishes, Baked Ziti.  When it comes to Italian food, if your ziti is not on point,  the rest of your food is probably bad as well.  Today was not the case. The Baked Ziti was phenomenal.  The portion size they give you is the right amount for a big boy like myself, could easily be 2 meals for a light eater. The sauce was robust and had lots of flavor.  Everything blended so well and the cheese was melted down to perfection. (The stretch on the cheese was award-winning stretch in my eyes.) And the wait for service and food were minimal which is always a plus.

This restaurant will see me again for sure. The people were friendly,  the food was great and I was full at the end.  This place gets a 5X tee from me and I recommend you check it out for yourself. 

We are coming up on Thanksgiving so let's make sure we surround ourselves with the ones we love and most importantly make sure to treat yourself!!!!

Review for Babalu on Gay St.

Today's review is for a place that I have heard so much about that I had to see what the buzz was about. I've seen people talk about it, post about it and tell me this spot is a place I need to go to. Well, tonight was that night.

Now, the place itself was very modern and appealing to the eyes. The lights outside shined bright lighting up the clear night sky.  The inside was very intimate and cozy. They have a open kitchen that gives you a view of what is going on with your food. From the scene alone I was impressed and ready for an excellent experience.  Let's just say the experience took a turn for the worst quickly.

We were meeting up for our Men's FELLA-ship and the hostess was not the friendliest.  It seemed like she was not wanting to be there tonight.  We have a little wait which is not a problem.  When we finally get seated,  we were there for at least 10 minutes before a waitress came to our table. There were a couple and their child that came in after us that got served before us. When the waitress finally comes to our table after walking pass us multiple times,  she ask if, "we have been waited on?" This question should not be one, in my opinion, that should be asked in a restaurant. Needless to say, this killed the vibe for sure.

But we can't dwell on the service because that is not the reason we came. (Good service is appreciated for sure though and expected.) So for my meal today I went outside of my comfort zone a bit. I ordered the shrimp and grits. Now both selections I enjoy separately but was intrigued and wanted to branch out with my selection. 

So let's start with the presentation.  The presentation was very appealing and made you want to dig in. The shrimp were a nice size and they placed each one on a bed of cheese grits. It was garnished with green onions and served with 2 slices of bread.  The shrimp were also covered in a mushroom sauce that was a twist to the meal. 

Now let's talk about the taste. The shrimp were good. There was some type of breading on them but it didn't stand up to the mushroom sauce. The mushroom sauce added great flavor to the shrimp and worked well with the grits too. Now the grits were good but a little much. They used a chihuahua cheese that had great flavor. (And for a guy who enjoys his grits with sugar and butter,  this was a big step. And that's a debate for another time.) All together it wasn't a bad meal but for the price I was underwhelmed. 

So one thing I can say for sure is that this outing was not one of my favorites.  It started on the wrong foot and couldn't be saved.  I give this a 2X Tee and don't believe I will be back. 

I hope you guys enjoy this blog and please tell me what you think. You can check us out on Facebook,  Instagram and Twitter. 

Remember,  take the time to enjoy the people around you but most importantly make sure that you treat yourself!!!!!

Review for Amigos in Fountain City

This review will probably be short and sweet.  I was trying this place for the first time and wanted to see if we were different from all the other places in the city. Let's just say it was a familiar experience.

The restaurant and decor seemed to be the usual. It gave you a friendly feel and would be a great place for a night out if you are in the area. 

The food was good. I went with my go to for Mexican,  Fajita Nachos.  The portion was good and could have been shared. There was nothing really that separated it from the other restaurants I have been to before. 

The pricing was fair and I couldn't complain about it. The service was okay. I just didn't feel that the waitress was into her job. May have been a bad day.

All in all,  it was an average experience and I give them a 2X tee.

In closing,  take the time to enjoy the people around you and most importantly make sure to treat yourself!!!

Review for Hwy 55 at West Town Mall

Good evening and thank you in advance for reading today's blog. It's been a while I know but tonight I went to a place I have been wanting to check out for a while. It was suggested by one of my minis so we went and checked it out.

Hwy 55 restaurants have been popping up all over the area and made me curious to what type of restaurant it may be. When you hit the door,  you get the nostalgic vibes that they are going for. You are hit by the classic hits of the 50s and 60s. (A lot of you may not understand why the music is so important but music is major for this type of restaurant.) The place was decked out with vinyl on the walls and pics of popular celebrities of the time. For this, I was impressed. 

Our waitress tonight was good. She made sure we were good at all times. It wasn't too busy so this situation can be troublesome with the wrong waiter or waitress because they feel they don't have to work. This was not the case and I was pleased with the service. 

Now let's talk about the food. I love the fact that the burger was cooked on a flattop stove. It got the good crisp that you are looking for in a dinner burger but it tasted like it was left on the flattop a little too long,  dried out the burger.  You were given a choice of fries or tots, which was a plus. The tots I got were good and crispy on the outside and had lots of flavor. (Lil buddy wasn't too impressed with the fries and was sure to give me his opinion on it. Lol)

For the price I paid I really shouldn't expect the extraordinary, 14.16 total for us both, but it could have been better.  This may be one of the few times I was somewhat underwhelmed with the food but the music gave me life.

So I will give this place a 2X Tee. Maybe I will go back or maybe not. If you want something quick while you are at the mall, for a far price,  this place can't miss. It may be I had my expectations a little too high and it might have effected the outcome, but it's a must that I stay true.

I hope you guys enjoy this review and let me know what you think.  Make sure to enjoy all the good things around you but most importantly make sure you treat yourself!!!!!

Review of Cru Bistro and Wine Bar Gay St. Downtown Knoxville

We start this review with giving a big shout to our sponsor for the evening,  DaVett Jones and Life Vision Solutions.  For all your needs from life insurance to stocks, when it comes to money,  money,  money and how to invest, grow and build a legacy,  she is your go to. Visit her at iamwealthynow.com and let her help you change your life.

So this blog is an impromptu.  Tonight we had a meeting of the minds and wanted to grab a bite to eat in the process.  Well, I was chosen to pick the restaurant.  What I found is that we have a lot of places that run weekly specials and I will need to make my rounds.  Tonight's special lead us to Cru Bistro and Wine Bar. 

The restaurant is kind of quaint and gave a very low key, chill vibe. A perfect place for a first date, small meeting or function with friends.  And I had my first encounter with the 5.99 burger and fries special. 

Now I have made post on Facebook and Instagram asking you guys where the best burger in town is. Let's just say I had a burger tonight that is giving everyone a run for their money. 

Let's just start out with the price, $5.99!!!! How many places in the city can you go and get a quality burger,  with fries for 5.99? Not too many and for the price you get more than your money's worth. 

Let's start with the burger.  It's served on a nice brioche bun that compliments the burger burger.  It's served with American cheddar but you have your choices of cheese to choose from. (I went with provolone because well that's my kinda cheese. ) The cheese is melted lovely all over the burger.  Now the toppings are simple: lettuce and tomato. (This simplicity works for this burger. ) And then you are served a garlic mayo on the side.

Now some may say what makes this burger so good. Why do I feel like it is on off the best? Anybody could make this burger.  Well I will answer this question like this. With how simple the burger is put together,  it can easily be trash. If it is cooked the wrong way,  you will know after the first bite. This burger made you want another bite,  then another and another. 

But you want to know what really took the burger to the next level,  the fries!!!!  I don't know how many times I have had a burger that was decent but the fries made the whole combo trash. (Or maybe it's just me, I don't know.) But this fries were fresh, thick steak cut and served hot. Also, they seasoned these bad boys to perfection. 

I was pleasantly surprised with this meal and will be back for sure. I do believe Cru has one of the best burgers in town and will hold its own against any restaurant. 

Well, this is a top-notch restaurant and I would refer this place to anyone.  Maybe next visit will be for brunch but who knows, the return trip for the burger is a must. 5X Tee with no hesitation for Cru.

As always,  thank you for reading and showing love. Love hearing your feedback and how you check out this and the other restaurants I have featured. (Well, one not so much but sometimes you gotta try things for yourself. ) Make sure to enjoy all the ones in your life but also, make sure you treat yourself!!!!!

Review of Corner 16 on Middlebrook Pike

I want to start this blog off with a big shout out to Cuts by Reggie for today's sponsorship.  If you are looking for a barber in the Knoxville area,  go see Reggie and the rest of the team at Diamond Cutz on Western Avenue.

So today's restaurant is one that I have passed many times but never stopped in.  Well today I finally went in to see what the restaurant is all about. 

It's a very nice restaurant and the atmosphere is one that you can enjoy with your friends and/or family.  A very spacious place with options to sit inside or out. It has entertainment for the kids as well. (A ping pong table and cornhole are available.)

The menu has more of a home feeling to it. This menu is going to be appealing to all and will give you a chance to try different things that you may have not tried before.  They put their own little twist on their meals and that really stood out to me. 

The pricing of the food is a fair rate. You will get your money's worth here. The portions were more than enough and could be shared amongst 2 people. Now let's talk about what we consumed today.

Now they had a brunch menu and it had some items that interested me but today I was looking for a hearty, comforting meal. Something that fills me up and puts that itis on me. (It's a struggle to write this right now. Eyes are heavy. Lol)

Today we started with the loaded tater tots.  Now these delicious nuggets will throw you off at first. They take the potato and dice it up. They then add cheese and bacon to the diced potatoes and proceed to make them into fried morsels of starchy goodness. (After the first bite, you will not stop eating them.

So, I decided to go a little healthier with my choice.  I got a house salad to accompany my Smokehouse Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes.  Thing is, the salad was a meal within itself.  I could have easily at the salad and been satisfied. (Check the pic below. ) But we can't stop at a salad,  just isn't right.

Let's talk about this meatloaf and mashed potatoes.  The meatloaf was very moist and delicious.  Not everyone can make meatloaf and I was pleasantly surprised with how moist the meatloaf was.  And then you put some smoky mash potatoes on the side. What a combination!!!!! (And they top it off with some scratch-made brown gravy.)

I took some pics of the meal my guy Cuts by Reggie got. He had the Turkey and Dressing with green beans. That plate looked like a prelude to the greatest holiday in the world,  Thanksgiving. (Peep the cranberry sauce on the side.)

After a meal like this, you gotta have dessert right? Yes indeed!!!! I finished my meal with a nice chocolate milkshake.  It was so thick and creamy.  The whipped cream and cherry on top gave it a feel of an old school soda shop. (Check out the Icebox Lemon Cheesecake my guy flexed on.)

And before I end this, I have to give a shout out to our server J.P. He did an excellent job taking care of us and that goes a long way. The customer service makes you want to return.

All in all, this was a great dining experience.  The service, along with the food made sure I would return for another meal. This place gets a 5X Tee for sure. And I will be back sooner than later believe me.

Make sure you like, follow and share with your friends . Thank you as always for your support and would love to hear your feedback.  Remember to take time and enjoy the ones you love. But most importantly,  make sure to treat yourself!!!!!!

Review of Oakwood Gourmet BBQ Food Truck

So, this will be my first review of a food truck in the area. If you know me, you know I have love for food trucks.  Food Truck Park was an event that I looked forward to each and every month.  This event brought together some of the best food trucks in the city. It gave you a chance to taste different food genres,  different ethnicities and made you root for the people taking a chance to bring out what made them happy,  providing you with an abundance of food variety.

I woke up this morning with the intent of doing a blog but still hadn't decided on a place. A get a call and get invited to World's Fair Park. I am told there is a BBQ spot that might be one of the best in town. I have been wanted some BBQ and well if I am told it may be one of the best in town, it's only right I check it out.

I get downtown and see that there is an event in progress.  I see of pink is in the area, Breast Cancer Awareness Walk. (A great cause to contribute to. I believe we all have been affected in some way by this disease.) I link up with one of my best friends from high school and we hit the park. There are a few trucks but there was one in particular that he talked about,  Oakwood Gourmet BBQ. He begins to tell me a story of how he found out about the food truck. He is adamant about the brisket and continues to rave about their food.  We finally get to the window and it's time to put this food to the test, Fat Boy Style!!!

The first thing I want to focus on is the menu. These guys had their menu down to what you look to find in a good BBQ spot. Sometimes people can get over zealous when it comes to BBQ and the menu suffers because you are doing too much. Simple menu equals great BBQ!!! (In most situations)

The pricing for the menu was right on point in my opinion.  I don't believe they were gouging your pockets.  I feel they set the price right in the pocket for Knoxville.

Saying that, let's now get down to the nitty gritty!!!  To say a place is one of the best, the bar is being set pretty high. If you are told something is the best and it doesn't meet your expectations, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth and you probably will not come back to that place. Well, that was not the case today!! I tell you this truck is one of the places you will follow and find out where they will be next. (If you want to follow them, they are on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.) You will thank me later!!!

So I got my Fat Boy on today for sure. I got the pulled pork and brisket.  I also got three sides, smoked macaroni and cheese,  loaded potato salad and Texas Style pinto beans. (I am living up to the name, don't judge me!!! Lol) The meat was awesome.  The pulled pork was so tender and moist.  They both were seasoned well and really didn't need any kind of sauce.  (I tried the pork with the sauce and it didn't bring down the quality.) Now this brisket was so good. This brisket was the best I have had hands down in the city. So tender, seasoned to perfection and the smoke ring was just like you see on those cooking shows.(Another hobby of mine. Showing my age.) But really,  it was fork tender and the taste had you wanting more.

I was also impressed with the sides. My favorite of the three I had was the loaded potato salad.  If you love potato salad like I do, this is a twist you will thoroughly enjoy.  The Texas Style pinto beans were a plus. It was a change from the BBQ beans we usually have at bbqs.  The mac and cheese was good. It was somewhat of a letdown because I was looking for a little something different and it seemed like a very simple side dish. (You have the option to add meat and maybe I should have tried it that way.)

This food truck is one of the best in the city. The quality is above par and you will want to come back for more. These guys are bringing a quality that we all want and need when it comes to food. If you get a chance,  check them out and you will see what I am talking about.

This truck gets the first  5X Tee and it is well deserved.  I wish these guys all the best as they move forward and know that I will be back and will be recommending this to all my people.

I hope you enjoy this review.  Please share and feel free to follow, like and share on Facebook and Instagram.  Make sure to show love to all but make sure you take the time to treat yourself!!!!