12/27/08-Ted's Restaurant, Meriden, CT

After hearing things about this place for so long and seeing the burgers featured on the Travel Channel, I knew this was somewhere I needed to go and experience. FINALLY, we went there today. This place needs to be featured on Diners, Drive-In's and Dives because it is just that--a tiny little place with a great neighborhood crowd. While standing in the doorway waiting for a table, we were making small talk with the people around us also waiting and a man was saying how he lives out of town now, but when he drives through, he always stops to get his fix and bring some home. I knew then I was in for something good! Sat down after about 15 min and Tom ordered us lunch--a steamed cheeseburger for each of us and home fries to share. A few minutes later, this little piece of heaven arrived--it has got to be the messiest burger I have ever eaten, but oh man was it good--a huge hunk of cheese covered the burger with lettuce and mayo for me and it was soon devoured. My advice? Skip the home fries and order a second burger--you'll have wished you did. For the price ($4.25) you have nothing to lose trying this burger.

www.steamedcheeseburger.com

12/14/08-P.F. Chang's, West Hartford, CT

Needed to go to Westfarms for a few things this afternoon so Tom and I decided we would also grab lunch at the new P.F. Chang's to see what all the commotion is about this place. We put our name in while we shopped (45-1hr wait) and we did end up waiting all of that. After we were seated our waiter came over with some dipping sauces (but nothing to dip with? I'm a bit confused on that). He put together their signature sauce--hot mustard, soy sauce and red pepper sauce all into the soy sauce cup and mixed it together--definitely had a bit of a kick to it, but interesting taste. For our lunches, we both decided to try something different--we both ordered white rice with our entrees, Tom had the Mongolian Beef-"quickly cooked beef with scallions and garlic"--I had the Moo Shu Pork-"A chinese classic served with hoisin sauce and thin pancakes." Everything was great. Tom's entree had a sweet taste to it and was cooked perfectly and mine had a ton of mixed asian vegetables that gave it a bit of a crunch, but I would have liked a bit more pork in the dish. Overall, good experience--service was prompt, food was great and a nice, modern but casual atmosphere. Would defintely come here again, but would make reservations next time.

www.pfchangs.com

12/5/08-Angelico's Lake House, East Hampton, CT

With a gift certificate in hand, off we went to Angelico's Lake House. Right on Lake Pocotopaug in East Hampton, I can understand the draw of this restaurant--I bet it is beautiful in the summertime. We started with the asian chicken tenders tossed in an orange sesame glaze--very good. Warm crusty bread was brought out with a red pepper/garlic infused olive oil for dipping-nice and spicy. For our dinners, we both started with caesar salads with just the right amount of dressing. My entree was the Mesquite Rubbed Pork Chop--"Double bone pork chop, fire grilled with garlic mashed potatoes, char-grilled pineapple & topped with a smokey BBQ glaze"--Although I liked the flavor of the pork itself, I didn't quite get the BBQ sauce on top and I really think that more of a teryaki based sauce would have worked better, especially since it is served with pineapple. Tom had the NY Strip Steak--"A well-marbled steak grilled to perfection, served with garlic mashed potatoes & fresh vegetable medley"--definitely not up to par with the strip steaks we've had, it was very tough to cut and the flavor was just not there.

For the prices, I was pretty disappointed with how dinner turned out. I'd be willing to give the restaurant another try--maybe in the summertime for lunch, so I could enjoy the view and still hang on to my wallet.

www.angelicoslakehouse.com