Best of 2012

Paul: We've done 19 reviews this year, our first year. I find that pretty impressive.  We could add your "review" of Brio to bring the count to 20, if you'd like?
Candice: We could, but I like prime numbers.  They're my favorite kind.  Let's stick with what we have.
Paul: Well, since this is a favorites sort of post, 19 it is.  Though, I believe your Brio post summarizes your food philosophy nicely.
Candice: Thanks, Paul.  It was more of a sad rant to me, but I appreciate your thought.
Paul: Always welcome, friend....So as the year wraps up, let's talk about the best food we've eaten this year.

Most Viewed Review!

Candice: Let's start with a purely objective category: Most Viewed Review. Which review was viewed by more people than any other?
Paul: That's an easy one to calculate. Numbers don't lie. Number 3 on that list is Da Levee, our favorite Cajun place.
Candice: Is there another Cajun place on the list?
Paul: No, but it would still be our favorite Cajun place. Number 2 is Merlion Rice and Noodle.
Candice: Saigon Palace, moved to Worthington.
Paul: And the number 1 viewed review is...
Candice: Drum roll, please.
Paul: ... 89 Fish & Grill!
Candice: Our very first review. Makes sense it would have the most views.

Best Potsticker!

Paul: Any long-time reader of our reviews knows we love a good potsticker.
Candice: We do, indeed. We're always on the lookout for the best potsticker ever.
Paul: We've narrowed the list down to these three nominees.

• Nida's Thai on High
• Merlion Rice and Noodle
• Moshi Sushi

Candice: Even before we started reviewing, we loved Nida's potstickers. Too bad the day we went to review wasn't one of the best for the restaurant.
Paul: It wasn't the best, but it was still a great potsticker.
Candice: Though I vowed never to return to Moshi after our lunch, through a twist of desperate Christmas Eve hunger fate, I went back and had the potstickers a second time. They were bland and the sauce was too sweet.
Paul: The potstickers from Merlion were okay: homemade, but a little overcooked.
Candice: Tough choice, but the winner is... Nida's!
Paul: Which doesn't mean we won't end our quest for the perfect potsticker.
Candice: That quest never ends.

Most Wins!

Paul: Here's another objective one. At the end of each lunch, we informally decide who 'won' the lunch.
Candice: That is - who had the best overall lunch experience.
Paul: It doesn't always get into the review, but we keep score anyway.
Candice: Because we're like that.
Paul: I've tallied the winners, and you win 7 to 4.
Candice: Wait, that adds up to only 11.
Paul: I ignored buffets and places where we ordered the same thing.
Candice: Ah, I see.  Well, as long as I win the winning, works for me.

Best Dessert!

Paul: We didn't always have time for dessert, and lunch should be a lighter meal.
Candice: Still, we managed dessert a few times. The nominees are:

• The Baklava and Brownie at Dirty Franks
• The Strawberry Shortcake at Third & Hollywood
• The Chocolate Pot de Creame at Third & Hollywood

Paul: Three good choices, but the winner, hands-down, is the strawberry shortcake at Third & Hollywood.
Candice: You are correct. It was absolutely fantastic.  10/10 would do again.

Best Soup!

Paul: We ordered a lot of soup this year and this category shows it.
Candice: There's six nominees here:

• The Chicken Pho at Nida's Thai on High
• The Tom Yum at Nida's Thai on High
• The Seafood Champon at Akai Hana
• The Black Bean Chili at Third & Hollywood
• The Tom Yum at Bangkok
• The Guay Tiew Nam at Bangkok

Paul: All six of those were memorable.
Candice: My favorite is the Seafood Champon at Akai Hana.
Paul: I will let you crown the winner, but the runner up was the Tom Yum from Bangkok.
Candice: Agreed. We need to go back there. Soon.  Hoorah for Akai Hana and that awesome Champon.

Best Service!

Paul: Sad to say, but this is not a long list.
Candice: Yeah, service seldom stood out for us and often detracted. There was only one server who stood out as phenomenal.
Paul: That would be Jack at Third & Hollywood
Candice: He was the best server we had all year. Yeah, Jack!

Best Value!

Paul: This category is for the most food for the least cost.
Candice: Lunch is a budget meal for many.
Paul: The nominees are:

• Thai Mango
• Basil
• Dirty Franks

Candice: The winner here is Basil, with its lovely three-course lunch special for $8.50.
Paul: The other two had good prices too, but the quality and quantity for the price makes Basil the winner.

Most Likely to Come Back for Dinner.

Candice: Our focus is lunch, but these places serve dinner too.
Paul: The question is - based on lunch, which one of these establishments would we like to visit for dinner?
Candice: The nominees are:

• Third & Hollywood
• Nicola
• Explorer's Club

Paul: Explorer's Club had an interesting menu for dinner. Too bad lunch wasn't as good as it could have been.
Candice: The Nicola lunch buffet wasn't a winner, but the locale and owners' enthusiasm encouraged us.
Paul: But, by far the restaurant that tantalized us with its dinner (and brunch) menus was Third & Hollywood.
Candice: The service was excellent and the food was delicious. My mouth is watering right now.

Best Indian Food!

Paul: We hit a lot of Indian places this year.
Candice: Three to be exact. Here are the nominees, all of them pretty darn tasty:

• Aab
• Taj Mahal
• Amul India

Paul: The winner -- and it was a tough, very close call between all three-- is Amul India. Great buffet with a wide selection of great food.

Candice:  Yes, it was tough.  All great places.

Best Buffet!

Candice: And speaking of buffets, we saw a lot of those as well.
Paul: The nominees are:

• Nicola
• Aab
• Taj Mahal
• Amul India

Candice: Our pick is Taj Mahal. The selection was the best, by far, and the setting -- in an old house on High Street -- was beautiful.

Best Decor!

Paul: Which leads us to Best Decor. The nominees are:

• Taj Mahal
• Dirty Franks
• Da Levee
• Wurst und Bier

Candice: Our pick is Da Levee, with its small, cozy feel and its interesting, visually appealing Mardi Gras decor and art displays.
Paul: And its front booths lend themselves to prime people watching.
Candice:  Maybe we can make a people watching blog?  Too weird?  Yeah...moving on...

Best Appetizer!

Candice: We love a good appetizer.
Paul: We do. And we've had a lot of them this year.
Candice: Can we narrow down the list?
Paul: I have it down to five:

• The Cheese Plate at De-NOVO
• The Grilled Artichoke at Third & Hollywood
• The Combination Platter at Bangkok
• The Big Pretzel at Wurst und Bier
• The Crispy Roll at Basil

Candice: Oh, wow, that list is all kinds of awesome.
Paul: But there's one that stands out, isn't there?
Candice: Yes, I can taste it right now.
Paul: The grilled artichokes at Third & Hollywood.
Candice: They were scrumptious.

Best Sushi!

Paul: This category is for you. I don't eat a lot of sushi, but you do.
Candice: I do love sushi. Here are the nominees:

• Moshi Sushi
• Tora

Paul: You had less sushi this year than I expected.
Candice: True and the choice to make here isn't great. The best was Tora with its nice presentation and its ample portions.
Paul: We'll have to seek out some more sushi for you next year.
Candice:  Make it so, Number Two.
Paul: Number Two?
Candice:  Yeah...?
Paul: Right. Sorry - again...moving on.

Best Lunch!

Candice: We're down to the final best-of: the Best Lunch we had all year.
Paul: Oh, very tough choice. We've eaten some good food.
Candice: We've narrowed the nominees down to:

• Da Levee
• Third & Hollywood
• Bangkok

Paul: Da Levee is so consistently awesome. The menu is always changing and always good.
Candice: The magic bread is ever present. Bangkok was a pure surprise. Walking in, we weren't expecting much, but the quality and amount of food was staggering.
Paul: We need to go back. But the winner, hands down is Third & Hollywood!!
Candice: The service was excellent and every course of the meal was superb.
Paul: It was simply the best lunch we've ever had.
Candice: Agreed.
Paul: Let's hope it isn't the last.
Candice: On to next year.
Paul: May we find the best potsticker ever.
Candice: And many excellent lunches along the way!  Happy New Year, everyone.  Thanks for reading our ramblings.

The Leptologists Eat at Basil

Paul: This is going to be our last lunch of the year.
Candice: Where should we go for this momentous occasion?
Paul: How about Basil?
Candice: Okay. That's an old favorite of ours.
Paul: Basil is a Thai restaurant located in the Short North, known for its 3-course lunch special for $8.50.
Candice: I'm getting that.
Paul: Me too.
Candice: Plus some appetizers.
Paul: Of course!
Candice: The place is empty when we arrive at 11:30. Alternative rock is playing in the background not too loudly.
Paul: Since last we've been here, they've expanded into the building next door, doubling their space.
Candice: Now they have room for a Christmas Tree.
Paul: Tis the season.
Candice: Our server takes a while to get to us even though there's no one else here.
Paul: I guess we shouldn't have asked her to come back.
Candice: I order the Red Curry with Beef, Vegetable Tempura, and Tom Yum Soup.
Paul: I get the Basil Chicken over Rice, Crispy Roll, and Tom Yum Soup.
Candice: Our extra appetizers include Potstickers--
Paul: Of course!
Candice: -- and Shrimp Shu Mai.
Paul: Another table gets served their appetizers and soup before us.
Candice: Service does seem slow today.
Paul: Finally our soup arrives!

Tom Yum Soup

Candice: Thank goodness! I almost keeled over.
Paul: We'll have none of your keel in the air, thank you very much.
Candice: The broth of the soup is wonderful.
Paul: Yes, the sourness is something special. It has an excellent flavor.
Candice: The chicken however is a little bland.
Paul: Here are our appetizers.
Candice: Did we order too much?
Paul: You asked that last time. Never!

Our Appetizers

Candice: You go ahead and eat while I wait for my chopsticks. And wait. And wait.
Paul: The potstickers are a disappointment. They are soggy on the bottom.
Candice: Everyone hates a soggy bottom.
Paul: And the wrap is bland and doughy. This is a bad potsticker.
Candice: My chopsticks arrive and I sample the Shu Mai. Very flavorful. Tangy and moist.
Paul: The Crispy Roll is not quite as good as I remember. It too is a little bland.
Candice: I agree. The Tempura is not so great either.
Paul: It tastes like grease. Yuck.
Candice: My favorite of these four appetizers is the Shrimp Shu Mai. Otherwise it's a bit of a bust.

Red Beef Curry

Paul: I think you're right. The entrees have arrived.
Candice: The curry sauce is delish. It has a nice smokey and creamy layer. The heat down below doesn't burn at all.
Paul: The basil in my dish gives it such a great taste. There's nothing like it. The heat of the spices is perfect. Not overpowering and not too faint.
Candice: Let me try. Yes, that is really a fantastic flavor. Try mine.
Paul: It's good, but....
Candice: Not as good as yours?
Paul: Yeah, sorry. I guess I win this round.

Basil Chicken Rice

Candice: You do, darn it!
Paul: So, what are your overall thoughts.
Candice: It's a great value for a three-course lunch. The soup was great. The entrees were fabulous. The appetizers however weren't all they could be.
Paul: Yes, I expected so much from the Crispy Roll.
Candice: The service was slow, but not so slow that I'd recommend against the restaurant for that.
Paul: My water glass was empty more than it was full, but I agree.
Candice: And I will come back. There's so much to explore, even on the smaller lunch menu.
Paul: Agreed.
Candice: Here's to the end of our first year reviewing restaurants!
Paul: I've enjoyed it and look forward to a whole new set of restaurants next year as we continue our quest for the perfect potsticker.
Candice: It can't be found, I say.
Paul: Our next review should be a best of.
Candice: Good idea. Let's get out of here.
Paul: Back to work.

	Candice	Paul
Worth the Price?
Worth the Wait?
Worth Coming Back?

The Leptologists Eat at Wurst and Bier

Paul: Today's lunch spot is Wurst and Bier.
Candice: Good! German food.
Paul: It's located in Worthington, so it seems like a good distance from downtown, but the the drive up 315 is pretty fast and it's easy to get off of Route 23.
Candice: Didn't we have lunch at the place next door?
Paul: I remember that. But it was before we started reviewing. I think a bug crawled across the sushi counter as we watched.
Candice: Ah, good times. (and, actually a wonderful Tuna Tartare salad too)
Paul: The restaurant is empty except for a small bar crowd.

The Bar

Candice: The room is divided into a restaurant and a beer hall. TVs line the walls and rock-n-roll music plays loudly through the speakers.
Paul: We sit at dark-lacquered benches and tables. It has definitely got a sports bar feel to it.
Candice: A freezing sports bar. I'm not taking off my coat.
Paul: Fine. Just don't get your sleeves in your food.
Candice: Uh, thanks, mom. I order the Obazda as an appetizer. It's a large pretzel with a cheese ball.
Paul: Sounds good. I try to order, but they are out of the the first two items I select. No Beef Brats and no house line Knockwurst. I settle for the Pork Brat and the German Potato Soup.

Obadza

Candice: I choose the Curry wurst. I pick the Veal Bratwurst as my sausage of choice to be covered in curry powder and sauce. As sides, I get Bratkartoffeln (potatoes) and German Red Cabbage. I get the soup too.
Paul: The pretzel arrives with a selection of three mustards.
Candice: I love a good pretzel and this is a good one. The pretzel is light and airy with a nice chew texture. Good flavor and not overly salted.
Paul: And the cheese glob it comes with goes well with it.
Candice: Glob?  Award winning author and that's the best word you can come up with?  Sigh.  Anyway, it's a mild cheese, a mixture of cream cheese, onions, and seasonings. It complements the pretzel nicely. This is what I expect at a German restaurant: fresh, tasty pretzels.
Paul: How are the mustards?

Mustards

Candice: Sweet, mild, and hot. Annnd...the hot mustard is burning my nose.  Go on, try them.
Paul: I'm not a big mustard fan....
Candice: Try them.
Paul: Fine. Not bad at all. They go well with the pretzel. You're right, this is an awesome appetizer.
Candice: Here's the soup. Full of potato and carrots.
Paul: We ordered cups, but these are the biggest cups I've ever seen.
Candice: We call them bowls where I come from.  I wonder - Has our reputation preceded us?
Paul: I hope not!
Candice: Right, 'cause if so - You're a weirdo.  Back to the food - - The soup is comforting with its generosity of simple ingredients.
Paul: I agree, and the bacon flavor is rich and perfect for the base. Good soup. And, hey wait a minute...

German Potato Soup

Candice: Don't have one.  My veal bratwurst is a fine sausage. I like the curry atop it, but the sauce is just too sweet for me. The red cabbage is well...red cabbage.
Paul: Too sweet? Impossible.
Candice: You try it, Mr. Teriaki.
Paul: I love this! The Curry wurst is yummy, the sweet sauce colliding with the curry in your mouth. I should have ordered this.
Candice: You're dancing on the bench. Is it the food or the music?
Paul: Who can sit still when Ballroom Blitz is playing?

Currywurst with Veal Bratwurst

Candice: Me. I can.  You're earning that weirdo label, mister.  How's your pork brat?
Paul: The bun is too big for my mouth, but the bread is fresh and doesn't distract from the brat. It's burnt on the sides and that does distract. Did they rush the cooking?
Candice: Yeah, not back there, don't know.  Stop asking me questions I don't know the answers to, I'll end up with a complex.  Otherwise?
Paul: It's a good bratwurst, but it's not singing to me. The fries are good: crisp and hot. I like your Bratkartoffeln too; a filling combination of taters, bacon, and cheese.  And, you're right - my apologies. [You have enough complexes.]

Pork Brat

Candice: Apology accepted.  Did you just murmur something?..deaf chick, hello?
Paul: Nothing important...so what do you think overall?
Candice: German food is comfort food. The pretzel and soup were great. I probably shouldn't have ordered the Curry wurst, not being the sweet tooth variety gal, but the veal bratwurst underneath the sweet sauce hit the spot.
Paul: I should have ordered the Curry wurst.
Candice: Next time. Now, let's see...the atmosphere was great; the bar looks like a fantastic place to watch the big game from; the prices were decent and the wait was non-existent.
Paul: Agreed. I picked the wrong brat, but overall the place is pretty darn good. A good selection of sausages, even though my first two choices were out of stock. That was my one problem.
Candice: Maybe they can't handle the demand. Worth coming back?
Paul: Indeed.

	Candice	Paul
Worth the Price?
Worth the Wait?
Worth Coming Back?