Fat Man Reviews

At the start of the second half of our adventures, Aruba took us to the Pelican Nest Restaurant for dinner on the ocean. We started with the scallops, and that's when it took a turn. The scallops were hardly seared on either side, and the chewy scallops were inedible. Next up were coconut shrimp. The shrimp were fried pretty hard; I could taste a lot of oil, too. They, too, were chewy, and neither of us cared for them. We split the snapper for our entree with mushroom risotto and polenta. The snapper was cooked well and well seasoned. My hang-up with it was the Creole sauce they topped it with. It was sweet, thin, and felt like an afterthought. The taste reminded me of Tostitos salsa. The risotto was cooked perfectly and had huge chunks of mushrooms, but it desperately needed salt. The polenta was perfect. It was buttery, creamy, well-seasoned, and had a great texture. They also topped the polenta with the Creole sauce; it worked better on this dish because the polenta soaked up the juice, even if it did make it sweeter. The Fat Man says NOT approved.

The next day, we decided to have lunch at Passions On The Beach. We ordered chicken wings as our starter. They were fried perfectly; the chicken was juicy, and they had an excellent crunch. However, they had no seasoning or sauce. They could have used both seasoning and sauce, as they were just plain. We also ordered the beef tacos. They came as three in a flour tortilla. The arugula, pico, and vegetables were crunchy and fresh. They put on a tangy Chipotle sauce that was nice, too. The skirt steak was dry and had little flavor, but the sauce helped cut through it. The Fat Man says 1 chin.

We decided pizza was on the agenda, and it was great for dinner one night. The locals said Fig Pizza and Pasta was a great spot for it. We ordered the El Bandito Pizza, which came with spicy chorizo, jalapeños, and cheese, topped with a creamy avocado sauce and lime juice. The crust was excellent, both in crunch and chew. The toppings were fresh, and the spice level was great. The fresh mozzarella and the cheese pull were outstanding. The Fat Man says 2 chins.

Venturing out one night, we weren't exactly sure what sounded good, but we wanted a place that offered several items or loads of appetizers. Carmen's Tapas checked all of those boxes. We started with crispy pork belly, slow-cooked spare ribs, and sticky chicken. The pork belly was crispy, juicy, tender, had a great chew, and had a really good sauce. The sauce on the ribs was really good, and the meat was juicy but a little chewy. The fried chicken was perfectly breaded and fried, and the sauce was sticky, really sweet, with a nice hint of vinegar and heat. The combination of the dishes was filling and delicious. The Fat Man says 2 chins.

Located near Baby Beach is a roadside restaurant named Kamini's Kitchen, which serves Trinidadian and Caribbean comfort food. We started with the Fried Funchi with cheese. This dish is made with fried polenta topped with cheese. It was a good starter, and the cheese pulls were amazing. The polenta was slightly over-fried, but it was still nice. We shared a small crock of chicken soup. It was fragrant and well-seasoned. The chicken was flavorful, and the veggies were cooked well. It was a little thin, but overall, a good soup. To cap off the meal, we tried a Roti chicken curry with boneless white meat. We ordered hot sauce on the side, but the head chef made the spicier version for us at no extra charge. The chicken was cooked perfectly, tender, juicy, and had a great flavor to it. The curry featured thick-cut potatoes, green peppers, and onions, which added texture. It was flavorful, with a great spicy note; neither of us thought it was hot, so next time we will ask for extra spicy. The pumpkin was pureed and sweet, while the Chana (chickpeas) were flavorful and had a nice texture. The roti was fresh, light, and airy with a nice chew. It also complemented the curry, meat, and potatoes well. Roti is an unleavened flatbread made from stone-ground whole-wheat flour and water, similar to tortillas and naan, but with a very different taste and texture. The Fat Man says 1 chin.

Our last stop before leaving the beautiful island of Aruba was Cafe 080. It is a cozy, open-air Dutch bar and restaurant known for its friendly local vibe and affordable comfort food. We started with the beef soup. It had excellent beef flavor, tender beef, and just enough salt, and it also included alphabet noodles, a nice reminder of my childhood. I sampled the homemade meatball also. It was moist and tender, a good size, and had a good chew and flavor. The gravy was a deep, rich, all-day-cooked flavor that highlighted the beef in the meatball wonderfully. My wife had fries with curry ketchup. The fries were crispy with a great crunch and seasoning. The curry was tangy, with a light, sweet note that complemented the fries and made for an excellent dish. The Fat Man says 2 chins.

Our time in Aruba was great; we enjoyed the beaches on multiple days, had some really good food, and relaxed by our private pool at the Airbnb. The locals were very friendly, and they really live their motto, "One Happy Island." This is one island that I can definitely say should be on your bucket list. The Fat Man says that Aruba was a wonder and, as a whole, is Approved with 3 chins.

🇦🇼 As many of you know, the Fat Man and his wife love to travel. This summer, we traveled to Aruba. Now, hearing that name may make you start singing a certain Beach Boys song; it does me, too. Aruba is a desert-climate island located 15 miles north of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean Sea outside of the hurricane belt. We tried several spots for lunch and dinner, eating breakfast mainly at our Airbnb or something light on the beach.

Our first stop was Surfside Beach Bar for lunch. My wife had the Grouper Tacos, and I tried the Dutch Snack Platter, which included Dutch bitterballen, mini frikandel, chicken nuggets, and mozzarella sticks. The grouper was lightly fried, and the slaw was crisp with a nice sweetness to cut through the batter. The mozzarella sticks were lightly battered and fried perfectly. The sampler nuggets and sausage were nice, tender, and flavorful. Bitterballen are a thick, creamy meat ragout or gravy filling that gets chilled, then battered and fried. It has an interesting texture and flavor. I'm honestly not sure how to describe it other than unique, but it is very popular in Dutch cuisine. The dipping sauces- mustard, sweet & sour, and a brown sauce were nice accompaniments to the dish. The Fat Man says 1 chin.

Our next stop was Azar for a nice dinner. We started with the Chorizo and the Scallops. Both were very flavorful. The chorizo could have had a touch more heat, but the scallops were seared perfectly, and the cheese sauce added extra texture and flavor. We split a Bleu Cheese Salad that came with sautéed pears and candied Pecans. The pears had a nice, subtle flavor that contrasted the Bleu cheese, while the pecans added a sweet crunch. We split the Short ribs, which came with sweet potato puree and Bok choy. The potatoes were very buttery and creamy, with a subtle sweetness. The bok choy added some crunch and that healthy green-vegetable element. The ribs were perfectly tender and full of flavor. The Asian BBQ sauce was sweet and savory, and it was cooked into a sticky glaze. The Fat Man says 2 chins.

On the way to the beach one day, we had lunch at Lili's Empanadas and More. We split a few items, including the Ham and Cheese and Chicken empanadas. They both were cooked beautifully. The crust had a crunch and a great chew, without being over-fried. The insides of both were tender and full of flavor. The house-made garlic sauce was tremendous. Mayo-based with just enough garlic to flavor each bite, my wife is not a huge fan of garlic, especially in a sauce, but she absolutely loved this one. We also tried Oxtail Stew, which came in a large portion. The meat was tender and flavorful, but the broth was the star of the show. It tasted like it had been cooking all day, with all the flavors, spices, and aromatics marrying together perfectly. This was one of our favorite spots during the trip. The Fat Man says 3 chins.

After the beach, we wanted burgers, so we stopped at Magu on the way home. I ordered the Cheesy burger, which came with four different cheeses. American, Gouda, mozzarella, and a Parmesan crisp. It was a huge burger, and the cheese was ooey-gooey and present in every bite. My wife tried the Original burger. It was loaded with fresh toppings, double cheese, and tartar sauce. The tartar sauce worked really well with the burger. We also split an order of TexMex fries. The fries were cooked well and had a nice crunch. The chili burger meat was well-flavored and plentiful. The bacon added nice salt, crunch, and chew, while the chipotle sauce added a creamy, spicy note. The Fat Man says 2 chins.

Zeerovers is a local dive that is right on the beach, but out in the middle of nowhere. They only serve fresh-caught fish. The day we went, they had Mahi Mahi and Shrimp; we also had their fries, cornbread, and plantains. The fish and shrimp were well seasoned. They were both seasoned and lightly fried. Be careful, though: the bones are still in the fish, and the shrimp come in their shells. The fries were crispy and well seasoned. The cornbread was like a pancake or a ho cake. Everything was fast and fresh, and the staff was pleasant. The Fat Man says 1 chin.

This is only half of the fun food adventures that we had in Aruba. Thanks for reading the reviews, and "Eat well, my friends." Stay tuned for more posts about Aruba.

While visiting my grandmother in my hometown, we ventured out to the restaurant, as Granny calls it. Miles Diner is a cozy, family-friendly American eatery in North Middletown, Kentucky, celebrated for its classic comfort food, country cooking, and warm, small-town atmosphere.

I decided to go with a Cheeseburger, which came with lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, mustard, ketchup, and Miracle Whip, and fries. The fries were out of a bag, but were fried perfectly to a golden brown. Crunchy on the outside and pillowly and delicate on the inside. They needed some salt, but overall they were good. The hamburger bun, out of a bag, was fresh with good taste and chew. The veggies were fresh, crunchy, and plentiful on the burger. You got a little of each in each bite, with the ketchup and mustard in the right portions, and the Miracle Whip gave it just a little tang on the back end. The burgers were 1/3-lb patties, cooked to medium-well and had good beef flavor, but could have used a touch more seasoning on the flat top. It had a really nice crust while still being juicy and tender in each bite.

I was encouraged to try the Chili dog as well. The bun was out of a bag but fresh, with a nice chew. The hot dog was grilled and had a good char. I believe it was all an all beef hot dog and was a good size. The chili was plentiful and made with ground beef and onions; it had a good beef flavor with a slight sweetness on the back end. Next time, I would add onions, mustard, and cheese, but I enjoyed the hot dog.

Miles Diner has a small menu of comfort and grill classics. They serve soft drinks and sweet tea pretty well, too. They have daily specials and are open for breakfast as well. The staff was very friendly and made you feel like a regular. The place is small and located in what was once a pool hall. The Fat Man says that Miles Diner is Fat Man Approved with 1 chin.

Living in Central Kentucky means we're just a short drive from several bigger cities, and most of them have a zoo. So, the Fat Man and his wife headed north to the Cincinnati Zoo—with one more stop in mind: some Asian food. After hearing about Corner Dumpling House all over social media, we had to give it a try. They serve authentic handmade dumplings, flavorful Sichuan dishes, and a menu packed with plenty of options.

The first item brought out to us was Mao's Braised Pork Belly. The sauce has a little sweetness at the beginning, but finishes as a heavy soy glaze. Some pieces were tender and melted like butter, while most were fattier and tougher, requiring a longer chew. This unfortunately overwhelmed most of the dish. The tableside chili oil added some nice heat to the dish. The thick-cut potatoes offered a nice texture change-up, were tender-cooked, and were really good in the sauce. The green and red peppers were thickly chopped, adding freshness to each bite and helping cut through the pork's chewiness.

Next up were the Steamed Pork Buns. The buns were slightly sticky, sweet, and airy, with a nice amount of dough and a good chew. The pork on the inside was super tender with great flavor, both salt and a hint of spices. It also had a bit of sauce inside the bun, which added to the flavors and texture. Everything together made for a good bite. The addition of the chili oil again amplified this dish.

Last, we tried the Steamed Pork Soup Dumplings. The dumplings were steamed perfectly, with good chew and texture. The soup inside was buttery, with sweetness and a texture that coated the tongue in each bite. The pork inside was cooked well, tender, and flavorful, with a nice saltiness. The tableside dumpling sauce added a nice sweetness and tanginess to this dish. There was, however, an oily texture in each bite that took away from the dish; it left a weird aftertaste.

Corner Dumpling House offers a large menu featuring cold appetizers, soups, Sichuan dishes, dim sum, noodles, and fried rice. The servers are knowledgeable and friendly, and they offer a tea special, a full bar, and beers. The Fat Man says that Corner Dumpling House is Fat Man Approved with 1 chin.

While out shopping, the movies, and enjoying a great day in Lexington, the Fat Man and his wife decided to get a late lunch. We swung into Southern Cookhouse & Bar. Southern Cookhouse features scratch-made dishes using local ingredients, a variety of burgers, pizzas, and classic Southern entrees.

I started with the Chicken & Sausage Gumbo because I love soup and all soup-adjacent things. The gumbo had a good, rich flavor from the roux, with subtle heat and a sweet finish. The chicken had a nice flavor, a little saltiness, and it was tender. The Andouille sausage was cooked well and rounded out the flavor profile. The tomatoes and scallions added brightness and crunch. The rice had a few hard pieces, but overall it was good. I do want to mention that I did find a few chicken bones in the dish, just so people are aware.

My wife tried the Dunwoody Cobb, made with Grilled chicken breast, boiled eggs, bacon, avocado, tomato, and blue cheese crumbles, with spring mix tossed in Dijon vinaigrette. The lettuce was crunchy and fresh. The bacon had a great salt level, crunch, and crispiness. The avocado added a creamy richness to each bite, while the tomato's acidity cut through the Dijon mustard's sweet and bitter notes. The star of the show was the salty, nutty, creamy blue cheese crumbles, which meshed well with all the other components. The chicken was cooked well and had good flavor, but it was dry. While I avoided it, my wife said the boiled egg was well-cooked and added it to the salad.

I had the Nashville Hot chicken, which comes with spicy pickles, coleslaw & mayo on slider rolls with potato salad. The potato salad was mustard-and-mayo-based. The potatoes were soft but still offered some texture. The mustard and mayo balanced each other and added flavor. There were eggs in the potato salad, but they blended into the background and did not stand out. The sweet pickle relish added crunch and texture without being overly sweet. I'm not sure if it was made in-house or from a container; it was good nonetheless. The slider was fresh, soft, and nicely toasted. The slaw was medium-chopped, with a great mayo ratio and a good sweetness, tasting fresh, crunchy, and creamy without being so rich as to drown out the vegetables or the chicken. The pickle was not spicy, but a thick-cut bread-and-butter type with a little sweetness and a velvety, buttery flavor. The chicken was juicy, tender, and cooked well. The Nashville-style spices were mild to medium, just enough to know it was there but not so overpowering that it was all you tasted. It was not overly oily either, which often plagues sandwiches of this type. The entire sandwich worked well together.

Southern Cookhouse has a full menu, but some items do rotate or are seasonal. The bar is fully stocked, offering draft beer, tea, and soft drinks. They offer counter ordering, and the staff is very friendly. The Fat Man says that Southern Cookhouse & Bar is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins.

🎉 5 years of Fat Man Reviews today. I appreciate everyone who reads my reviews, interacts with me, and offers suggestions. More to come soon. Eat well, my friends.

While visiting Las Vegas, the Fat Man and his wife took a drive out to the Hoover Dam and stopped off in Boulder City to try The World Famous Coffee Cup Cafe. This is a family-owned, family-run staple breakfast and lunch destination for locals and people around the globe. It has also been featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

I had the Papa Con Chili Verde with hashbrowns. This dish is made with Pork Chili Verde, cheddar cheese, pepper jack, pico de gallo, and flour or corn tortillas. I added an over-easy egg as well. The hash browns had a really nice crunch and good seasoning. The egg was cooked perfectly with a nice runny yolk. The cheese added some gooey texture, a little salt, and a bit of bite, while the peppers added a nice crunch to each bite. The pico also added a bright, fresh texture to the dish. The Pork Verde was beautiful, with great spice and juiciness, tender yet with a good chew. The entire dish works well together, and it was hard to stop eating it.

I also sampled their biscuit with homemade gravy. The biscuit was light and airy with great texture, chew, and flavor. It was buttery and fresh. The gravy was seasoned really well, with big chunks of well-seasoned sausage that weren't overpowering, along with sage and other seasonings. The gravy was thick enough to stand up in its own, but not so thick that it had the consistency of glue. Perfect, flavorful, and amazing are about the only ways I could describe it.

My wife had the B.L.T.E. on sourdough with home fries. This sandwich is served with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and egg. The sourdough was thick-cut and lightly toasted, with a light flavor, crunch, and great chew. The lettuce and tomato were fresh, bright, and both had a great texture. The eggs were well fried and seasoned. The bacon was medium-thick, cooked to perfection with crunch, chew, and a great salty flavor. The home fries came in a huge portion, were well seasoned, but were undercooked and had an unwanted crunch. They also came with grilled onions, which tasted good, but I'm not sure why they were put on top of the potatoes rather than cooked along with them.

Coffee Cup has a full menu for both breakfast and lunch. They serve loads of burgers, wraps, sandwiches, plate meals, burritos, omelets, diner classics, and sides. They have a full bar and serve beer. The staff was extremely nice, and the service and food were quick. The Fat Man says that The Coffee Cup Cafe is Fat Man Approved with 3 chins.

After a nice day of hiking in Red River Gorge, seeing Natural Bridge, taking the sky lift, and almost falling several times, the Fat Man and his wife were feeling a little tired and hungry. We decided to venture over to Miguel’s Pizza and see what offerings they had in store. Miguel’s Pizza, a favorite among hikers and climbers, offers a variety of options, including healthy choices, and has a casual, rustic atmosphere in a historic building, with both indoor and outdoor seating.

You can order pizza by the slice to mix and match, or order it whole. We ordered two slices of pepperoni. The crust was thin and crispy, but still had some good chew. However, it lacked flavor and was slightly dry. The crust reminds me of a frozen, pre-made crust. The sauce was thin, slightly sweet, but lacked flavor beyond the sweetness, and the slice could have used more sauce to help bite into the crust. The cheese was light on the pizza and lacked any pull, almost as if it were from a bag at the store. The pepperoni was thin and cut into different sizes, with an adequate amount on each slice and a nice amount of grease, heat, and chew. This was enjoyable on the pizza.

We also ordered a couple of Margherita slices. The crust again had a good crunch but lacked flavor. There was a nice toast on the bottom. The cheese, as before, was light on the pizza, which is fine, but no pull again. The sauce was maybe a little lighter on these slices and lacked much flavor. The tomato and basil were fresh, but there wasn't much of either on the slices, leaving the pizza bare and us wanting more toppings.

Miguel’s menu offers several pizza options they specialize in, a build-your-own option, and salads, pasta, soups, and sandwiches, with options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also offer beer and wine options with soft drinks. The Fat Man says that Miguel’s Pizza is NOT Fat Man Approved.

On a recent Saturday night, looking for a new fine dining restaurant, the Fat Man and his wife ventured north to Georgetown to try Rodney's On Broadway.
Rodney's is a genteel bar/eatery in a restored house with an upmarket seafood & steak menu, plus outdoor seating.

For our opening course, we tried the Sea Divers Scallops. These were tandoori-rubbed and served with a sweet Thai chili sauce. The scallops had a good sear and a slight crunch, with the tandoori rub offering a mild, earthy kick and a hint of chili powder flavor. The scallop was light and melted in your mouth. The Thai chili sauce added a sweet heat combo that complemented the scallops perfectly.

We then shared the Lobster Bisque, which our server recommended. The bisque was very creamy, with a slightly thicker, velvety texture than typical bisques. It was so creamy that it almost tasted like it had cheese in it, which it did not. It had a salty, slightly paprika-spiced flavor, while the sherry added a slight nutty note. This was an excellent dish and worth the drive itself.

For my main course, I ordered the Lamb Chops. They were char-grilled with roasted garlic mint demi-glace and the Potato de jur, which is smoked Gouda au gratin. My lamb was spot-on medium-rare; however, the char was a little hard and bitter, especially on the edges. This was present in most bites. The mint sauce added a touch of sweetness and depth to the meat's flavor. The potatoes were cooked through and offered a slight chew. The Gouda was creamy and nutty, pairing well with the potatoes, though it needed a bit more seasoning.

My wife chose the Filet for her main course. She ordered it medium rare with Weisenberger white cheddar grits and green peppercorn cream sauce. Her grits were cooked well and not overdone; the cheddar was only topped on the dish and not melted into it, but it did offer a sharp bite. We both found them to be bland and in need of seasoning. The peppercorn sauce was creamy, with the onions adding texture, crunch, and a slight sweetness, while the peppercorns popped with flavor and mild heat. The steak was seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium rare; it melted in your mouth. However, the hard char on the edges added a heavy, bitter flavor to most bites.

Rodney's menu features appetizers, soups, salads, prime beef selections, entrees, side dishes, and desserts. They offer a full bar with beer and soda selections. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and will offer suggestions and advice. The Fat Man says that Rodney's on Broadway is Fat Man Approved with 2 chins.

The Fat Man and his wife love to travel. We recently took a trip across the pond and visited Ireland. We started in Dublin with a tour of the Guinness Brewery and an engraved pint glass, and drove around the island through the south and west. We visited Killarney, drove the Ring of Kerry, saw the coast of Di**le, and stayed in Galway. We visited castles and ruins, walked along paths, and looked out over beautiful cliffs to the sea. We drove on the opposite side of the road and met several interesting locals while enjoying a beautiful, green, lush, and old country. It is a beautiful island with lovely people and views. But what about the food? You know the Fat Man is going to find some good food joints.

We ate at several places that had some great food. We started in Dublin with a full Irish breakfast, complete with black and white pudding, both of which are delicious. In Kerry, we enjoyed vegetable soup, which was basically the soup of the week everywhere, and a delicious lamb shank, complemented with mashed potatoes. In Di**le, we had a great sampling of Fish & Chips. Ballyseede Castle offered a delicious Apple Tart to finish off a great meal. After leaving the Cliffs of Moher, we swung by Doolin to sample an amazing Guinness Stew and Chicken Fillet(Fill It) sandwich at Gus O'Connor's. In Galway, we ate a great pizza at Dough Boys, ranked #15 in the world. We sampled food in a lot of different food places, but these were at the top of the list. The Irish love their snacks, especially Tayto chips, but I found my favorite to be O'Donnell's Relish & Cheddar crisps.

Ireland is a great place full of awesome people and loads of food, especially in pubs and petrol stations. If you are thinking about going, then you absolutely should. Take it from the Fat Man that the Emerald Isle is absolutely worth the price, the flight, and learning to drive on the other side of the road. Anthony Bourdain once said, “It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.”Eat well, my friends.