What happened to Service?

Service at Shari's hit an all-time low today. I don't expect much there... after all they don't hire rocket scientists. But what was supposed to be a nice, family lunch-after-church turned into a nightmare. I even broke my good tipping rule.

The two things that put us over the top were both involved with the staff not listening to us but assuming we would want what everyone else wants. We were asked FOUR times if we wanted a high chair for Cody (we didn't... he can't sit up yet) and were bothered numerous times for taking our plates away when we had not finished eating yet but were helping the kids with something.

I can't decide whether to actually boycott though... the pickings get slim around here if you avoid all the places with poor service.

I guess we got spoiled in Portland. :(

The Angry Bear

Atmosphere: About the same as the previous place that was there.
Food Quality: Good, not great
Food Taste: Good...
Service: Not impressive
Kid Friendliness: So-so.
Overall: Was not impressed
Cost: on the high side. 12 oz steak was $22.
Favorite: nope.

We'd heard mixed reviews from friends about this new place over by Eastside Marketplace. So on my birthday we decided to try it out for ourselves. The waitress lost points by asking us if we were doing all right every so often, but she gained points by refilling our waters and letting my kids order their drinks in toddler-ese.

We got a steak and I was disappointed that it did not have amazing taste and it did have a good amount of inedible fat. With that price I had expected to be overwhelmed, but sadly it was comparable to the steaks I cook at home, which either says something good about my own grilling ability or something not-so-good about theirs.

The kids got a grilled cheese sandwich, which came with homemade bread and American cheese and steak fries.

I do have to mention the dinner salad, which came with crumbled dry cheese, fresh tomatoes and an excellent ranch dressing. That and the fresh bread almost redeemed the rest of the meal.

Overall, I'd say it gets a so-so review. We might try it again at some point, but I doubt it'll top our list. Still, a new restaurant might improve with time and if we hear good things we might try it again.

La Casa Lopez, part Dos

My previous review of this place here still works, but as usual I have an update.

We took the family there last night and had a wonderful experience! Hubby and I had fajitas which were mouthwatering. I don't know why our efforts at home cannot even hold a candle to this; we're pretty good cooks! But this was waaaayyyyy better.

The kids had crayons to keep them busy, which I love, and the kids' menu has food my kids will actually eat. Wonderful! The service was good too, in spite of their busy night.

This is definitely one of my favorites!

Gourmet Hiatus

Since we brought our new baby home, we have not only had meals brought to us by our wonderful church family, but the two times we did go out to eat, we went to Shari's so the kids could get Smiley Face pancakes. That has got to be the best marketing tool anyone has ever thought of since restaurants were invented. I thought nothing could make me eat at Shari's twice in one week, but I was wrong. A four-year-old begging for pancakes shaped like a teddy bear will do it.

Smoky Mountain Pizzeria, Second Try

Atmosphere: Trendy
Food Quality: Excellent
Food Taste: Depends what you order
Service: Was not impressed
Kid Friendliness: high chairs provided. Coloring books, crayons. Balloons
Overall: Probably won't be a favorite for us.
Cost: $35 - $50 for a family of four. A little on the high end of family dining.
Favorite: Not sure.

We went here on a date this time, just the two of us. We were hoping for a pleasant dining experience, if not too romantic (the sports channel doesn't set that sort of mood, if you know what I mean) but we were disappointed. The service was worse than the first time we went: slow and inaccurate. For example, the waiter asked us three times if we'd like drinks before we had decided but once we'd ordered (a glass of Chianti) he took forever to bring it, finally muttering that he'd forgotten and brought it after the appetizer came.

As usual the food was tasty although not as outstanding as I remembered. I do know that some friends of ours say this is their absolute favorite place to come as a family so I'm willing to admit we might have gotten bad luck twice. Still, I doubt we'll go back often, even though it seems to be gaining a reputation as a popular hang-out place.

Basilios

Atmosphere: Murals of Italy, not quite Trompe l'oeil.
Food Quality: Fine
Food Taste: Usually good
Service: Self-Serve
Kid Friendliness: Kids welcome
Overall: Good family place. The locals like it. Big City patrons are disappointed.
Cost: $7.50 for a decent plate and salad
Favorite: Myzithra and Brown Butter

This downtown Pullman favorite keeps the price low by having you order at the counter and handing you the food there. It's not quite fast food, though, since they bus your table. I find this arrangement to be quite satisfactory since I can refill my water glass when I please and the food is good. I love their fresh salads and they have a certain Ranch dressing that it especially good.

Where Not To Go: The Breakfast Club

I've put off writing this post for far too long.* I know, my five readers are going to send me hate mail, but I have to call 'em as I see 'em. And I have been to The Breakfast Club three times and had a terrible experience all three times. I cannot figure out why so many people I've talked to absolutely love the place. Maybe it's a really terrific restaurant and I just have spectacularly bad luck.

The first time Hubby and I went together to try it out. The coffee tasted burnt and I remember it being absolutely packed so it took a long time to get our food.

Time number two involved our very good friends, E&K wanting to go there and K being unhappy at their lack of vegetarian selections. I also remember getting a skillet meal that I could have cooked better at home. (My standard for good eating is whether the version I make at home tastes better. As I am becoming a better cook this is starting to pose problems.)

The most recent visit to TBC was a big group of my family members all eating there (including my kids) for some event that I have since forgotten. I do remember that we had burnt coffee again and we waited a long time to get seated and get our food because once again it was packed to the gills. Obviously some people really like to eat there.

I ought to try it in the summer months when it is not so busy, when all the students are at home and the town lies in mellow bliss under the blazing summer sunshine... Ok, I'll stop now.


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* In a small town like ours it does not do to criticize local businesses. Even if you're a snobbish food-blog writer and it's your JOB to give accurate recommendations, it simply does not do. One time when I was working at the front desk at the Quality Inn, I was asked by a guest which restaurant I would recommend. I named a few nearby and she asked, "What about Denny's down the road?" I naively told her I wouldn't recommend it. Just being honest, folks. I had been there recently with a rather large group and it took us over an hour to get our food and when it did come some of the orders were incorrect. If it had been an isolated incident, I might have been gracious enough to overlook it, but unfortunately, it wasn't. Well, this guest of mine trotted right over to Denny's and told the management there that the Quality Inn staff was recommending guests not go to their restaurant. To my shock, the owner himself marched over to the Quality Inn that same morning and bawled me out, screaming in my face about how we local businesses need to stick together and how we ought never to give one another a bad recommendation, ever (even if it was the truth) and yadda, yadda and at that point I think I started to cry. Two things have arisen from the ashes of this confrontation. One: I think twice about giving local businesses a bad recommendation. Two: I have never, ever gone back to Denny's.

The Pantry

Atmosphere: Family, unlimited coffee refills.
Food Quality: Usually good.
Food Taste: Usually quite good.
Service: Often lacking. We have to go track down a waitress sometimes and they're the type that stop by and ask if everything is ok a little too often, but not when you actually need something.
Kid Friendliness: yep, they'll give you a high chair and a booster seat and a box of crayons.
Overall: One of the better breakfast-for-dinner places in town. A tad overpriced though.
Cost: $9-$15 per plate, $4 for kids if I remember right.
Favorite: Taco omelette

We usually have this one in the rotation somewhere. I have usually been happy with my food there although it is just run-of-the mill grill-style food. I think of it more as comfort food! But we are usually happy with the quality when we go.

Gambino's

Atmosphere: Pretty open and noisy
Food Quality: Quite good.
Food Taste: Usually quite good, mild for Italian
Service: Been there twice, no complaints.
Kid Friendliness: they'll give you a high chair but no crayons.
Overall: We like Tucci's a little better.
Cost: $12 per plate, $5 for kids.
Favorite: Spaghetti/Meatballs

I have a somewhat limited experience with their menu as both times I went there I got the Spaghetti and meatballs. It's pretty hard to mess that up, so I was happy! The last time we went there someone was having a kids' birthday party and it was LOUD! But if you like the tall red-plastic cups full of coke and a boisterous, noisy, music-filled atmosphere, this is your place.

Cafe Lopez

Atmosphere: Fun cultural. Lots of plants and a big fountain
Food Quality: Very good.
Food Taste: Delish! Never had a complaint
Service: So-so, hit or miss on quality, but always very friendly and helpful.
Kid Friendliness: high chairs and crayons! Good kid menu.
Overall: One of our fav places. And I met Felix, the owner when I worked at MBS and he was great!
Cost: $9-$12 per plate, $3.50 for kids
Favorite: Enchiladas, chimis, pollo con crema.... it's all good!

This is definitely a family favorite! We LOVE the bean dip you get with the chips at dinner. I've been there many times with everything from kids to wedding parties and never had any complaints.

Super China Buffet

Atmosphere: Buffet... upgraded cafeteria
Food Quality: Acceptable
Food Taste: Usually quite good
Service: Usually really good
Kid Friendliness: soft-serve ice cream.
Overall: We're somewhat regulars, especially with take-out.
Cost: $9 per plate, $4 for kids if I remember right.
Favorite: California Rolls

We went there on Seafood Night (Saturday?) and they had a bunch of really good dishes. I'm not crazy about some of their offerings but I can usually find enough different things to satisfy. The nice thing about buffet is that everyone in my family can find at least two things they like!

Tucci's Italian

Atmosphere: Relaxed Sophisticated
Food Quality: Excellent
Food Taste: Depends what you order
Service: Usually really good
Kid Friendliness: high chairs and crayons. Waiters like the kids
Overall: One of our favorites
Cost: Plates are huge. We split the Spaghettini for $12 for our whole family.
Favorite: Davinci Chianti red wine

Someone once called this "Olive Garden Light". For our family this is a dining standby because Matt LOVES Italian. It's a nice mix of family and formal. They serve a scrumptious family-style salad with every meal as well as fresh bread with dipping oil. The menu also has a nice mix of low-cost soup/salads or higher end gourmet entrees.

Smoky Mountain Pizzeria

Atmosphere: Trendy
Food Quality: Excellent
Food Taste: Depends what you order
Service: Was not impressed
Kid Friendliness: high chairs provided. Coloring books, crayons.
Overall: Might try it again sometime
Cost: $35 - $40 for a family of four. A little on the high end of family dining.
Favorite: Not sure yet

Since this is a new restaurant, we wanted to try it out but like all new restaurants in this area, there was a line out the door for several weeks. We finally got to try it out on a Tuesday night and it was okay for a new place. I felt like the wait staff were pretty green since the dish we ordered, the Curry Chicken Pizza had never been done by the chefs before (so the waitress explained when we had waited 20 minutes for our meal) but when we finally got it, it was absolutely mouthwatering.

The kids got their cheese pizza served in frisbees and they also got a balloon at the end of the meal.

New Garden - Pullman

Atmosphere: plain. feels like a dining room or cafeteria.
Food Quality: Excellent
Food Taste: Excellent
Service: always very good. Food arrives quickly.
Kid Friendliness: They welcome kids. No crayons.
Overall: This is one of our favorite places to eat in Pullman.
Cost: $25 for the family if the kids share
Favorite: Beef and Broccoli. I love it!


This unpretentious little place on Grand Avenue is one of the most popular places in Pullman. The food always comes quickly, the service is terrific and the taste is the best Chinese food I have had on the Palouse.

We had our rehearsal dinner here for our wedding and the family-style feast suited us just right.

San Miguel's Family Mexican

Atmosphere: converted bar
Food Quality: good
Food Taste: so-so
Service: Not outstanding
Kid-friendliness: yes highchairs, no crayons
Overall: not impressed
Cost: $20 for lunch of two entrees

We went to try out this place for Matt's birthday lunch. We'd heard really good things from his co-workers but alas, we found the food bland instead of "authentic" as we'd heard. It was basically a similar Americanized Mexican menu with a few additions. The waitress was friendly but lacked finesse--typical Moscow fare.

I doubt we'll go back; we like Casa (atmosphere) or Patty's (food) much better.

Shari's Family Restaurant

Atmosphere: Your typical family breakfast-for-dinner joint
Food Quality: Good
Food Taste: Acceptable
Service: So far has always been bad
Kid Friendliness: Good. They provide crayons but cannot seem to get a high chair until we have stood awkwardly for several minutes waiting.
Overall: We eat there fairly often just for the pie
Cost: $30 for the four of us to eat dinner if we split
Favorite: Marionberry pie

We go to Shari's from time to time although we always cringe at the terrible service. The waiters and waitresses usually forget something or stand around asking us if we need anything (one of my pet peeves). But the food is usually edible and the kids love the coloring place mats. Also their marionberry pie makes up for a lot.