Friday, October 23, 2009

Brio Bistro Italiano

Last night, my family and I dined at Brio Bistro Italiano in Bellevue. I was really impressed! First of all, we started with the Arancini. This is fresh mozzarella stuffed in fried risotto with a spicy red pepper sauce that is perfect for dipping. When I first ordered this, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I soon realized that the Arancini is heavenly! I must stress that if you have not tried this, please do, because it is absolutely delicious.


For our meal, I ordered the Gnocchi di Aragosta. It is one of their signature dishes and it was delectable. This dish consisted of fresh, homemade tomato gnocchi, with lobster and corn in a butter vermouth sauce. It literally melts in your mouth. I was very satisfied, but the only bad thing…my mom and husband were trying to eat it all!

My husband had the Controfilleto, which was a huge 10 oz. Sirloin Steak in a red wine sauce. It was cooked to perfection. This dish came with a side dish of gorgonzola, tomato gnocchi that was so rich in flavor. It was out of this world! My husband loved it, as well!

My mom had the fried eggplant, which is new to the menu. It has ricotta inside it. I do not even like ricotta, but this was really good. My sister-in-law tried one of the flatbreads. She had the Aragosta e Gamberi. This flatbread was a lot like the pasta dish I had, because it had lobster, corn and roasted red peppers and with a white sauce and topped with fresh parmesan cheese. This is a very great dish to have if you are trying to eat light.

For dessert we had the tiramisu, which melted in your mouth and we had the chocolate torte, which was very good.

I definitely think you should try Brio if you have not already been. Everything is done to perfection including the service and atmosphere. You will not be disappointed at Brio and you will not go hungry. I already am looking forward to my next visit and I already know what I am going to try next!

Monday, October 12, 2009

McCabe Pub is a MUST in Nashville....

I thought that I would take the time to tell you about McCabe Pub in Sylvan Park...I feel like this restaurant is often overlooked these days with the popularity of Local Taco, Park Cafe, and Cafe Nonna...I have lived in Sylvan Park for a little over two years and although I have eaten at every possible restaurant in the area..I somehow find myself always wanting McCabe!

Not only is the food amazing, but the atmosphere is what I love most about this place..The wait staff is amazing and the bartenders make great drinks... I always run into someone I know at McCabe, which is great! It is such a cozy restaurant with that local Nashville feel... If you have lived in Nashville your whole life and haven't been to McCabe, then shame on you! You have really been missing out..

Some of my favorites on the menu include.... the cheeseburger (of course), the quesadillas!!!, chips and salsa---a million times better than Local Taco!!!.., the squash casserole, sweet potato fries, and the grilled chicken salad with a side of cheese toast. McCabe also makes incredible RED VELVET CAKE...

So if you are in the mood for a cozy local restaurant with great service and comfort food, I highly recommend McCabe Pub! You won't be disappointed.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Vittles in Beautiful Brentwood, TN

Today, I am going to write about Vittles.  Why?  Because I think it is a damn good place to eat.  Vittles is a eatery where you can get good ole southern cooking. 

They have good fried chicken, great pot roast, meatloaf and porkchops, which you can get grilled or fried.  I like their chicken fingers and fried chicken, because they use big, thick juicy peices of chicken.  And fried to perfection...I might add.

Vittles offers a wide variety of sides.  In fact, sometimes I just get the veggie plate.  The sides I prefer are the squash casserole, green beans, boiled cabbage (is really good).  The fried corn nuggets are "the bomb."  The greens are good.  Fried okra is good.  The mac and cheese is a little dissapointing, but all of their other sides make up for it and the fries are not my favorite. 

Recently, Vittles just started offering breakfast everyday from 6-10:30 AM during the week and they have a country brunch from 10:00-2:00 PM on Sundays.  I, personally, have not tried their breakfast, but I am sure it is delicious.  They offer your typical "basic" breakfast that has scrambled eggs, bacon etc.  In addition, they serve pancakes, french toast and breakfast burrito's.  The breakfast in a bowl sounds really good, it is layered with Vittles famous buttermilk buscuits, eggs and hashbrowns.  You can't go wrong with that one!  They also have omelettes as well.

Also, if you work in the brentwood area, they have grab and go breakfast items.  I would take that over MickyD's any day of the week!

A New Favorite of Mine...Corner Pub Bellevue

Corner Pub in Bellevue has become one of my favorite new places to eat. In fact, last week I ate there two days in a row…that’s how great it is.

First and foremost, I must tell you about cheese beans. Yes, cheese beans. Cheese Beans are similar to mozzarella sticks but with a different twist. You know the squares of cheese you can buy at the grocery? That’s what cheese beans are but fried and served with honey mustard and ranch dipping sauce. The pepper jack cheese beans are my absolute fave, but an order comes with the pepper jack and the regular cheddar…delicious! Other great appetizers you can get at Corner pub are the chicken nachos, fried pickles, and mini corn dogs, to name a few.

Cheese Beans



Chicken Nachos



Fried Pickles



Mini Corn Dogs

Anyone that went to UT Knoxville knows about Gus Good Times Deli and the steam sandwiches that they make. Well, for all you Nashvillians craving one of those steamed subs look no further, because you can get them at Corner Pub and between you and I, I think they are better than the one's you get a Gus's Good Times Deli. So far, I have tried the roast beef, with provolone and mushrooms. Awesome! Also, the turkey and cheese is great as well. The sandwiches come with home made potato chips as well or you can get crinkle fries.

I have also tried the chicken fingers, which are great. Also, they offer fried chicken sliders, which are delicious and they are coated and wing sauce, for a spicy delight. In addition, they make one hell of a burger and their sliders are delightful, as well. On the days that I am trying to eat healthy (which is Seldom), I like to go for the chicken skewers. They are marinated and so tender and covered in a spicy sauce. At first, I was skeptical, because I thought they might be boring, but they were great and I was quite satisfied!

Corner Pub is not just a place that serves your everyday bar food. They have a very extensive menu, which is why I like it so much. They have steak and biscuits, chicken and biscuits, and any sandwich you can possibly think of. For example, they have a sandwich called "The Flux" and it is sausage on a hoagie with peppers and onions. I have not tried it yet, but next time I am getting it for sure.

Be sure to go to Corner Pub on Mondays. Mondays are "Smoking Mondays" and they smoke all of their meats. The offer smoked chicken sliders that are out of this world! They also have gumbo on Mondays that is some of the best gumbo in town!

Not only is the food good, but everyone that works at Corner Pub is a pleasure. They treat their customers like family. Next time you want to watch a football game and get some good eats, check out corner pub. You will not be disappointed. And please write us and tell us what you have tried there, and what you think about the place!

P.S. Get the cheese Beans, seriously I would not steer you wrong on this one!

Website (check out the menu): http://cornerpubtn.com/CP_in_the_woods/sandwich.html

Monday, October 5, 2009

Barbara's Meat & Three

If you like fried chicken, green beans and macaroni and cheese then you will like Barbara's. Barbara's is located near Grassland Middle School when you are going towards Franklin.


Barbara's is famous for the fried chicken and I must say that it is really good. With a hint of Lowry's seasoning salt, Barbara's fried chicken tastes a lot like my momma's and that is a good thing! I had the fried chicken with green beans and Mac and cheese. The fried chicken comes with one breast and one leg. My dad had the sweet potatoes, which were out of this world (and I don't even like sweet potatoes)! The poppy seed chicken casserole is a great dish as well, especially when complimented with some good ole Southern sweet tea!

For dessert, you I had much trouble deciding if I wanted chocolate bread pudding or banana pudding. I opted for the ladder, and boy am I glad I did. The banana pudding was out of this world. I love meat and three and I have to say I love Barbara's it is very good and servers are friendly as well.