D for Applebee's!

On my latest trip out to Buffalo, I heard Applebee’s has half price selected appetizers after 9pm so I checked it out.

Applebee’s

1785 Walden Avenue
Cheektowaga
(716) 897-2605

I tried the classic chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, and queso blanco.

Classic wings - $8.49 for a pound. These wings are lightly breaded and just your average size wings.  I tried their signature BBQ sauce. What a mistake this was.  The sauce was horrible and bitter. Wish I would have tried another flavour instead...

I give these 2 of 5 chopsticks. This is only because the wings were decent size.

Mozzarella sticks - $6.19. You all know what these are.  They were no different or special than anyone elses. I wouldn’t get these again.

I give these 2 of 5 chopsticks

Queso blanco is a white spicy cheese dip with fresh tomatoes, red onion, cilantro and roasted poblanos (chili pepper) served with warm tortilla chips. $5.49. This was watery and yet another waste of time!

I give these 1 of 5 chopsticks

Price: under $20

Parking: Plaza

Service: approx 15-20 mins

Menu: Burgers, salads, pastas, steaks, chicken….

Ambiance: your regular sports bar

Of all three appetizers, they were all FAILS! Do not get the appetizers, save your money! Lets hope my next few food adventures are better.

Until next time…..

Phu’d and Travel

Smugglers Inn

Sorry for my long delay away from blogging but I am back and will be updating on a regular basis.

On my last night of my recent trip to Calgary, I was in search for the Calgarian beef experience so I read a few reviews and settled on Smugglers Inn. They are apparently known for their prime rib so I had to give that a go.  I will apologize now for the horrible photos, the lighting is very dim in the restaurant.

Smugglers Inn 

  

Located at:

 6920 Macleod Trail S
Calgary, AB
(403) 253-5355

All entrees include all you can eat salad, soup and bread bar.  There is a huge selection of salads and 3 soups to choose from; Portuguese Bean and Sausage, Beef Santa Fe, and Steak Soup. They also have fresh baked bread. When I say fresh, I mean we had to wait for it to come out. It was the best bread I’ve had at a restaurant.  The salads were good but nothing to really write about other than the variety. 

Onto the Soups…

Portuguese Bean and Sausage Soup (top left): There wasn’t anything Portuguese about this soup other than maybe the beans. It tasted like tomato soup with a lot of sugar, some beans and what they call Portuguese sausage. Not worth the try.

I give this 1 of 5 chopsticks

Beef Santa Fe (left): This was very much like a Minestrone soup with rice instead of pasta, some black beans and corn. 

I give this 2 of 5 chopsticks

Steak Soup (right): This turned out to be the best tasting one. It is almost like watered down gravy, which sounds pretty bad but very good.  Me and a few of the guys ended up with more than one bowl.

I give this 4 of 5 chopsticks

Next, onto the main attraction….

I ordered the prime rib which is what they are known for

There are three choices of cut

Smugglers Cut (12oz) - $28.95

First Mates Cut (16oz) - $31.95

Owners and Friends Cut (22oz) - $35.95

I went with the 16oz which was more than enough since I already had unlimited hot and cold salad bar. It came with mash potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and brocollini and horseradish. The sides were potatoes tasted like they came from a box and the Yorkshire pudding tasted old.  Luckily the prime rib saved the day for that dish. The meat was juicy and tender. 

I give the steak a 4 of 5. 

If the sides were better, I’d give this dish a 5. 

Price: under $25-45

Parking: Plaza but there are many restaurants sharing the same parking lot so it’s a challenge to find parking

Service: approx 15-20 mins for entrée

Menu: Burgers, salads, pastas, steaks, chicken….

Ambiance: dark and cozy place with big throne like chairs.

If you’re ever in the Calgary area, it’s a must try if you are hungry and like prime rib.

Until next time…..

Phu’d and Travel