Review: Big Eye Sushi and Japanese Cuisine

Nothing is better than fresh sushi, especially on a hot summer day. It's even better when the sushi is fantastic sushi at a decent price. The place to go in the area for reasonable and delicious sushi is definitely Big Eye in Fairlawn. Monday through Thursday they have half price sushi from 4:30-6:00 on hand rolls and maki rolls. We make make a stop here for our sushi fix almost once a week and we are never disappointed.

The restaurant is always clean and presentable and the decor is modern and trendy. The only oddity is the big screen TVs showing ESPN, which I don't think is necessary for this kind of place. It's always cool in there, so you may want a sweater. Service is hit or miss. Some servers are attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable while others are rude, dismissive, and MIA. Either one you get, it tends to be slow. However, sushi service is generally slow no no matter where you go anyway.

Now for the menu. The wine, sake, and spirits list is varied and exceptional, so I would recommend getting a sake or cocktail with your meal. The appetizers are delicious and unique. If you want a hot appetizer I recommend the Negimaki, thin slices of beef wrapped around scallions seasoned with sweet teriyaki and skewered. If you are going with the sushi, which is what you should order here instead of the entrees, I recommend getting the edamame as your appetizers. Soups are also unique. I recommend the Spicy Vegetable, which will make your eyes sweat if you're not careful. For your sushi you have several options, sushi (piece of fish with rice)/sashimi (piece of fish without rice), maki (6 pieces)/handrolls (1 cone), Big Rolls (8 pieces), and Special Rolls (8 pieces). Since the half price only applies to maki/handrolls, that is the majority of our normal order. For some great maki, check out the spicy crab, spicy scallop, and manhattan. Some favorites from the Special Rolls are crunch munch, spring roll, and the big futomaki. The regular maki/handroll list tends to be repetitive, so you may get a little bored. However, there is quite the variety on the special list, but make sure you don't get a maki roll with just something extra thrown on the outside. They could use a few more special sauces since some of the rolls may be a little dry. However, the sushi is always fresh and delicious. I've never had anything that tasted too fishy to chewy.

Presentation is always attractive and exceptional. The ginger and wasabi is fresh and pungent. For a unique experience, try sitting at the bar. If you want a delicious and reasonable sushi dinner, definitely give Big Eye a shot. Closed on Sundays. 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. $$$$.

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Review: Menches Brother's Restaurant, Canal Park Stadium

First of all, so there's no confusion, I want to let you know this is a review for the Canal Park Stadium location in Akron, not the Uniontown location. I've never eaten there, so it could be a totally different experience. I hope someday to make it out there to get a better understanding of this so-called Akron institution. In fact, I would like to check out the downtown location again during an Aeros game, perhaps, because I have a sneaky feeling we were there on an off day.

So, around the area the legend goes that Charles and Frank Menches, Akron natives invented the hamburger at a festival in Hamburg, New York in 1885. Like many inventions it was developed unintentionally when the brothers ran out of the sausage they normally served. A local butcher sold them 5 lbs of beef and Charles formed them into patties, adding coffee and brown sugar, and fried them up. They were a hit! It sounds like a great story, and I guess we will never really know if its true or not (they also claim to have invented the ice cream cone and the precursor to Cracker Jack); but, today's Menches family has capitalized on the legend by opening the two restaurants.

Last week, we visited the Akron restaurant on a whim, located in Canal Park Stadium. They are open during the week for lunch from 11-3pm, and during games. I was pretty excited because of all the hype and was expecting a life-changing burger experience. When we entered I was surprised to see nothing about the famous brothers in the restaurant except a photograph on the wall. The decor was basically your average sport's bar, but it was clean and presentable. We were the only customers in there except for one patron at the bar (who was clearly frustrating the staff for some reason) and a business lunch going on in the party room. Our server was friendly, but distracted. He directed us to the lunch special menu sitting on the table and recommend the salad and taco bar. I thought, TACO BAR!?! I'm sorry, I was under the impression this was a burger place? I have a personal distaste for salad bars in general because they sit there all day and people sneeze and cough in them, and they are basically a lunch service cop out. So, needless to say my enthusiasm was quickly beginning to wane. After doing that, he basically left us alone for the rest of our visit except to bring us our orders. I was particularly frustrated to observe him giving the full menu to customers that came in later, especially knowing that there had to be more than one burger on that one.

The lunch menu was pretty basic. There was one beef burger on the menu and one turkey. The rest of the items were your basic wraps and sandwiches. I ordered the beef burger with onion rings and some one else got the famous taco and salad bar. They received soup with that order too. The soup was pretty good, and the salad was surprisingly fresh. The burger was good, but I was given the option of ordering to my taste nor was I given any topping options. Instead of onion rings, I was given fries. I was pretty bummed, but it worked out OK. The fries are beer battered and quite delicious, so I didn't miss the onion rings! However, I wish the server didn't continue to screw up with us. The presentation was disappointing with small plastic baskets that crowded the food and made eating a little difficult. However, the food itself was satisfactory.

When it comes to a place that claims to be serving the original hamburger, I would have preferred to be immersed in the experience. Forget the sports posters and Heineken decorations, tell me the story, convince me its true! Please serve more than one burger on the lunch menu, for heaven's sake, and make a burger that blows the mind! I would have loved to taste that original patty with coffee and brown sugar, cooked to order, with a variety of topping choices. Great job on the fries, guys, but I should be praising the burgers. Here's an idea, lose the taco bar and make a burger bar. Take a lesson from MetroBurger, it should be all about the burgers!

This place could be a contender for the downtown eating scene, but so far it has dropped the ball. I will go back with the hope getting the full menu and a better server, but I think dinner would be a better choice. The view of the baseball park is pretty good, afterall. Overall 2 1/2 stars out of 5. $$.

Fieldtrip 1: Haddad's Ocean Cafe, Marshfield, MA

You may be wondering why there haven't been any posts in a while. That's because we ventured way out of Akron (13 hours out to be specific) for business and while on our trip we were able to sample some of the restaurants around Plymouth Bay, Massachusetts. This review is on one of those places we checked out, and its probably the best restaurant we ate at while we were there. I would also like to take this opportunity to put a plug in for Plymouth's British Beer Company. They don't serve food, but will be happy to give you a bowl of Cheetos. They do let you order in, a fantastic option, because once you are there, you won't want to leave. They have the best beer and bartenders in town, plus free Wi-Fi, so you can't go wrong.

Anyway, back to the task at hand, Haddad's Ocean Cafe. Its located on Ocean Street in Marshfield. Its not much to look at, in fact, I wouldn't peg it as remotely attractive. There are two doors into the place, and every time I go, I forget to enter at the left. However, this place is always packed, and I mean packed. It is mostly a local hangout so the clientele is made up of just regular people looking for a good, simple meal. The decor isn't impressive or catchy. I think it might be time to retire the old fishing boat posters. But that in itself gives a nice small town charm. I like to think that this place is a favorite with the fisherman. Because they are right at sea level they've had a couple of floods over the years, but the place always bounces back and is very clean.

The menu is simple, with a variety of seafood options (fried, baked, or steamed, with emphasis on the fried) and Italian pasta dishes as well. They also have a cheaper Senior menu too. Once again, at first glance, its not impressive. But, wow, the food is amazing. Everything is incredibly fresh and tasty, no matter what you order. This time I got the Lobster Casserole, since lobster prices are at their lowest in years and, heck, we're in New England. It was amazing. The lobster was generous and large with a right off the boat taste. They didn't use any fillers like most places, just the lobster. Someone else in our party ordered the Seafood Casserole which had shrimp, lobster, haddock, and scallops, and they were as equally impressed with the freshness and quality. I would also like to add that the Clam Chowder was the best I've ever tasted, and the onion rings aren't bad either. Portions are just right for each order, except the pasta dishes tend to be huge. They also have a great local beer selection. It was the only place I ate at where I left completely satisfied with my food.

Service is very friendly and accommodating, especially with large groups. Presentation is so-so, but I wouldn't say it deterred me from eating there. The only downside is that you have to get there early if you want a seat. Definitely make reservations for parties 8 or more, they do not take them for groups smaller than that. All in all, a rewarding and authentic experience! By the way, it was voted best seafood in the Boston area in 2008! 4 out of 5 stars. $$$ (remember, it's seafood)

For more on Haddad's Ocean Cafe see Hidden Boston.

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Review: Taco Tantos

Last night, we ventured out of the Akron area and hit one of Kent's favorites, Taco Tantos. I have a slight obsession with fresh Mexican food. Honestly, I could eat it if for days on end. Fantastic Mexican is hard to come by in Northeast Ohio. Except for the few family owned places in the area (namely Azteca, Casa del Rio in Wadsworth, and some El Rincons) that strive for something above predictable, we have Chipotle. Chipotle is ok. I like it in a pinch, and you can't deny you get your money's worth. However, I wouldn't say its that great. The tacos tend to get mushy and fall apart, the meat always tastes like it has been sitting a little too long, and the burritos need a little pizazz. Nevertheless, its much better than Baja Fresh or (and I can't believe I'm even mentioning this) Taco Bell. Anyway, when you want a quick taco you're not given many options.

If you have the time and desire something extra tasty, I would recommend heading out to Kent to grab a burrito, taco, tostada, or salad at Taco Tantos. You can either order inside the restaurant (which has about 5 tables) or call ahead and pick up at the window off the Zephyr patio (you access that through the Zephyr bar on W. Main St.). Eating outside on the patio is the way to go; you can grab some food from Tantos and a beer at the Zephyr. In the off season though, its still worth sitting inside or ordering out. We ate inside last night since the bugs were bad, and I was feeling wimpy.

We ordered two tacos, a burrito, some chips and salsa, and a side of rice and beans. One taco and some chips were enough for me, so the extra one and the beans and rice got held over for lunch today. Every time I eat there, I'm blown away by the quality. No old chicken and soggy tortillas here. Each bite was packed full of authentic and well-balanced flavors. There's even a little kick at the end. The only thing I regretted was the amount of cheese on the taco. However, I'm not a huge fan of cheese and it could very well be a preference thing. The salsa and chips were very fresh (gloriously fresh), and not too salty. The tacos and burritos are masterfully constructed. They provide just enough toppings to get the job done without overdoing it. Another bonus is that they put the burritos in a hot press just long enough to get the tortilla crispy. One of the major benefits from that is they don't immediately come apart in your lap when you bite into them.

The staff is always friendly and helpful. If you have a special dietary need they are happy to work with you. For the most part the dining area is clean; however, on this particular visit the trash needed to be changed and most of the tables needed a good wipe down. There wasn't a fly to be seen, though, so I'm not too concerned. All in all, I highly recommend stopping here while you're visiting Kent. We always do. 4.5 out of 5 stars. $.

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August 8, 2009: 5th Annual Brews and Blues Review

Ok, the first thing that sticks out is the incredible amount of rain that poured on us from the time we arrived until (of course) right before we left. That didn't seem to influence the attendance, though. There were still over 1000 people there to try Ohio and international beers. We arrived for the Brewers Circle session around noon and had until 2pm to try the beers that were only available during this time. That was about 20 beers. Thankfully, there were four of us to share the load. We didn't get to all of them, but our ratings are below for the ones we got to try:

Brewers Circle Selections
Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
Belgian Robust Porter= 4.5
Great Lakes Brewing (Oh, why didn't they bring Black Out Stout or Christmas Ale?)
Moondog Ale LSB= 2
Buckeye Brewing
Bling Bling (lots of hops and fruit)= 3.5
Brewkettle/Ringneck
Wits End Double Wit (way too fruity to be a beer)= 1.5
Ohio Brewing Co.
Alt Ernative Amber Ale= 2
Barrelicious (didn't end up bringing it)= 0
Hoppin' Frog
Mean Manalishi Double IPA (168 IBUs, but well balanced)= 4
Barrel Aged BORIS the crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout (the long name is worth it. They ran it through coffee beans and for a tea drinker, it was amazing)= 5
Black Box Brewing
Cloud Nine (anything but)= 1
Indigo Imp
Gatekeeper (great presentation in bottles by dipping them in wax)= 3
Ms. Janes' Brewery @ Roadhouse
Blackbeard Vanilla Bean Stout= 4
Willoughby Brewing
Peanut Butter Cup Coffee Porter (points for creativity, disappointing on delivery)= 3
Fatheads
Quadfather Belgian Abbey (I was drawn in by the name, and was more than pleased with what I got)= 4
Anderson Valley Brewing
Oatmeal Stout (great aroma, weak and watered down)= 2
IPA (as uncreative as its name suggests)= 1
La Rulles
Belgian Trippel= 3
Breckenridge Brewing
Double Porter (definitely one of the worst of the day, at least it looked like a porter)= .5

Others of Note:
Fort Collins Brewing
Draggons Milk Chocolate Stout= 5
Brewkettle/Ringneck
Old 21 Imperial IPA= 3
Cornerstone Brewing
Blind Faith Ginger Belgian Triple= 4
Willoughby Brewing Co.
Doubting Thomas IPA (like an Irish Red Ale)= 4.5

There was also a meadery...
Brothers Drake Fine Mead
Orange= 4.5
Mixed Berry= 2
Raspberry= 2

Our number one favorite was Hoppin' Frog Brewery. They had everything, great beer, great beer names, great presentation, and great service. I'm looking forward to visiting the brewery soon on Waterloo Rd. and trying some of their other offerings.

So what was the worst brewery there? I couldn't say for sure since we didn't visit every single table. However, of the ones we tried the worst by far, and it pains me to say this, was ROOBREW. They only brought one choice, Litigation Lager. It tasted like they mixed Bud Light with honey. We gave it a .5 for effort. They really need to spend more time making a flavorful brew than T-Shirts. Good luck on the law suit with the University of Akron over your logo. Maybe its a sign...Between this and the other microbrewery downtown, Ohio Brewing Company, I think Akron can do better.

A final highlight of the of the experience, besides the food from the Winking Lizard and the music, was the Lucky Penny Farm cheese table. The wonderful ladies here offered cheeses paired with beers and were happy to educate you on the process. They brought cheeses from other creameries, but will be bringing their own next year. They start their first batch of cheese on August 21st.

Some final thoughts...

This is one of the high points of the year in Akron, and I encourage everyone to give it a shot at least once. For the most part it is great experience. However, it would be great if they had a tent just for standing under in the rain and more port-o-potties. It is Stan Hywet, after all, and there is just something wrong about 50 guys urinating in the yard.


*ratings are out of 5, based on creativity, presentation, flavor, aroma, and sticking to its description.

Next Stop: P.F. Chang's

We've all been waiting rather eagerly for the opening of our local branch of P.F. Chang's. Yesterday, I joyously discovered a "Now Open" sign in the window. I should explain why I'm excited about this new development. Usually, I could care less about chain restaurants. Some are good, some are terrible, and they are all predictable. Boneless wings anyone? Well, once, a long time ago, I happened to eat at one of these, and I was blown away. Granted, I was easily impressed at the time and wasn't paying attention. However, the experience has stayed with me. The other reason I'm chomping at the bit is because this is a brand new place. There hasn't been enough time for things to go horribly wrong or for the staff to become too jaded to smile. That usually makes for a great experience. Then again, they may not have worked out the kinks. I'll give it a minute.

Let you know how it goes...

Welcome to Akron Food Pundit!

Welcome! Here at Akron Food Pundit, we try to give local diners an in depth look into the restaurant scene in and around the Rubber City. Unlike New York City, Los Angeles, and even Cleveland, we don't have a real place to turn to for guidance on where to eat. Unfortunately, we don't have that many non-chain choices. Those that we do have are hit or miss. Some are fantastic and others leave something to be desired. Here, we will try to take some of the guess work out of deciding where to eat.

A new review will pop up regularly on either a private restaurant or a local branch of a chain. The reviews will be detailed to give you the best description of the dining experience. We don't mince words here. If there is a fault, we'll tell you about it. No fly, rude server, or poorly cooked meal will escape us. In this economy, its good to know that the bill will be worth it before you order.