TC's Memphis Barbeque

I had the pleasure of eating lunch at TC's this past Wednesday. Let me say it was good. The quality of the meat was excellent. Once again, I was presented with my choice of sauces to try. It was all in the spirit of Memphis style barbecue. The jalapeno corn bread was piping hot along with the green beans. The potato salad was cold as it should be. The service was as quick as a barbecue joint should be and the meat was not weighed in front of me (my pet peeve). Don't do me any favors and give me one more gram of meat than I am entitled. I have been to other places that actually took meat off my plate to make it the right weight before serving it to me. I just think it's tacky that's all. Okay now back to my review of TC's. The atmosphere was warm and inviting and the young ladies working the register were pretty and friendly. It had a Southern down home charm about the place. I will definitely be back and soon!

Reuben Master's 2 basic barbecue truths

1. There are many different types of barbecue.
2. It's all good!!!!!!

My ratings for TC's Memphis Barbecue are as follows:

1. Food Quality-5
2. Service-4
3. Atmosphere-5 (Charm Alone)
4. Value- 3
5. Housekeeping- 3

For an overall score of 20. If you want taste of delicious "que", definitely try TC's Memphis Barbecue.

Golden Corral Columbus, IN

It will be a long time before I go back to Golden Corral. The food varies from location to location but the Columbus location has trouble keeping consistently good food on the bar. There were items that I didn't recognize. The one place you should be able to go and know what is being served is Golden Corral. I had some beef with a very strange taste. My hamburger steak was raw in the middle. That's a recipe for e-coli. I was able to observe one of the waitresses tell some of the staff about it and all they did was laugh about it. The meat was not removed from the buffet at all. She then proceeded to tell the manager and I don't think he was very concerned about it either. I don't even know if he spoke English. The mashed potatoes and mac and cheese I ate were as good as always. It's very hard to mess up with vegetables too. The green beans were tasty. Golden Corral needs to get consistent with its management and put a consistently good product on the buffet. Every time I have been there it's a crap shoot as to what kind of food you will get.

My ratings for Golden Corral Columbus, IN are as follows:

1. Food Quality-2
2. Service-3
3. Atmosphere-2
4. Value- 2
5. Housekeeping-2

For an overall score of 11.
Dine at your own risk.

Potzo's Pies

I love pizza joints so it kind of pains me to write this. Potzo's moved into the old Donato's building. You know...the place with no waitstaff where you sat down and had to pick up a greasy phone at your booth or table and call in your order. Well anyway, Potzo's pizza was pretty tasty. The mushrooms were very fresh and the premium pie had a great taste. I wish they would cut the mushrooms and the green peppers in half. The size of the veggies was overwhelming. Never do I want a mouthful of just green pepper. They should be cut down thin enough to cook a little in the relative short time the pizza is inside the oven. We also ordered a half Italian Sub which was very tasty. The menu stated that it comes with two toppings. My wife told our waitress that she would like pepperoni and onions. We were surprised to see an additional charge for the onion on the sandwich. The menu did not make it clear that onion was not considered a topping. I am in love with the concept of the "old fashioned" pizza joint. The atmosphere was quite sterile with little warmth. The place has such potential. Pizza Hut use to have it right in the late seventies with their draft beer, juke box, video games, and warm inviting atmosphere. If I were the owner I would liven up the place with a CD juke box, a pinball machine or two, and try to get a license to sell draft beer. Music would liven up the place and because the food is not bad (just needs a little work) it could be a nice "pizza joint". By the way, our waitress took off the charge for the onions.

My ratings for Potzo's Pies are as follows:

1. Food Quality-3
2. Service-5
3. Atmosphere-2
4. Value- 3
5. Housekeeping- 2

For an overall score of 15. I didn't care for it that much.
Try out Potzo's Pies and judge for yourself.

Culver's

Culver's turned out to be a pretty decent burger joint. I had one of thier premium double cheeseburgers with fries and it was very tasty. If I had to compare it with another burger I would say it's like a Steak & Shake burger. The meat is prepared the same and almost tastes the same. Three of us ate for 21.00 bucks before we went back for deserts, so the price is comparable to Steak & Shake as well. You walk in and place your order and they give you a number. They bring your food to your table hot and fresh. Everything is made to order. The Frozen Custard deserts were tasty too. I will definitely eat there again.

My ratings for Culver's are as follows:

1. Food Quality-4
2. Service-4
3. Atmosphere-4
4. Value- 4
5. Housekeeping- 5 (the place is brand new)

For an overall score of 23.
If you want an excellent hamburger give Culver's a try.

Scooters

Scooters is quite possibly the best restaurant in Columbus for home cooking. The people that crowd that place every day would readily agree. You can get breakfast any hour they are open. It is the place to be if you want an Indiana style home cooked meal. The broasted chicken is outstanding, they have good fish, and their breaded tenderloin is quite tasty. The atmosphere........well, it is what it is, as so many people say these days. It's not a beautiful place but it has a charm of its own. I can sit at the bar almost any day of the week and strike up a conversation with a perfect stranger about the weather, sports, politics or other Columbus happenings. Oh, did I mention the food is good too? The waitresses bust their collective butts in that restaurant. I would eat there every day if my budget would allow it. If you go there try the homemade vegetable soup.

My ratings for Scooters are as follows:

1. Food Quality-4
2. Service-5
3. Atmosphere-4
4. Value- 5
5. Housekeeping- 3

For an overall score of 21. If you want a delicious homecooked meal go to Scooters Restaurant.

Johnny Carino's

Man I love Johnny Carino's! That bread they bring out right after they seat you is so good dipped in that Olive Oil with the Roasted Garlic and the Fresh Ground Pepper. I could make a meal of that alone. I love sitting where I can see the kitchen. The open atmosphere really ads to the ambiance of the place as well as the decor. I don't know of another restaurant that feels as warm and inviting. I know it's a chain restaurant but I have never had a bad experience at Johnny Carino's Restaurant. They have some very interesting Italian dishes to suit every taste from your traditional Lasagnas to some not so traditional dishes. It is sure to please everyone. I have been ordering the Spicy Romano Chicken on my last couple of visits. I love Artichoke Hearts and this dish gives you plenty of them. They are cooked tender in a Spicy Cream Sauce along with Chicken Strips with Bow Tie Pasta and Mushrooms. The soups at Johnny Carino's are to die for as well. The Chicken and Wild Rice is very tasty and the Italian Chili will tempt your taste buds. It may not be for everyone but I must say "That's Amore!!!" (Dean Martin Voice). I must also sing the praises of the wait staff. Every time I have visited Johnny Carino's the wait staff has been knowledgeable and well trained. That is the mark of a successful restaurant (Chain or Not).

My ratings for Johnny Carino's are as follows:

1. Food Quality-5
2. Service-5
3. Atmosphere-5
4. Value- 5
5. Housekeeping- 4

For an overall score of 24. For the money and it being a chain restaurant, you can't do much better than Johnny Carino's.

Baby Back Blues

How many ways can I sing the praises of Baby Back Blues? I love the concept of letting you choose your own sauce. My favorite, the Carolina Style (Vinegar Based) tastes exceptionally well on the Hardwood Smoked Pulled Pork. The sides are excellent too. The Baked Potato Salad is one of my favorites. If you go there you must also try the Ribs. The atmosphere is excellent as well with a true "Barbecue Joint" feel about the place. The only downside I can see to BBB is the fact that they are a little stingy with the meat portions. They weigh every little ounce of meat right down to the gram instead of just giving you a nice sized portion. Give me a decent portion and even charge more money if you have to. Also, the corn muffins are served at room temperature. I think they should switch to deep fried Hushpuppies.

My ratings for Baby Back Blues are as follows:

1. Food Quality-5
2. Service-5
3. Atmosphere-5
4. Value- 3
5. Housekeeping- 4

For an overall score of 22. Go to Baby Back Blues and eat some good BBQ.

Montana Mike's

Montana Mike's food was pretty decent. The steak I ordered was a little overcooked but had an excellent flavor. The Spinach/Artichoke Dip was very tasty. The baked potato had been around since the Jurassic Period but overall for a chain steak house it was fair.

The atmosphere was to my liking. It has a Pacific Northwest lodge feel about it with stuffed animals, fishing, hunting, and trapping gear on the walls. That, to me, was the best part about the whole place.

The service left a lot to be desired. Our waitress had the personality of a rock. Here's a tip. Don't bring my salad two seconds after you bring my appetizer. The food took so long that we were full from our salads and appetizer by the time it got there. Montana Mike's would benefit from investing in some serious wait staff training. It's not the first time at that same restaurant I have dealt with a moron for a waiter. She acted like she didn't know what she was doing. It's plain and simple.

My ratings are as follows:

1. Food Quality-3
2. Service-2
3. Atmosphere-4
4. Value- 3
5. Housekeeping- 5

For an overall score of 17.

I think it's a pretty generous score.

Go to Montana Mike's and decide for yourself. You be the judge.

Tapatio Mexican Restaurant

I ate at Tapatio's last night for the wife's birthday. She loves Mexican food more than any other. I guess I will be reviewing Mexican restaurants quite regularly. Anyway my food was pretty good. I seem to be on a soft taco kick lately so I ordered the Tacos Al Pastor. They are pork tacos served in flour tortillas with cilantro and onions. They are quite tasty because the pork has a smoky flavor. The wife got her usual chicken fajitas. Let me just say I think they are the best fajitas in town. The marinade they used is quite good. Tapatio's has never really let us down.

My grading score is as follows:

A 25 is the highest score possible.

A restaurant can earn a rating of 1 to 5 in five different categories.

1. Food Quality
2. Service
3. Atmosphere
4. Value
5. Housekeeping

I scored Tapatio in the following way for my visit on Nov 4, 2008

1. Food Quality-4
2. Service-3
3. Atmosphere-2
4. Value- 3
5. Housekeeping- 2

This gives Tapatio Mexican Restaurant a 14 out of a possible 25 pts.

Your experience could be totally different. You be the judge.

Who is Reuben Masters?

My name is Reuben Masters and I have been wanting to start this blog for a while now. I have lived in Columbus, Indiana for five years and have been quite pleased with my dining experiences overall. Columbus has quite a bit to offer in regards to restaurants for a small town. Occasionally there are those unfortunate experiences that need not be forgotten. My wife and I eat out a lot, I mean, more than your average person. We strongly feel there has been a sharp decline in the overall service and value at restaurants everywhere, not just Columbus. We have set up standards for the quality of food, the timeliness of our order, and the courteousness of the wait staff or counter person. I am in the process of developing a simple rating system that will help anyone looking for a quality dining experience avoid what I like to call "rip offs". This is not your average restaurant guide. I will review each restaurant after I visit and give a score based on my total experience. I guess I will learn something about my eating habits as well by doing this.