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Pho Pasteur
Banh Mi oh my!
Reviewed by jetsetdork on February 12, 2013
Stopped in last week to check out their new banh mi sandwiches and I'm so glad I did. Just north of $4 (after tax) the sandwich was bigger than other similar sandwiches I've had in the Burlington area. The Vietnamese baguette was soft yet chewy, appropriately crispy but not too flaky. I got the house special banh mi, which had an assortment of meats as well as a pate, plenty of pickled veggies, fresh cilantro, and just the right amount of salty funk coming from the fish sauce. The woman at the counter asked me if I'd like it spicy or not and I opted for the spicy version. The heat was pleasant and gradually built on itself over the course of the sandwich. By the sandwich's end I had broke a sweat and my mouth was singing from the heat, but it was still a pleasant burn. If you're not keen on lots of spice, I'd avoid this option, but if you crave heat and are often disappointed by what counts for spicy around here, you will be pleasantly surprised with Pho Pasteur's idea of spicy. Winooski is spoiled for excellent sandwich places and I'm glad that I gave Pho Pasteur's banh mi a try. I'll definitely be going back to try their other banh mi offerings.
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Papa Frank's
Nothing but love
Reviewed by jetsetdork on January 24, 2013
Papa Frank's is a special place. Is it "authentic Italian"? Nope. Is it saucy, cheesy goodness? Yes it is. All day long. The baked dishes are by far the best and the eggplant rollentini is the jewel in the crown. Thin ribbons of fried eggplant, wrapped around cheese, surrounded by zingy tomato sauce, and encrusted with nicely browned, yet still gooey, cheese. The garlic bread is good by itself and great when sopping up sauce. If you want to take your garlic bread experience to the next level, however, order a side of garlic and smear the warm cloves over the garlic bread or whatever else is on your plate. The atmosphere can't be beat. Kitchy, yes, but where else would you want to eat a cheesy dish baked with more cheese on top? I drive by Papa Frank's every day on my way home from work and even looking through the steamy windows to the dining room puts a smile on my face. For the price, the place, and, of course, the food, Papa Frank's has an evergreen spot in my top 5 Burlington-area eateries.
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Prohibition Pig
Daring libations that don't disappoint
Reviewed by jetsetdork on April 1, 2012
I find this hard to say, but: The Alchemist is dead, long live the Prohibition Pig. It was so great to walk into the Pig last night and feel life in the Alchemist space again. The Pig's libation menu is not afraid of Italian amaro, raw eggs, or esoteric booze; and, more importantly, the bartenders are adept at slinging them into creations that are greater than the sum of their parts. I got the Amaro Flip which united the amaro and the egg I already talked about with more bitters and stout. I figured it would be weighty enough to count as my appetizer but it was surprisingly light, refreshing, and had a strong taste of rosewater. My friend got the ProPig negroni, which subbed the artichoke amaro Cynar for the traditional Campari to delicious effect. I'm definitely going to have to replicate that in my home bar since I won't be able to get to the Pig every time I get a craving. Yet, in another nod to the Alchemist, the food ended up not being the highlight of the night. I had expected the chopped pork to be smokey, but found it tasted like it had been braised instead. The meat was tender, albeit too spicy for my taste. I wish the menu had given me a heads up about that. I would have liked a creamy cole slaw to cut through the heat, or barring that a greater portion of the slightly bland red cole slaw that came with it. My friend got the pulled chicken and it had the smoke I was craving. In both sandwiches we would have liked to have seen a bit more meat for the price of the sandwich. The ambiance was great and the service, just like in the Alchemist days, was friendly, helpful, and timely. I will be going back! There is brisket, pork cracklins, and even smoked tempeh yet to be tried. And of course, those exceptional cocktails. Damn, they're worth the price of admission alone.
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Jin Chinese Restaurant
Welcomed addition to Winooski
Reviewed by jetsetdork on March 20, 2012
After moving out of the ONE and into Winooski, my partner and I lamented that the chinese food in Winooski left much to be desired and that we were now just too far away from China Express to get delivery. Once Jin opened we were hopeful that it would be what our town was missing. From the first visit to the most recent we've been pleasantly surprised. The service is friendly, the food is always fresh, and they do great on the "classics" while introducing deliciuos new dishes. We consider ourselves lucky to have them for neighbors.
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Sarkis's Mediterranean Restaurant
Fresh, flavorful food and a charming host
Reviewed by jetsetdork on March 3, 2012
If you live near Wells River, VT you can count yourself lucky since you're near both P&H Truck Stop and Sarkis's Mediterranean Restaurant. Some locals may miss Warner's Gallery but the community really got an upgrade when Paul Sarkis took over that space. If you live outside of the area, however, it is still worth the trip to go to Sarkis's. Before speaking to anything else, let me just say that the Shish Tawouk, a marinated chicken breast served with garlic dipping sauce, is the best chicken dish I've had in all of Vermont. And while I love Montreal's fast-food Lebanese restaurants take on Shish Tawouk, Sarkis's recipe is superior. The chicken is absolutely tender and moist with a bright, lemony, and herbaceous flavor all the way through. Taking a piece and dipping it in the garlic sauce that comes with it takes it to a whole new level. The pungent garlic and the lemon work together so well that I'm thinking about it days later. Another great thing about the Shish Tawouk is how shareable it is. In fact, all the entrees that my group got were served in a way that encouraged trying each dish. We also got the combo appetizer plate that came with stuffed grape leaves, hummus, and tabboule. Normally, I hate tabboule because of all the parsley that is in the dish, but Sarkis's balances the other flavors in the salad so well that I actually liked this version of tabboule. I'll definitely get it again when I go back. The owner, Paul Sarkis, is reason enough to go to the restaurant. He's charming, quick with a witty reply, and he's clearly proud of the food that he makes. And why wouldn't he be? He has brought a whole new set of flavors and a high commitment to local, fresh ingredients to a corner of the world that usually favors menus that begin with "all-you-can-eat". Next time my companions and I go we'll be getting the Mezza option, which is a tour of the menu. We don't want to miss a thing!
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Mad Taco, The — Waitsfield
Mad good!
Reviewed by jetsetdork on September 27, 2011
I can't believe that there are only 4 comments on this restaurant and only 3 are positive! This place has by a wide margin the best mexican food in the state. My boyfriend and I made the trek down from Burlington to try it, and if gas money was no object, I think we'd be there at least once a month. The folks in the kitchen were laid back, easy to chat with through the kitchen window, and it's clear that they love the ingredients they use because they make some damn fine tacos. Some of the hot sauces and salsas will make you turn red and weep if heat isn't your thing, so pay heed to the heat scale they have on the chalk board next to the list of the dozen or so house made salsas. Yes, a dozen house made salsas! While it's been just long enough that I can't remember all the details to the tacos I tried, I can say that I remember them all being perfectly seasoned with tender meat and bright flavors. The fish taco was especially tasty if I remember correctly. The only room for improvement I could see would be the size of the place. If I went with a group of people it might be hard for us all to share our taco feast without taking up the whole space. That said, the intimacy of the restaurant means that you have a chance to chat with the taco-slingers in the back and rub elbows with the friendly folks that enjoying their carne asada or al pastor right along with you. Now if only they had a food cart in Burlington or a stand at a Chittenden County farmer's market I could get my Mad Taco fix without the trek that would be great.
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