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<title>Mark&#x27;s Remarks</title><link>http://www.marksremarks.com/index.html</link><description>Reviews from Mark&#x27;s Remarks</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>Mark Woolwine</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2011&#x2c; Mark;s Remarks</dc:rights><dc:date>2012-01-12T08:57:31-05:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:38:55 -0500</lastBuildDate><item><title>Vote Louisville as the South&#x27;s Tastiest Town</title><dc:creator>Mark Woolwine</dc:creator><category>Louisville</category><dc:date>2012-01-12T08:57:31-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.marksremarks.com/files/votelouisville.html#unique-entry-id-8</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.marksremarks.com/files/votelouisville.html#unique-entry-id-8</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span style="font-size:13px; ">Southern Living is currently running a competition to see which town is the South&rsquo;s Tastiest. The current cities include:<br /><br />Birmingham, AL<br />Louisville, KY<br />Houston, TX<br />Raleigh, NC<br />Decatur, GA<br />Charleston, SC<br />Lafayette, LA<br />New Orleans, LA<br />Charlottesville, VA<br />Baltimore, MD (Someone please tell me how this is the South)<br /><br />Voting is simple. Visit </span><span style="font-size:13px; "><a href="http://www.southernliving.com/travel/souths-tastiest-towns-00417000076768/">http://www.southernliving.com/travel/souths-tastiest-towns-00417000076768/</a></span><span style="font-size:13px; "> and vote for the city that you believe is the tastiest.<br /><br />However, please remember to vote </span><span style="font-size:13px; font-weight:bold; ">Louisville</span><span style="font-size:13px; "> as the South&rsquo;s Tastiest Town.</span>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Funmi&#x27;s Cafe</title><dc:creator>Mark Woolwine</dc:creator><category>Highlands</category><category>Nigerian</category><category>International</category><dc:date>2011-10-29T17:38:59-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.marksremarks.com/files/0de96c48743f6b42ea8f9869ae3a6575-7.html#unique-entry-id-7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.marksremarks.com/files/0de96c48743f6b42ea8f9869ae3a6575-7.html#unique-entry-id-7</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span style="font-size:15px; font-weight:bold; ">Funmi&rsquo;s Cafe<br />1043 Bardstown Rd. <br /></span><span style="font-size:15px; font-weight:bold; ">Louisville, KY 40208 <br />502-454-5009<br /></span><span style="font-size:15px; font-weight:bold; "><a href="http://www.funmiscafe.com/" rel="self">http://www.funmiscafe.com</a></span><span style="font-size:15px; font-weight:bold; "><br /><br />* At this point Funmi&rsquo;s Cafe is closed * Word is that they plan to move to a new location and reopen. Check back for more info.</span><br /><br /><code><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/51/1565602/restaurant/The-Highlands/Funmis-Cafe-Louisville"><img alt="Funmi's Cafe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1565602/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a></code><br /><br />Just down the street from our house, a new burger joint opened called SmashBurger. Trying to get back into writing reviews for Mark&rsquo;s Remarks, my wife and I decided to give it a try. I had actually heard about it a few months back when my friend Kevin was in town. We were talking about Red Robin and he mentioned that Lexington had this placed called SmashBurger and it was really good. I planned to try to visit the next time I was in Lexington, however with the opening here in Louisville there is no need to visit Lexington.<br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_0692" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/img_0692.jpg" width="317" height="246" /></div>SmashBurger is located on the corner of Hurstbourne Lane and Shelbyville Road next to Thomasville Furniture. They serve hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, fries, milkshakes, and salads.<br /><br />They offer all their burgers either in a &ldquo;smash&rdquo; or &ldquo;big smash&rdquo;. There are several &ldquo;pre-made&rdquo; burgers: Classic, All America, Spicy Baja, Bluegrass, and Mushroom Swiss. They also offer a create your own burger option where you choose your burger size, bun, toppings, sauces, and cheese. As for chicken sandwiches they offer a Classic, Buffalo, Bourbon BBQ Ranch, Spicy Baja, and Avocado Club. Just like the burgers, they offer a create your own chicken option. The menu also features 3 styles of hot-dogs, several flavor of milkshakes, several salads, and lots of different sides. Some of the interesting sides are the Smash Fries, Sweet Potato Smash Fries, Fried Pickles, and Fried Banana Peppers. To view the menu in more detail <a href="http://www.smashburger.com/menu/HurstbourneCorners" rel="external">click here</a>.<br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_0688" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/img_0688-2.jpg" width="241" height="241" /></div>On my visit I ordered the burger that is &ldquo;custom&rdquo; to Kentucky: the Bluegrass Burger and Smash Fries. The Bluegrass burger includes Wild Turkey(R) Bourbon BBQ sauce, applewood smoked bacon, melted cheddar bar cheese and fried banana pepper rings on an egg bun. Smash Fries are tossed with rosemary, olive oil and garlic.<br /><br />My wife ordered the Bourbon BBQ Ranch Chicken Sandwich, which included applewood smoked bacon, haystack onions, lettuce, tomato, Wild Turkey&reg; Bourbon BBQ sauce and ranch dressing on an egg bun. Instead of Smash Fries, she ordered Sweet Potato Smash Fries which are also tossed with rosemary, olive oil and garlic.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_0689" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/img_0689.jpg" width="241" height="241" /></div><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">The Marks:</span><strong><br /><br /></strong><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="3 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/3marks.jpg" width="178" height="46" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Atmosphere:</span>
I would give the atmosphere 3 Marks.  The restaurant has a plenty of seating and mix of booths and tables. You walk up to the counter to place your order. They provide you with a number and then bring your food to your table. It was a little confusing entering the restaurant as the entrance/exits are not typical.<br /><br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Cost:</span>
I would give this restaurant 4 Marks on cost for two people and 3 marks on 1 person for a complete meal. The menu ranges anywhere from $4.99 to $6.99 for &ldquo;pre-made&rdquo; burgers. Chicken Sandwiches run $5.99-$6.99 for &ldquo;pre-made&rdquo;.  Sides are all $1.99 except for the regular fries they are $1.89. I would suggest that you share an order of fries as we felt we 1 order would have been more than enough for us. For my wife and I to both get a sandwich, fries, and soda the cost was around $21.00, which I felt was a little pricey compared to some of the other burger joints in town.<br />
<div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_0690" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/img_0690.jpg" width="317" height="246" /></div><br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="3 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/3marks-2.jpg" width="178" height="46" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Menu:</span>
I would give the menu 3 Marks. They have a good selection of sandwiches, sides, and other options. However, they do not offer as many toppings as Five Guys or Home Run Burger. <br /><br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks-2.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Quality of the Food:</span>
I would give the quality of food 4 Marks. The burger was moist and juicy and the cheddar cheese sauce was really good. My wife thought the chicken sandwich was good as well. I thought the Smashfries were a little dry. They were shoe string fry and prefer a little bit thicker fry. The Sweet Potato Smashfries were not as sweet as I would have preferred. Perhaps the seasoning on them changed the taste. The Coke I received out of the Fountain was extremely sweet. Almost to sweet to drink. <br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="IMG_0691" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/img_0691.jpg" width="317" height="246" /></div><br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks-3.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Service:</span>
I would give the service 4 Marks. The service at SmashBurger was really good. Prior to our visit we expected a set down restaurant similar to Red Robin. However as mentioned earlier you must order at the counter and  then they bring your food out to your table. Several times during our dining experience a staff member came by and asked if everything was ok. They picked up our trays when finished. They also offered to refill our drinks and provided us with to-go cups for the soft drinks. So while this was not a traditional set down restaurant with a waiter/waitress, we had really good service.<br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks-4.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Overall Marks:</span>
I would give SmashBurger 4 Marks. The food was good. The service was good. The cost was little pricey for two people to get sandwiches, fries, and soft drinks in my opinion. I recommend you give it a try. I am definitely glad that I tried it. However, it will not be on my top lists of places to get a burger or chicken sandwich. 
<br />]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>SmashBurger</title><dc:creator>Mark Woolwine</dc:creator><category>Hurstbourne Lane</category><category>Burgers</category><category>American</category><dc:date>2011-09-25T21:36:57-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.marksremarks.com/files/smashburger.html#unique-entry-id-6</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.marksremarks.com/files/smashburger.html#unique-entry-id-6</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span style="font-size:15px; font-weight:bold; ">SmashBurger<br /></span><span style="font-size:15px; font-weight:bold; ">9409 Shelbyville Rd. <br />Louisville, KY 40222 <br />502-326-4141</span><br /><br /><code><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/51/1617078/restaurant/Bowman/Smashburger-Louisville"><img alt="Smashburger on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1617078/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a></code><br /><br />Just down the street from our house, a new burger joint opened called SmashBurger. Trying to get back into writing reviews for Mark&rsquo;s Remarks, my wife and I decided to give it a try. I had actually heard about it a few months back when my friend Kevin was in town. We were talking about Red Robin and he mentioned that Lexington had this placed called SmashBurger and it was really good. I planned to try to visit the next time I was in Lexington, however with the opening here in Louisville there is no need to visit Lexington.<br /><br />SmashBurger is located on the corner of Hurstbourne Lane and Shelbyville Road next to Thomasville Furniture. They serve hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, fries, milkshakes, and salads.<br /><br />They offer all their burgers either in a &ldquo;smash&rdquo; or &ldquo;big smash&rdquo;. There are several &ldquo;pre-made&rdquo; burgers: Classic, All America, Spicy Baja, Bluegrass, and Mushroom Swiss. They also offer a create your own burger option where you choose your burger size, bun, toppings, sauces, and cheese. As for chicken sandwiches they offer a Classic, Buffalo, Bourbon BBQ Ranch, Spicy Baja, and Avocado Club. Just like the burgers, they offer a create your own chicken option. The menu also features 3 styles of hot-dogs, several flavor of milkshakes, several salads, and lots of different sides. Some of the interesting sides are the Smash Fries, Sweet Potato Smash Fries, Fried Pickles, and Fried Banana Peppers. To view the menu in more detail <a href="http://www.smashburger.com/menu/HurstbourneCorners" rel="external">click here</a>.<br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Bluegrash SmashBurger" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/photo-2.jpg" width="272" height="213" /></div>On my visit I ordered the burger that is &ldquo;custom&rdquo; to Kentucky: the Bluegrass Burger and Smash Fries. The Bluegrass burger includes Wild Turkey(R) Bourbon BBQ sauce, applewood smoked bacon, melted cheddar bar cheese and fried banana pepper rings on an egg bun. Smash Fries are tossed with rosemary, olive oil and garlic.<br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Bourbon BBQ Smash Chicken Sandwich" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/photo-3.jpg" width="280" height="219" /></div>My wife ordered the Bourbon BBQ Ranch Chicken Sandwich, which included applewood smoked bacon, haystack onions, lettuce, tomato, Wild Turkey&reg; Bourbon BBQ sauce and ranch dressing on an egg bun. Instead of Smash Fries, she ordered Sweet Potato Smash Fries which are also tossed with rosemary, olive oil and garlic.<br /><br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Smash Decor" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/photo-4.jpg" width="266" height="208" /></div><br /><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">The Marks:</span><strong><br /><br /></strong><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="3 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/3marks.jpg" width="178" height="46" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Atmosphere:</span>
I would give the atmosphere 3 Marks.  The restaurant has a plenty of seating and mix of booths and tables. You walk up to the counter to place your order. They provide you with a number and then bring your food to your table. It was a little confusing entering the restaurant as the entrance/exits are not typical.<br /><br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Cost:</span>
I would give this restaurant 4 Marks on cost for two people and 3 marks on 1 person for a complete meal. The menu ranges anywhere from $4.99 to $6.99 for &ldquo;pre-made&rdquo; burgers. Chicken Sandwiches run $5.99-$6.99 for &ldquo;pre-made&rdquo;.  Sides are all $1.99 except for the regular fries they are $1.89. I would suggest that you share an order of fries as we felt we 1 order would have been more than enough for us. For my wife and I to both get a sandwich, fries, and soda the cost was around $21.00, which I felt was a little pricey compared to some of the other burger joints in town.<br />
<div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Smash Menu" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/photo-5-3.jpg" width="262" height="205" /></div><br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="3 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/3marks-2.jpg" width="178" height="46" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Menu:</span>
I would give the menu 3 Marks. They have a good selection of sandwiches, sides, and other options. However, they do not offer as many toppings as Five Guys or Home Run Burger. <br /><br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks-2.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Quality of the Food:</span>
I would give the quality of food 4 Marks. The burger was moist and juicy and the cheddar cheese sauce was really good. My wife thought the chicken sandwich was good as well. I thought the Smashfries were a little dry. They were shoe string fry and prefer a little bit thicker fry. The Sweet Potato Smashfries were not as sweet as I would have preferred. Perhaps the seasoning on them changed the taste. The Coke I received out of the Fountain was extremely sweet. Almost to sweet to drink. <br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks-3.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Service:</span>
I would give the service 4 Marks. The service at SmashBurger was really good. Prior to our visit we expected a set down restaurant similar to Red Robin. However as mentioned earlier you must order at the counter and  then they bring your food out to your table. Several times during our dining experience a staff member came by and asked if everything was ok. They picked up our trays when finished. They also offered to refill our drinks and provided us with to-go cups for the soft drinks. So while this was not a traditional set down restaurant with a waiter/waitress, we had really good service.<br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks-4.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Overall Marks:</span>
I would give SmashBurger 4 Marks. The food was good. The service was good. The cost was little pricey for two people to get sandwiches, fries, and soft drinks in my opinion. I recommend you give it a try. I am definitely glad that I tried it. However, it will not be on my top lists of places to get a burger or chicken sandwich. 
<br />]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Burning Bush Grille</title><dc:creator>Mark Woolwine</dc:creator><category>Mediterranean</category><category>Prospect</category><dc:date>2011-01-06T23:29:21-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.marksremarks.com/files/7a03bbeaadbbe68f9dff9a3f4374270d-4.html#unique-entry-id-4</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.marksremarks.com/files/7a03bbeaadbbe68f9dff9a3f4374270d-4.html#unique-entry-id-4</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Burning Bush Grille&nbsp;Mediterranean Cafe<br />13206 W Hwy. 42<br />Suite 108<br />Prospect, Kentucky 40059<br />http://www.burningbushgrille.com/<br />Cuisine: Mediterranean<br /></span><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; "><br /></span><code><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/51/1527501/restaurant/Louisville/Burning-Bush-Grille-Mediterranean-Cafe-Prospect"><img alt="Burning Bush Grille &amp; Mediterranean Cafe on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1527501/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a></code><br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="20110102-1016133" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/20110102-1016133.jpg" width="198" height="259" /></div>The Monday after Christmas, I received a notification from Groupon about a coupon for the Burning Bush Grille out in Prospect. Being a big fan of Mediterranean food, I decided to purchase 2 certificates. The certificates were &nbsp;priced $8 each and each provided $16 worth of food. The next day my wife and I decided to venture out and try the food. Looking over the menu online, I thought to myself that the food looked somewhat like that of Shiraz Mediterranean Grill. Be prepared to drive a bit out-of-town to visit Burning Bush as it located up in Prospect, KY. The location is just across the Jefferson County line in Oldham County.<br /><br />Upon arrival, I thought that I recognized the man behind the counter. He was very friendly and asked what brought us out to Burning Bush. I told him that I had purchased a Groupon. He asked where I was from and I told him. He said "great, you are just the people I was hoping the Groupon would reach". He asked what type of Mediterranean food I liked and I responded "gyros." We continued the small talk for a few minutes and I asked him if he used to have another restaurant down in Louisville. He mentioned he was affiliated at one point with the folks at Shiraz Mediterranean Grill and he used to operate the now closed location over on English Station in the Middletown area.<br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="20110102-1016283" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/20110102-1016283.jpg" width="198" height="259" /></div>He suggested if I liked "gyros" that I try the gyros at Burning Bush. They offer three type of gyros- 1. traditional 2. House (made like a hoagie) 3. Super. My wife and I both placed orders for traditional gyros. The gyros do not come with any side items so we also ordered hummus, and french fries, and two sodas. The price came to around $22.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">The Marks:</span><br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Atmosohere:</span>
I would rate the atmosphere 4 out of 5 marks. The only reason that it does not get the full five is that I found the location to a little small. It was fairly busy and I noticed near the end of our visit several people where looking for seats.<br /><br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="3 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/3marks.jpg" width="178" height="46" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Cost:</span>
The cost for items at Burning Bush Grille are very reasonable. Kebab entrees come with bread, rice, and tzatziki sauce and they range from $5-13, Pizzas and salads range between $4-9, traditional gyros cost under $6 and the super gyro is under $8<br /><br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Menu:</span>
The menu at Burning Bush Grille has a wide variety of items for you to choose from. They have &nbsp;lots of items for vegetarians. They offer at least 4 different salads including the Greek Salad. As for Kebabs they offer a KY bison, vegetarian kebab, chicken, steak, salmon, mahi, shrimp, and lamb. As mentioned earlier they offer several different versions of the Greek gyro. Also on menu are things such as a bison burger, gyro wraps, and various types of Mediterranean pizzas. They also have a kid friendly menu. I would give the menu 5 out of 5 marks for the wide range of selections one has to choose from. Click here to see the menu.<br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks-2.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Quality of Food:</span>
The quality of food at Burning Bush Grille was excellent. Our gyros came out hot and fresh. I was able to watch the staff shave my gyro meat off the spit, so I knew it was fresh. As some of you may know, I spent a summer in Greece in 2003 and became a big fan of greek food. Some gyros that I have had here in the states just do not come close to the real greek sandwich, however the gyro at this location was right on par. The fries were hot and well seasoned with sea salt and cracked black pepper. The hummus was freshly made and severed with lavash cracker bread. The only complaint with the food was they did not provide enough cracker bread, but upon asking the staff graciously provided us with more. Based on the food we were severed the Burning Bush receives a 5 out of 5 in regards to quality of food.<br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks-3.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Service:</span>
The service at Burning Bush was great. The owner was very friendly and talkative. As mentioned above the only complaint&nbsp;was not enough cracker bread, but the staff provided us with more. The owner was heading out to get supplies for the restaurant and he stopped by our table to check on us and our dining experience. He answered questions about various menu items that we had questions about. I noticed that several people came in and they must have been regulars because the owner knew what the people wanted to order. I also noticed that they ran out of napkins. A customer asked the owner if they had any more and he replied no they were out, but when into the back and brought out cloth napkins for the customer. To me this is great service. I would give them 5 of 5 marks.<br />
<br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4.5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4halfmarks.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Overall Marks:</span>
Overall, I would have to say that I am extremely pleased with the Burning Bush Grille. I would give them a total of 4 1/2 marks out of 5. The food, service, cost, and menu were great. The gyros were the best I have had in the Louisville area since Omar's went out of business. I am&nbsp; looking forward to going back and trying the super gyro soon.&nbsp; So if you are looking for a nice place to get some Mediterranean grub I would head out to Prospect, KY and try Burning Bush Grille. It is always best to support the local economy.<br /><br />]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Chuy&#x27;s</title><dc:creator>Mark Woolwine</dc:creator><dc:subject>The Marks</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-11-02T23:28:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.marksremarks.com/files/fe045cb19485c95e45f3833a59f22157-3.html#unique-entry-id-3</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.marksremarks.com/files/fe045cb19485c95e45f3833a59f22157-3.html#unique-entry-id-3</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Chuy's<br />104 Oxmoor Court, Louisville KY<br />http://www.chuys.com <br />Cuisine: Mexican<br /></span><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; "><br /></span><code><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/51/1557607/restaurant/Bowman/Chuys-Oxmoor-Louisville"><img alt="Chuy's (Oxmoor) on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1557607/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a></code><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; "><br /></span><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="33671_152283171480707_112996245409400_245032_7027666_n" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/33671_152283171480707_112996245409400_245032_7027666_n.jpg" width="306" height="210" /></div>My wife and I have been frequent visitors to Chuy's Restaurant in the last two weeks. Chuy's is a Mexican style restaurant located in the old Bahama Breeze building in the St. Matthews area of Louisville. Their menu describes the restaurant as "Fine Tex-Mex." Our first visit was on October 16th. We arrived around 7:30-8:00pm. The hostess stated there would be an hour wait. I wanted to leave because I dont like waiting, but my wife made me stay. While waiting we noticed most people waiting had chips and salsa. <br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="36138_152283458147345_112996245409400_245034_3728620_n" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/36138_152283458147345_112996245409400_245034_3728620_n-2.jpg" width="306" height="210" /></div>So after a little investigating, I found that they have a self serve chips and salsa bar that you can help yourself to. They have two types of salsa: 1. Your traditional tomato, peppers, and onion salsa and 2. a red salsa that had a ketchup/bbq taste to it. The traditional salsa was a little spicy and the the other salsa was ok. <br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="20101106-0149213" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/20101106-0149213.jpg" width="198" height="259" /></div>One of the interesting things that I noticed while waiting was the Elvis Presley shrine located on the lobby. Apparently, each Chuy's restaurant has a shrine to the King of Rock n' Roll. A picture of the shrine is shown to the left.
<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">The Marks:</span><br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Atmosphere:</span> The atmosphere of Chuy's is pretty awesome. I wish I had a picture to show the decor, I'll remember to take my camera along for my next Remarks. It's not one of those traditional Mexican Restaurants that we are all familiar with. At Chuy's they play up beat traditional music which gives it a different feel. The restaurant is divided into several sections. There is a indoor and outdoor bar area, as well as several dining areas. The outdoor bar area has a fireplace so that you can set around and keep warm on these cool fall nights. As for the indoor decor it has the traditional Mexican Restaurant flavor with a American twist. The noise level of the restaurant can be a loud at times, but it made for a unique experience. I would give the atmosphere 5 marks<br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="3 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/3marks.jpg" width="178" height="46" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Cost: </span>The cost of food at Chuy's is very reasonable. The most expensive food item on the menu is the Fajitas for Two ($21.99). The average cost of an entree was around $10. During my visit I ordered the Elvis Presley Memorial Combo and it was priced at $9.99. My wife ordered a Chicken Burrito with the Deluxe Tomatillo Sauce which was priced around$8.99. I would give the cost( $10-$15 range) 3 marks.<br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Menu:</span> The menu at Chuy's has a great selection of food. First thing I noticed was the homage to Elvis Presley on the Menu. They have two entrees that have Elvis in the name. the Elvis Green Chili Chicken and the Elvis Presley Memorial Combo. The menu has a good selection of appetizers to get you started, burritos as big as your head, soups, fajitas, various combos and enchiladas. They also have 8 custom sauces that you can add to most entrees, but predominantly are use on the various enchiladas. l I would give the menu 4 marks. Click here for the menu: Chuy's Menu<br />
<div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="20101028-0911393" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/20101028-0911393.jpg" width="198" height="259" /></div><br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks-2.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Quality of the Food:</span>
The quality of the food was great. Our first visit to the restaurant was extremely busy but our food came out quick and it was hot. The second time was just as good as the first. One thing that I noticed was how fresh the food was both times. The sauces on the food had rich flavors and the Mexican Rice was moist and very flavorful. I ordered the Elvis Presley Memorial Combo on both visits. This consisted of 1 beef taco, chips dipped in chili con queso, 1 beef, 1 chicken, and 1 cheese enchilada. I was able to eat out half of the entire meal and ended up taking the rest home. It was even good warmed up the next day. I would give the quality of the food 5 marks.<br />
<br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks-3.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Service:</span>
Other than the hour wait we had the first night, I have no negative things to say about our service at Chuy's. The second visit we walked in and were seated immediately. Both visits our servers were extremely polite and helpful in choosing items and giving recommendations. During each visit our server kept our drinks and tortilla chip basket full. During the first visit the server suggested the creamy jalapeno sauce as a dipping sauce for our chips. It was a great suggestion and I would suggest it to any of my readers. Definitely try this "salsa" on your chips. Overall, based on my visits to Chuy's, I would give the service at Chuy&rsquo;s 5 marks.<br />
<br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks-4.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Overall Marks:</span>
Overall, Chuy's is by far my favorite Mexican Restaurant in Louisville, KY. I have tried El Toro, several El Nopals, and some that I can't recall and I must say that Chuy's is a step above all of these. You get great food in a great atmosphere. One thing that really stands out about this restaurant is the menu and the different sauces that you can choose for your entree. Another thing that stands out and gives this restaurant high "marks" for me is the Elvis Presley connection. Apparently, every January 8th (Elvis Presley's birthday for those non fans) they pay tribute to Elvis at every restaurant with an impersonator. Overall  Chuy&rsquo;s gets 4 marks.
<br />]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Impellizzeri&#x27;s Pizza</title><dc:creator>Mark Woolwine</dc:creator><category>Italian</category><category>Downtown</category><category>Pizza</category><dc:date>2010-11-19T23:28:22-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.marksremarks.com/files/impellizzeris.html#unique-entry-id-2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.marksremarks.com/files/impellizzeris.html#unique-entry-id-2</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Impellizeri's Pizza (Downtown Location)<br />110 West Main Street, Louisville KY<br />http://www.impellizzeris.com/ <br />Cuisine: Italian<br /></span><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; "><br /></span><code><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/51/1566578/restaurant/Downtown/Impellizzeris-Pizza-W-Main-Louisville"><img alt="Impellizzeri's Pizza (W Main) on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1566578/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a></code><span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; "><br /></span><span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; "><br /></span><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="img_02233" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/img_02233-2.jpg" width="278" height="212" /></div><span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; ">Last week I lucked into getting a couple of tickets to go tour the new KFC Yum! Center Arena downtown. Our tickets allowed us to tour the arena at 7pm that evening.&nbsp; I asked my wife if she wanted to grab a bite to eat before we toured the place. Thinking about my new project (aka marksremarks.com), I suggested that we try some place new. We decided to try the Impellizzeri's Pizza that just opened down and across the street from the new arena.<br /><br /></span><span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; ">Upon arriving the hostess was able to get us seated fairly quickly. I was a little nervous going into a set down restaurant an hour before our tour, but we gave it a try. Within minutes of setting down the server came to our table asked us if we wanted drinks or an appetizer. He mentioned that on Monday nights it is half off appetizers. So after reviewing the menu, we placed an order for "stuffed mushrooms" and a couple glasses of water. The menu describe the "stuffed mushrooms" as "plump mushroom caps filled with garlic butter and our home-made&nbsp;Italian sausage, covered with mozzarella and romano cheeses".<br /><br />While he went to place our order, we reviewed the menu and decided we would order a small pizza with two toppings. A small pizza serves 2-3 pizza and is roughly 8x10. We decided on pepperoni and italian sausage as our toppings. A small pizza with two toppings is priced at $15.69. I commented to my wife on the prices bring somewhat high for a small pizza.<br /><br /></span><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="img_02153" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/img_02153-2.jpg" width="212" height="278" /></div><span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; ">While waiting on the appetizer and pizza, I took a few moments to get a good feel for the atmosphere of the place. Its located in an old warehouse building. The lighting what dark and provided for a relaxed feel. Directly behind where we were seated were several big comfy couches with several TVs. They also have an area at the front of restaurant that allows for the windows to be opened so that you can get an indoor/outdoor feel. There were several other TVs located throughout the restaurant all with various sports programs playing that evening. I could definitely see this as a good hangout spot before UofL basketball games or any other activity taking place at the new arena. See the picture to the left for a look inside.
<br /><br /></span><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="img_02123" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/img_02123-2.jpg" width="278" height="212" /></div><span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; ">Our appetizer came out before the main course. As stated above we ordered the stuffed mushrooms. They were piping hot and covered in cheese. When we first ordered the appetizer, I imagined individual mushrooms on a plate stuffed with sausage and and covered with cheese. &nbsp;What came out was not what I pictured. The mushrooms were served in white dish and covered in ground Italian sausage and then smothered in cheese. Even though they were not as I pictured, I could not complain because they were gone within a few minutes. See the picture to the right for example of stuffed mushrooms.
<br /><br /></span><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="img_02183" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/img_02183.jpg" width="212" height="278" /></div><span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; ">Once the appetizers were finished we had to wait on our pizza to come out. I was getting a little nervous because there were people who were seated before we arrived still waiting on their entrees and it was getting close to time to visit the new arena. About 6:30pm the pizza came out to our table . As with the appetizer, I pictured something completely different. I figured we would get a small pizza since we ordered a small pizza. It was actually fairly big. It was loaded with cheese, ground Italian Sausage, and pepperoni. The sauce on the pizza was very rich and flavorful. My wife and I each had two slices, and were able to take half the pizza home for another meal (which I must note made a great meal the next day).<br /></span><span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; "><br /></span><span style="font:17px Georgia, serif; font-weight:bold; font-weight:bold; "><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:17px; font-weight:bold; ">The Marks:</span><span style="font:17px Georgia, serif; font-weight:bold; font-weight:bold; "><br /></span><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Atmosphere:</span>
I would give the atmosphere 5 marks. This place would be a great place to catch a bite to eat before or after any event taking place at the KFC Yum! Center.<br /><br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="3 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/3marks.jpg" width="178" height="46" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Cost:</span>
I would give this restaurant 3 marks on cost. The menu ranges anywhere from $5.99 to $40. Appetizers are fairly cheap. Pizzas are your more expensive items.<br /><br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Menu:</span>
I would give the menu 4 marks. They have a great selection of appetizers, pizzas, pastas, and sandwiches.<br /><br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks-2.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Quality of the Food:</span>
I would give the quality of food 5 marks. The pizza was some of the best I have had in Louisville. The ingredients were fresh and the food was hot.<br /><br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks-2.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Service:</span>
I would give the service 4 marks.&nbsp; We were seated quickly which was a plus. Our server came over and got our drink order quickly. However, it seemed as though he took awhile to come back to get out entree order. However, at the end meal he got us box and wished us on our way to see the new arena.<br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks-3.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Overall Marks:</span>
Overall, I would give this restaurant 4 marks. This was a great place to grab a bite to eat. However, I feel that the price of the pizzas was a little bit high especially in today economy. I also feel that this restaurant could be a little crowded during events at the new arena. Unless you need to go downtown I would try one of the other locations in town.
<br /><br />]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Simpy Thai</title><dc:creator>Mark Woolwine</dc:creator><category>Asian</category><category>St Matthews</category><dc:date>2011-05-09T12:03:26-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.marksremarks.com/files/0dbefdaae3baec140432ad9fdaa439b4-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.marksremarks.com/files/0dbefdaae3baec140432ad9fdaa439b4-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span style="font-size:15px; font-weight:bold; ">Simply Thai<br />323 Wallace Avenue, Louisville, KY 40207<br />(502) 899-9670 <br />http://simplythaiky.com<br />Cuisine: Thai</span><strong><br /></strong><span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; "><br /></span><code><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/51/551301/restaurant/St-Matthews/Simply-Thai-St-Matthews-Louisville"><img alt="Simply Thai (St Matthews) on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/551301/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a></code><span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; "><br /></span><span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; "><br /></span>My wife and I have been frequent diners to Simply Thai in St. Matthews as of lately. We originally decided to try it out on New Years Eve, but found it to be closed. We made it back down that way a few weeks later and have since visited several times. Originally, it was located across the street from where it is currently. The old location looked really small. The new location is much larger and has a very elegant and relaxing atmosphere.<br /><br />Upon arriving the first time hostess was able to get us seated fairly quickly, which was good because when we left the waiting area was packed and people where standing at the door.. It had been several years since I last had Thai food. Prior to moving back to Louisville, I was a frequent visitor to Thai Express in Bowling Green, KY which was a fast food/take out Thai restaurant. Thai Express was also my first encounter with Thai Food so I was somewhat biased and really liked their food. What I didn't realize by going to Simply Thai was that was I in for a treat with the food at Simply Thai and that I had been missing out on good Thai food.<br /><br />I have always been a fan of drunken noodles. Not sure what item on the menu they considered to be drunken noodles, I asked our server what item to order. They pointed me in the direction of the Pad Kee-Mow. Pad Kee-mow is described as wide rice noodles, sprouts, broccoli, basil sauce, egg, with Chicken or Tofu/TVP. They also ask you how hot you want it. The hotness scale runs from 1 (mild) to 5 (Thai hot). I requested a 3 on the hot scale and it had the perfect amount of kick/heat for me.<br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="20110331-101642-764x1024" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/20110331-101642-764x1024.jpg" width="209" height="274" /></div><br />Upon my next visit, I decided to try something different on the menu. A friend from work had talked about thai curry being really good. So I decided to try one of the curries. Simply Thai offers a Red Curry, Yellow Curry, Pineapple Curry, Massaman Curry, and a Green Curry. I decided to try the Yellow Curry. Yellow Curry consists of coconut milk, chili, garlic, onion, spices, carrots, and potatoes with Chicken or Tofu/TVP. At first I was a bit skeptical because I got this big bowl of yellow soup looking stuff. However, after one spoonful I was addicted to thai curry. I once again order my meal on the 3 hot level. It was also served with a bowl of white steamed rice. During this visit, we also tried the shrimp package appetizer which was also very good. Average cost for an appetizer, Yellow Curry, and Pad Kee-Mow for both my wife and I, was about $26.00 not including a tip.<br /><br />I recently visited with friends from work. One of the guys that came along was the guy who recommended thai curry. We both had talked up several Louisville Thai restaurants and he had his favorites, however after his visit to Simply Thai and his order of Pineapple Curry (5-Thai Hot) he was a major fan of Simply Thai. On this visit I tried another curry, the Massaman Curry and found it to be just as good as the other entrees I had previously tried. We decided to try dessert on this visit. We ordered the Honey Banana, based on the review of the server. Our honey banana came out and man was it good. It was a banana cut into pieces, dipped into tempura batter then deep fried and covered in honey and whipped cream. Absolutely amazing.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">The Marks:</span><br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Atmosphere:</span>
I would give the 5 marks. This place is a great place to catch a bite to eat in the East End, especially if you want Asian/Thai Food. I would recommend that you get there early because the area to wait is small and can get crowed quickly. The restaurant has a plenty of seating and mix of booths, tables, and hi-top seating.
<br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="3 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/3marks.jpg" width="178" height="46" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Cost:</span>
I would give this restaurant 3 marks on cost. The menu ranges anywhere from $5.99 to $15. Appetizers are fairly cheap. Pizzas are your more expensive items<br />
<br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="4 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/4marks.jpg" width="179" height="45" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Menu:</span>
I would give the menu 4 marks. They have a great selection of appetizers, rice/noodle dishes, currys, side dishes, and desserts. They also have an extensive sushi menu.<br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks-2.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Quality of the Food:</span>
I would give the quality of food 5 marks. The thai food at Simply Thai is simply some of the best thai food that I have eaten. The entrees are very flavorful and of the best quality. Last time I dined in, the server kept telling me and my friends that the owners were very picky in terms of the quality of products they use and serve.<br /><br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks-3.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Service:</span>
I would give the service 5 marks. We were seated quickly on all three occasions, which was a plus. Our server came over and got our drink order quickly. The server explained items on the menu and made recommendations which were very helpful.<br />
<br /><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="5 Marks" src="http://www.marksremarks.com/files/5marks-4.jpg" width="178" height="44" /></div><span style="font-size:16px; font-weight:bold; ">Overall Marks:</span>
Overall, I would give this restaurant 5 marks. This was a great place to grab Thai food. It surpasses any of the other Thai restaurants in town. The quality of the food is the best part. I promise if you are a thai food fan you will not be disappointed.<span style="font:13px Georgia, serif; "><br /></span>
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