Third & Hollywood
thirdandhollywood.com
Grandview Heights
1433 W 3rd Ave
Columbus, OH 43212
Starving Auctioneers Rating: 6 Gavels out of 5
(Note: This review was submitted by one of the newer members of the Starving Auctioneer team, Rich Kruse)
Gunshot Wound Prompts Dinner Out
At first glance, this might looks like it doesn’t fit into a Starving Auctioneer Blog but looks, as we all know, are deceiving.
The day started as they all do, with a list of people to call and list of things to review. By 10am the phone was ringing and not in a good way. CBS Channel 10 was reporting on a naked man crawling out of an abandoned apartment building with a gunshot wound. As luck would have it, the complex is one this writer is currently managing and double luck, the guy was only shot in the butt. The day began to look up, I guess, as I discovered he was robbed and bleeding but probably going to live to sue me for something.
How, you ask, does any of this have anything to do with being a Starving Auctioneer? It doesn’t. Not at all……Yet.
As the day progresses Melissa, my wife and business partner, decides that we need to go out for a good meal and relax after a very stressful day. Lo and behold she has a gift certificate for 2 free dinners (no booze included) from Third & Hollywood in Grandview Heights (Columbus) Ohio. And where did we get these gift certificates? From participating in a wine tasting and charity auction at the Columbus Zoo, of course!! Forgetting for a minute that the free dinners were part of the 6 pack of wine I accidentally bought for too many hundreds of dollars while paying more attention to my wine glass than the lot number I was bidding on, I agree that dinner out is the way to go.
Pulling up to the restaurant I see something that I absolutely love about going out, but rarely see in Columbus Ohio---the valet guy---and he is standing behind a sign that says “complimentary”. So far, so good. Upon entry at 6:30 on a Wednesday, I see that the place is surprisingly bumpin however getting a table took only a few short minutes even though we didn’t have a reservation. Still goin’ well. Very quickly we were approached by Jennifer who both looked like one of my high school friends little sisters and explained the menu and took our drink order. Still-sill goin’ well!!
For an appetizer we order 3 biscuits that ended up being the best darned biscuits I have ever tasted. Flakey, mixed with shredded cheese and chopped green onion, topped with garlic butter and served right out of the oven.
We quickly moved on to an artichoke that appeared to be steamed, then halved and grilled to give both grill marks and a smoke flavor; served after being lightly seasoned with sea salt and presented with a creamy Creole seasoned dip.
For the main course Melissa had a “hanger steak”, which we know as a skirt steak, cooked to a perfect medium and sided with red and yellow roasted peppers accented by warm goat cheese and black beans. For my main course, the establishment presented the meat special of the day which was absolutely one of the best southwestern (or otherwise flavored) rib eye steak I have ever encountered. The only drawback to the meal so far was the mashed potatoes. These were probably off the hook as well, but I tasted the steak first which made everything else a distant second in flavor.
The cocktail and wine list, while small, was also exceptional. Melissa and I chose a 2006 Powers Meritage from Columbia Valley, Washington. At $45 a bottle, this was an exceptional choice for the meal and was not your every day Meritage. It was more like a cab/shiraz blend from the region and, above all else was excellent. We took the bottle home so we could find a retailer and buy a case or two.
Desert for me was a cold Sambucca while Melissa enjoyed a chocolate and vanilla ice cream surprise with what appeared to be candied walnuts on top.
Without the dinner gift certificates, the bill would have been about $165.00 before tip however the meal and experience would have definitely have been worth paying full freight. From dropping off the car to the smiling wave goodbye as we exited the building, everything was excellent. I would definitely rather go to this local joint than most steakhouses I have experienced in my day, and I have been to quite a few.
I walked in a starving auctioneer in need of a relaxing dinner and walked out an absolutely content auctioneer who was ready for bed.
Gavels? 6 out of 5. No question.
Showing posts with label Ohio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ohio. Show all posts
Sakai Japanese Bistro in Troy, OH
Sakai Japanese Bistro
2303 W. Main Street
Troy, OH 45373
(937) 440-1302
2303 W. Main Street
Troy, OH 45373
(937) 440-1302
Starving Auctioneers Rating (food): 3 1/2 Gavels out of 5
Starving Auctioneers Rating (service): 1/16 of a Gavel out of 5
A Tale of Two Boats
Starving Auctioneers Rating (service): 1/16 of a Gavel out of 5
A Tale of Two Boats
Miami County, Ohio is not a place for boats. Don’t let the name fool you. Miami County is as far from the ocean and ‘boat culture’ as one can get. But that didn’t stop Rich Kruse and Peter from having some boating adventures of a different kind. Both men were in the area to visit a perspective client about listing a property for sale. On the way back to the interstate Rich asked a simple question, “Did you see that?”
“See what?” Peter replied.
“Obviously you didn’t see that.” Rich stated and put the car into an immediate u-turn.
‘It’ was a handyman, do-it-yourself, nautical adventure (see picture). It was sitting partially in a barn in the middle of a typical Ohio corn field. We can all be thankful for that because if it had been in the water it would have been a Coast Guard rescue waiting to happen. Not being marine surveyors it is possible the boat was ok but it looked slightly out of proportion (top heavy) and as if one wave or wind would roll it over. It also looked plain funny sitting where it was and completely bizarre.
After enjoying the local attractions the dinner bell was calling we found an equally amazing place to eat: Sakai Japanese Bistro on the outskirts of the culinary capital that is Tory, Ohio. Some of you might have seen Troy, Ohio if you happened to look to your left or right at exactly the right moment as you sped down I-75. It is easy to miss in the unchanging landscape that stretches from south of Toledo to northern Cincinnati.
Helen of Troy was said to have a face that launched a thousand ships. On this day there was only one ship that Rich and Peter had in mind and it was a sushi boat. The food was surprisingly good for being a stone’s throw from a freshly harvested wheat field and the chief was very personable and friendly.
What was NOT good was the absolutely clueless server. Josh (names not changed) must have come from the family of boat builders up the road…at least we hope that explains it. He had as much clue about the menu as Rich and Peter had about landing on the moon. The notion of even having a server was ridiculous as both men sat at the sushi bar and watched the boat fill with piece after delectable piece. All Josh had to do was keep the ice tea coming and even at that he failed miserably. It was not even that Josh was bad just that he was completely clueless as the nature of the food being served at the restaurant, food service in general and his role in this transaction. Arriving well after the lunch rush Josh had all of 1 table to wait on. In his defense he is likely earning money for I-Tunes and living off tips in between trips to get more Silly-Bandz.
The service resulted in a Starving Auctioneer first: Split rating. It is shocker but shocking times call for shocking measures.
Don’s Pomeroy House in Strongsville, OH
Don’s Pomeroy House - Map
donspomeroy.com
donspomeroy.com
13664 Pearl Road,
Strongsville, OH 44149
(440) 572-1111
Starving Auctioneers Rating: 5 Gavels out of 5
Fine dining is not something that Starving Auctioneers do nearly enough. There are number of reasons for this including past restraining orders, lack of class and capital and most of all the simple lack of time. It is hard to fit in a multiple course meal when you are running from one auction to another and even harder to stop talking long enough to eat it.
Mike Brandly, Peter Gehres and their partners in both business and life, Lisa Mantle and Paige Gehres respectively, stopped auctioning long enough to dine at the legendary Pomeroy House in Strongsville, Ohio. Lisa and Paige are extraordinary auction clerks besides being extraordinary people and are the power behind the legends (legends used very lightly here). It is no ordinary clerk that can understand the pure gibberish that Mike and Peter spout each auction and turn that into something the normal people can read and thus pay for when it comes time to settle up. Both women were over due for a good meal. They typically have to settle for hot dogs and nacho’s from the food truck at the auctions.
Don’s Pomeroy House is set in a very old building and serves tried and true meals in an upclass format. Everything at the Don's Pomeroy House was excellent and there is little chance to go wrong on the menu. Of special note was the Chip and Dip appetizer. It does not sound like much but it was outstanding and you are making a big mistake to pass it up.
Desert was a different story however. After a finely prepared and served dinner an equally fine desert is in order… that is except for Mike. Mike has this issue with Vanilla Ice Cream. The issue is he eats mountains of it. Mike’s dietary food pyramid sports a good quarter for Vanilla Ice Cream. Of course at a place like the Pomeroy House they have such a thing but why would you order that given the other outstanding options…why? Well Mike did and the waitress felt the need to repeatedly reassure Mike that it was really good and that he would not disappointed … because it was the LAMEST thing on the menu and he would most certainly have desert envy.
Despite poor desert choices on the part of some Don’s Pomeroy House is always a good choice and it should be your choice if you find yourself starving south of Cleveland.
Strongsville, OH 44149
(440) 572-1111
Starving Auctioneers Rating: 5 Gavels out of 5
Fine dining is not something that Starving Auctioneers do nearly enough. There are number of reasons for this including past restraining orders, lack of class and capital and most of all the simple lack of time. It is hard to fit in a multiple course meal when you are running from one auction to another and even harder to stop talking long enough to eat it.Mike Brandly, Peter Gehres and their partners in both business and life, Lisa Mantle and Paige Gehres respectively, stopped auctioning long enough to dine at the legendary Pomeroy House in Strongsville, Ohio. Lisa and Paige are extraordinary auction clerks besides being extraordinary people and are the power behind the legends (legends used very lightly here). It is no ordinary clerk that can understand the pure gibberish that Mike and Peter spout each auction and turn that into something the normal people can read and thus pay for when it comes time to settle up. Both women were over due for a good meal. They typically have to settle for hot dogs and nacho’s from the food truck at the auctions.
Don’s Pomeroy House is set in a very old building and serves tried and true meals in an upclass format. Everything at the Don's Pomeroy House was excellent and there is little chance to go wrong on the menu. Of special note was the Chip and Dip appetizer. It does not sound like much but it was outstanding and you are making a big mistake to pass it up.
Desert was a different story however. After a finely prepared and served dinner an equally fine desert is in order… that is except for Mike. Mike has this issue with Vanilla Ice Cream. The issue is he eats mountains of it. Mike’s dietary food pyramid sports a good quarter for Vanilla Ice Cream. Of course at a place like the Pomeroy House they have such a thing but why would you order that given the other outstanding options…why? Well Mike did and the waitress felt the need to repeatedly reassure Mike that it was really good and that he would not disappointed … because it was the LAMEST thing on the menu and he would most certainly have desert envy.
Despite poor desert choices on the part of some Don’s Pomeroy House is always a good choice and it should be your choice if you find yourself starving south of Cleveland.
Florentine in Columbus, OH
Florentine - Map
florentinerestaurant.com
907 West Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43222
(614) 228-2262
Starving Auctioneers Rating: 4 Gavels out of 5
The most frustrating table to wait on in the food service world is one with two auctioneers when neither has an auction in morning. They just talk and talk and talk and don’t order dessert. To add insult to injury you have to wonder if two people so poorly dressed could possibly be good tippers. Such was the case when Peter and Mike Brandly, CAI, AARE had dinner last week at a Columbus institution, Florentine. The Florentine is a family owned American/Italian restaurant that has had the same menu and sign out front since the Eisenhower Administration.
A short walk from downtown Columbus, the Florentine has been serving Americanized Italian food long before the Olive Garden made unlimited bread sticks cool and pushing cheap house wine the industry standard. The Florentine is the perfect Starving Auctioneers hang out: local, fast, reasonably cheap, and a working class joint. Dinner at the Florentine won’t change your life but it will fill your belly.
Both men had to stop talking long enough to give some serious attention to the menu, after that the orders came out quickly. Mike ordered the fish and Peter the veal. Peter often orders veal as a test of his dinner companions, Mike passed the test in that he did not recoil in disgust, as many often do, and he got a sticker for his decorum. Dinner started at 7 PM and they closed the place down a little after 10 PM. They sat in their booth so long the first waitress gave up and went home and the manager had to call up a new arm from the bullpen. Despite their appearance they tipped well.
This is first review with Mike Brandly but won’t be the last. Mike is a restaurant connoisseur and has assembled a list of future restaurants for review that covers most of Ohio. Mike’s specializes in two simple things: Absolute auctions and finding places to eat in between absolute auctions. In fact his dedication to these two missions often comes at the cost of any type of modern hair care or even simple combing.
florentinerestaurant.com
907 West Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43222
(614) 228-2262
Starving Auctioneers Rating: 4 Gavels out of 5
The most frustrating table to wait on in the food service world is one with two auctioneers when neither has an auction in morning. They just talk and talk and talk and don’t order dessert. To add insult to injury you have to wonder if two people so poorly dressed could possibly be good tippers. Such was the case when Peter and Mike Brandly, CAI, AARE had dinner last week at a Columbus institution, Florentine. The Florentine is a family owned American/Italian restaurant that has had the same menu and sign out front since the Eisenhower Administration.A short walk from downtown Columbus, the Florentine has been serving Americanized Italian food long before the Olive Garden made unlimited bread sticks cool and pushing cheap house wine the industry standard. The Florentine is the perfect Starving Auctioneers hang out: local, fast, reasonably cheap, and a working class joint. Dinner at the Florentine won’t change your life but it will fill your belly.
Both men had to stop talking long enough to give some serious attention to the menu, after that the orders came out quickly. Mike ordered the fish and Peter the veal. Peter often orders veal as a test of his dinner companions, Mike passed the test in that he did not recoil in disgust, as many often do, and he got a sticker for his decorum. Dinner started at 7 PM and they closed the place down a little after 10 PM. They sat in their booth so long the first waitress gave up and went home and the manager had to call up a new arm from the bullpen. Despite their appearance they tipped well.
This is first review with Mike Brandly but won’t be the last. Mike is a restaurant connoisseur and has assembled a list of future restaurants for review that covers most of Ohio. Mike’s specializes in two simple things: Absolute auctions and finding places to eat in between absolute auctions. In fact his dedication to these two missions often comes at the cost of any type of modern hair care or even simple combing.
New Riegel Café in New Riegel, OH
New Riegel Café - Map
http://www.newriegelcafe.com/
14 N Perry St
New Riegel, OH 44853
(419) 595-2255
Starving Auctioneers Rating: 5 Gavels out of 5 - TOP TEN
In 2009 we have had the pleasure of conducting three auctions in our neighbor to the north the great state of Michigan. One of the best things about doing auctions in Michigan is where we eat on the way home. New Riegel Café in tiny New Riegel, Ohio is a Starving Auctioneers Top Ten places to eat. It boasts of number of unique traits that make it worth the extra minutes it adds to our trip back to Columbus.
Among the most important features is the food. New Riegel Café has a very unique and flavorful style of ribs with super secret sauce that is the stuff of mystery and legend. Not like any typical ribs and BBQ sauce combination, these ribs come out quick and covered in just the right about of sauce. If you want more sauce the ribs go back to the kitchen, you don’t get anything on the side lest you steal the Holy Grail. Words can’t describe the subtle flavor and the way the ribs and sauce combine for a perfect meal.
The place doesn’t take credit cards or checks, serves beverages by the bottle or can and the wait staff doesn’t have a whole lot of patience’s for people that don’t know the story. They are friendly and fast however if you get with the program. The menu at the New Riegal Café stays on the table because it is so small it fits nicely on one of the plastic table tents. There are other things on the menu but we really don’t think anyone cares. They have bologna and cheese appetizer that has GREAT bologna and Kraft style cheese singles…no kidding…sounds bizarre but it works. They say they serve chicken but who wants that when ribs are waiting. Clean up is pretty easy as everything is served in paper boats like the county fair. There is also an attached gift shop.
The food is so good that people (like us) travel from miles around to visit this town of 300 in the heart of Northwest, Ohio’s farm country. If you find yourself south of Toledo and in the middle of nowhere you are likely close to New Riegel and this place deserves your attention.
Greg has been a regular at the New Riegel Café since his CRAZY bachelor days while attending nearby Heidelberg University. He and his chums would refuel at the Cafe after cheering Heidelberg’s The Student Prince on to victory on the gridiron. Yeah The Student Prince, a real award winning mascot; to think people make fun of Brutus the Buckeye?! Beside Peter’s farm in Van Wert, the New Riegel Café is the best place to be in Northwest, Ohio.
http://www.newriegelcafe.com/
14 N Perry St
New Riegel, OH 44853
(419) 595-2255
Starving Auctioneers Rating: 5 Gavels out of 5 - TOP TEN
In 2009 we have had the pleasure of conducting three auctions in our neighbor to the north the great state of Michigan. One of the best things about doing auctions in Michigan is where we eat on the way home. New Riegel Café in tiny New Riegel, Ohio is a Starving Auctioneers Top Ten places to eat. It boasts of number of unique traits that make it worth the extra minutes it adds to our trip back to Columbus.Among the most important features is the food. New Riegel Café has a very unique and flavorful style of ribs with super secret sauce that is the stuff of mystery and legend. Not like any typical ribs and BBQ sauce combination, these ribs come out quick and covered in just the right about of sauce. If you want more sauce the ribs go back to the kitchen, you don’t get anything on the side lest you steal the Holy Grail. Words can’t describe the subtle flavor and the way the ribs and sauce combine for a perfect meal.
The place doesn’t take credit cards or checks, serves beverages by the bottle or can and the wait staff doesn’t have a whole lot of patience’s for people that don’t know the story. They are friendly and fast however if you get with the program. The menu at the New Riegal Café stays on the table because it is so small it fits nicely on one of the plastic table tents. There are other things on the menu but we really don’t think anyone cares. They have bologna and cheese appetizer that has GREAT bologna and Kraft style cheese singles…no kidding…sounds bizarre but it works. They say they serve chicken but who wants that when ribs are waiting. Clean up is pretty easy as everything is served in paper boats like the county fair. There is also an attached gift shop.
The food is so good that people (like us) travel from miles around to visit this town of 300 in the heart of Northwest, Ohio’s farm country. If you find yourself south of Toledo and in the middle of nowhere you are likely close to New Riegel and this place deserves your attention.
Greg has been a regular at the New Riegel Café since his CRAZY bachelor days while attending nearby Heidelberg University. He and his chums would refuel at the Cafe after cheering Heidelberg’s The Student Prince on to victory on the gridiron. Yeah The Student Prince, a real award winning mascot; to think people make fun of Brutus the Buckeye?! Beside Peter’s farm in Van Wert, the New Riegel Café is the best place to be in Northwest, Ohio.
Fukuya Japanese in Hilliard, OH
Fukuya Japanese
http://www.fukuyajapanese.com/
2469 Hilliard Rome Road
Hilliard, OH 43026
(614) 850-0888
Starving Auctioneers Rating: 3 1/2 Gavels out of 5
Business meetings at Belhorn Auction Services rarely happen in anything resembling a traditional setting. Today was no exception. Today’s meeting was called to order at the new Japanese Restaurant in Hilliard, Fukuya Japanese Steak House and Sushi. Before we get to the review, all you really need to know is that we will be back and you need to go soon.
While the steak and dinners are very good we where there for the sushi and by sushi we mean Americanized raw fish consumption with all the bells and whistles our great country can add to an otherwise unsuspecting cuisine. To further clarify what we both really wanted was Makizushi for those diehard sushi lovers and Japanese culture fans. For everyone else we will just call it sushi. In a past life Peter was a youth ambassador to Japan so it is important we get this sort of information correct. Peter was the only member of the delegation to gain weight on their first trip to Japan.
Greg ordered a California roll with no cucumber (the mysteries never cease) and the ‘special’ Dragon roll. Peter was a bit offend at this selection owing to Greg’s continued disregard for the over hunting of dragons that has brought their population to near extinction…when was the last time you saw a dragon?? Peter ordered the far more sustainable Buckeye Roll which is shrimp tempura topped with spicy crab and Hawaiian Roll which is tuna, cream cheese, crunch avocado topped with crab. Peter seems to be very interested in food inspired by the states of the union.
Those who order fresh sushi know that it can take awhile for an order to come up owing the nature of its preparation. However this was perfect as there was plenty to discuss between an upcoming auction in Michigan, a pottery pickups in Indiana, and the early 2010 auction calendar.
When everything did arrive it was great. What makes Fukuya special is that it is SO close (to us anyway) and so good. Sushi ain’t cheap but good food seldom is but it was reasonable given the rarity of fresh dragon these days.
http://www.fukuyajapanese.com/
2469 Hilliard Rome Road
Hilliard, OH 43026
(614) 850-0888
Starving Auctioneers Rating: 3 1/2 Gavels out of 5
Business meetings at Belhorn Auction Services rarely happen in anything resembling a traditional setting. Today was no exception. Today’s meeting was called to order at the new Japanese Restaurant in Hilliard, Fukuya Japanese Steak House and Sushi. Before we get to the review, all you really need to know is that we will be back and you need to go soon.While the steak and dinners are very good we where there for the sushi and by sushi we mean Americanized raw fish consumption with all the bells and whistles our great country can add to an otherwise unsuspecting cuisine. To further clarify what we both really wanted was Makizushi for those diehard sushi lovers and Japanese culture fans. For everyone else we will just call it sushi. In a past life Peter was a youth ambassador to Japan so it is important we get this sort of information correct. Peter was the only member of the delegation to gain weight on their first trip to Japan.
Greg ordered a California roll with no cucumber (the mysteries never cease) and the ‘special’ Dragon roll. Peter was a bit offend at this selection owing to Greg’s continued disregard for the over hunting of dragons that has brought their population to near extinction…when was the last time you saw a dragon?? Peter ordered the far more sustainable Buckeye Roll which is shrimp tempura topped with spicy crab and Hawaiian Roll which is tuna, cream cheese, crunch avocado topped with crab. Peter seems to be very interested in food inspired by the states of the union.
Those who order fresh sushi know that it can take awhile for an order to come up owing the nature of its preparation. However this was perfect as there was plenty to discuss between an upcoming auction in Michigan, a pottery pickups in Indiana, and the early 2010 auction calendar.
When everything did arrive it was great. What makes Fukuya special is that it is SO close (to us anyway) and so good. Sushi ain’t cheap but good food seldom is but it was reasonable given the rarity of fresh dragon these days.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)