Azar’s Market and Cafe

The Maza Appetizer from Azar’s.

As a line cook, I would often receive a request for a substitution, i.e. potato salad instead of fries. Not a big deal, really; happens all of the time in restaurants all around the world. Sometimes these requests were made for dietary reasons, other times to avoid allergy issues. It was all good, although one time I had to ask the server to double check the request when the ticket stated 1 quesadilla, 86 (remove) the cheese. Since the root of the word was queso, Spanish for cheese, I wanted to make sure the guest understood they would be receiving a grilled tortilla stuffed with a few sauteed vegetables. They did so that’s what they got.

In the food service business, it all about food and service. To survive, you have to serve great food and offer even better service. Makes me wonder why Burger King has just dropped it’s slogan Have It Your Way. I guess you can’t have it your way anymore?

Regardless of BK’s reasoning, the point is this: successful restaurants have to have a great concept, a menu to satisfy everyone from Atkins-style carnivores to vegan/gluten free Eat to Live folks, and  flawless execution in both the kitchen and the front house. No secret to many of you, but finding a place that hits the mark in all categories is becoming more difficult these days.

Azar’s Market & Cafe (subtitled Natural Foods and Mediterranean Specialties) is just such a place.  Recently, we had an awesome dinner at the Virginia Beach restaurant, located in the Hilltop area. I had always been a fan of the Norfolk cafe of the same name and found the sister restaurant to be equally as nice, with attentive service that was not over-intrusive and excellent food plated in a most appealing fashion. And for a Saturday early-evening, the place was not too crowded making the ambiance perfect for conversation.

While I usually order the can’t-miss felafel, this particular evening I decided to be adventurous and order something new (for me.) Taking advice from the server, I chose the Maza appetizer. The menu will tell you the Maza serves 2 – 4 people, but the dish is used as an entree quite often. I gave it a try. Here’s what was presented:

Hummus – made from chickpeas, of course, and seasoned with tahini, not too much lemon, and a bit of garlic. The best in the city, IMHO.

Baba Ghanouj (pronounced bah bah gah-noosh) – think hummus made from roasted eggplant instead of chickpeas.

4 Stuffed Grape Leaves – available either cold or warmed, these are stuffed with rice, vegetables and chickpeas.

Tabouli – a light salad of chopped parsley, mint, tomato, and onion, tossed with some Bulgar wheat, lemon juice, olive oil and sea salt.

Lebane Tzatziki – a dab of dip made from strained yogurt (Greek yogurt before it was cool to be Greek yogurt,) garlic, a touch of mint and olive oil.

The plate was garnished with olives (watch out for those pesky little pits) and bite-sized slices of pickle and tomato.

All this was served with a basket of light, soft but not too chewy grilled flatbread.

The verdict?

I wasn’t a fan of the baba ghanouj. I am sure it was made correctly, and Azar’s version is probably among the best around. I’m just not a baba ghanouj kind of guy.

Everything else was a hit to my taste buds. When the server came to remove our dinner plates, she saw I had only tried the B.G. and commented that next time I could always ask for a substitute. More hummus, more grape leaves, whatever I wanted. This substitution policy was not a one-off deal made in an attempt to garner a higher propina (tip, sorry – thinking in Spanish for a moment) but the normal restaurant policy.

Great food and even better service, remember? This is what it looks like.

And for you vegans out there? This means you can order the Maza and sub more hummus for the Lebane Tzatziki dip.

For carnivores, split the Maza since it’s really a large appetizer plate, and order one of the grilled kebab plates.

Azar’s has great food and even better service – for everyone.

And no matter what you order for lunch or dinner – you have to get the pistachio baklava for dessert. I think it’s a law. If it’s not, it should be.

Happy eating!

 

 

 

Review: Saffron Indian Bistro – Virginia Beach VA

Virginia Beach, Virginia is a nice little beach town that features the typical array of seafood restaurants, most of which offer fried shrimp, fried fish, fried oysters, fried scallops, fried clams and, well, anything else that can be breaded and put into a vat of 350 degree vegetable oil. If the restaurant isn’t a seafood-specific venue, then it is probably one of the standard chain restaurants that seem to inhabit every town in America. And this is exactly why finding a place such as Saffron Indian Bistro is so refreshing.

"Some" of the great food at Saffron Indian Bistro.

Saffron is not a chain, though it is surrounded by the likes of Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (all very nice, in their own way.) As far as I can tell, this is the only Saffron.  Located in the edging-towards-upscale Virginia Beach TownCenter area, Saffron is on the fringe of the development. You won’t see it unless you look for it. Maybe that’s a good thing?

The decor is modern Indian, with vibrant colors and has well thought-out table placement, meaning it is not too crowded. I don’t mind neighbors while eating, but when I have to help pass a bread basket to another table, I think we have gone a bit too far. Saffron does not have this problem.

The food, now this is where the excitement comes in. Big flavor and big quantity. When we ordered our appetizer and entrees, we were given several options as to how spicy we wanted our food. One wanted mild, I opted for medium spicy while another asked for “hot.” When he picked what we thought was the spiciest level, the server then asked if he wanted “hot spicy or Indian hot spicy?” No one can decline the double dog dare, and this was clearly an unspoken one. “Indian hot spicy, please,” it was.

The food arrived, very well presented. We were also given several small bowls of curry sauce to use at our leisure. To sum up: everyone loved the food. The spice levels were perfect for the individual tastes and there was enough to share, for those adventurous enough. We even went home with food in to-go boxes.

While others have said service was less than desired, our service was great. Not too intrusive, yet it seems water glasses were never left half full. We arrived earlier than the second half of our foursome and while we were served our drinks and the appetizer, we never felt rushed or guilty about only having half the party there. It was a very pleasant experience. Cost was reasonable for the experience. The tab for two, including appetizer, two entrees and non-alcoholic beverages was about $60.

What did we get? We started with the assorted veg bites. (Remember, one of us is a vegetarian.) This appetizer came with veg samosa, aloo tikki, paneer pakora and veg pakora. Please, please, please don’t ask me to explain what all is in these delicacies. Suffice to say, they are vegetarian compliant and they all taste great.

I then had the seekh kebabs – marinated lamb meat, minced then spiced and formed into rolls, skewered then ultimately cooked in a Tandoor oven. The kebabs were served on top of fresh vegetables, all sizzling on a searing hot skillet. “Be careful, sir. The plate is hot.” Like the sound and steam didn’t clue me in? Taste? Awesome.

My wife ordered the Matar Paneer, a dish with paneer (an Indian cheese that is made in the restaurant; the closest American equivalent have might be “Farmer’s Cheese”) green peas, curry sauce and spices. It also came with a large bowl of saffron infused rice. She tends to order this dish whenever we try Indian food and I must say – she loved it. I can’t imagine a better endorsement.

Our dining partners ordered the Tandoori Chicken and the Chicken Tikka. In both cases, the chicken had been marinated overnight, then cooked Tandoori-style. The Tikka had actually been marinated in a sauce of yogurt, garlic, ginger and Garam masala. Now “what” is Garam masala? I’m glad you asked. This is a spice blend, prevalent throughout India apparently, where the ingredients and ratios tend to vary by chef. Those of you who make your own chili or barbecue sauce will understand. So we just don’t know. But it was delicious!

Of course, we could not eat Indian cuisine with out a healthy serving of garlic naan, a flatbread grilled in the Tandoor. I could eat this as the entire meal. (Sorry Dr. Adkins, I’ll start my low carb diet again…tomorrow!)

We were too full to enjoy a dessert, though we were offered.  Some of us did have a cool beverage to end the evening: a mango-yogurt shake called Mango Lassi. I looked around the dining room and saw many tables had made the same choice. A perfect way to recover from the spice and full flavor of the wonderful meal.

So next time you fly in from Mumbai, try Saffron Indian Bistro, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Open Monday through Friday for lunch, 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Dinner begins at 5:30 pm. On Saturday and Sunday, the Bistro is open from noon through 10 PM (Saturday) and 11 pm (Sunday.)

Check out the website for more information. And take a chance! Go! Eat! Enjoy!

I haven’t even finished last year’s resolutions,

Image by (Carrie Sloan) via Flickr

so why write new ones?

Well, here’s why –

Most of my activity will center around family and work. And my writing blog, Almost Out of Ink. But a man still has to eat, ergo Exploding Potatoes will not suffer.

Some treats planned for readers this year:

Review the following Hampton Roads, Virginia restaurants: Todd Jurich’s Burger Bar, Leaping Lizard Cafe, Doumar’s Drive-In and Steinhilber’s Restaurant.

Review the Sugar Plum Bakery in Virginia Beach, plus a bread bakery if I can find one that is a one-shop, mom and pop operation.

Tour at least two wineries!

And create , recreate, modify or borrow at least 6 recipes.

As we used to say – I’m hell bent for leather on this – and I have an extra day this year to do it.

Stay tuned.

Stay hungry!

Oh yes, thanks for reading this year. May you have a healthy, happy and prosperous 2012!

DJ Lutz

 

Review: Prime 103 Steakhouse, Virginia Beach

UPDATE: AS OF NOVEMBER 2013 – PRIME 103 IS CLOSED. And that is a shame. There is a raw bar in its place.

 

So often a new restaurant will need days if not weeks to work the kinks out of their operation, and this can sometimes result in a less than accurate review. Prime 103 Steakhouse, newly opened in Virginia Beach, is not one of those places.

Prime 103 is an artfully decorated, “smart casual” restaurant, catering to those who desire fine dining without the white tablecloth, as well as anyone wishing to sit at a nice bar, watching sports on one of the flat screen televisions. The crowd, and it was a full house when we visited, ranged from young professionals to early retirees. There was no posted dress code, but all patrons were “out for the evening” and dressed accordingly. The kitchen, almost a “show kitchen,” gave the place a bit of pizzazz, with flames erupting high enough to be seen from the street. I wish I could have made it back there to see what was being prepared. (That’s the old cook in me, I guess.)

Now for the important stuff – the food and service. You are paying higher than average (for the area) prices, but you get higher than average cuisine. Much higher. Let’s start with the appetizers. Disclaimer: I dislike scallops. Can’t stand them. So a plate of bacon-wrapped scallops arrives and I try one, to be polite. I loved them. I will use these scallops as a benchmark to compare all others. Very light texture, tasty, and certainly not a hockey puck, I would order them again without hesitation. I also had the calamari, which was good, thankfully not overcooked, but the dipping sauce made the dish. We also had a crab dip with pita slices, excellent as well.

After the salad course, it was time for the entree. Some of us chose the flounder, others in my group tried the Delmonico-style steak. Two ordered the chicken piccata, so we covered the sea, land and barn, so to speak.

The main course was awesome. The flounder, a nice sized double filet, came stuffed with crab meat (not filler with crab bits.) The steak, a 10 ounce slab, looked so good a vegetarian would almost think twice. The chicken? I don’t know. The two who ordered it had finished their meal before I had a chance to even ask. Must have been that good.

Finally, the server stopped by with the dessert tray. So many choices, all of which looked luxuious. I went with a creme brule style cheesecake. It didn’t last long. I may just have to go back to sample the dessert tray!

Now let’s talk about the area most new (and some old) restaurants struggle with – service.

We had a large group, over a dozen of us. The staff accommodated us extremely well, without sacrificing service to the “regular” tables. We had one issue where the server heard the wrong thing and one of us had to wait for a new entree. That said (and it happens even in the best of places) what impressed me most was how well the staff handled the problem. Not only did the server apologize and immediately run back to the kitchen to rectify the mistake, the manager came over several times to make sure our guest was being taken care of. His meal was comped and he received a few extra beverages.

The service was excellent. The staff also showed great teamwork in handling a large group. I took note of the other diners, to see how they reacted to our large group. They appeared fine, with their food arriving in a timely fashion like ours. No one was discounted, service-wise. For a new place, it was obvious that much thought and care had been taken to ensure a memorable dining experience for all.

Don’t go expecting Applebee’s prices, but do go knowing you will get so much more than you pay for!

Prime 103 is located at 972 Laskin Road in Virginia Beach, close to but thankfully not at the resort area, in the same spot as the now-gone Jack’s Bistro. Don’t let the strip mall location fool you. Prime 103 is worth your time and money for that special dining experience.

And try the bacon-wrapped scallops.

The Chesapeake Grill is no fish story….

The Flounder Sandwich at the Chesapeake Grill

Driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel from Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore is normally about 18 miles of dodging wayward seagulls and New Englanders speeding their way to or from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. People who like to fish also know that the Seagull Pier, located on the first island (the South Island,) is a great place to hook monster flounder. Now there is a new reason for everyone to stop – The Chesapeake Grill.

Totally refurbished, the mini-rest stop on the world famous bridge is a combination of a rest stop, scenic overlook, snack bar, gift shop, fishing pier, and…fine dining?

Okay, the Chesapeake Grill is not exactly fine dining. There are no white tablecloths. I did not see a wine list. Zagat has not visited. If, however, you are in the neighborhood, do yourself a favor and stop by for a bite to eat. Open from 6 AM to 10 PM, the C.G. offers awesome food for reasonable prices.

Grilled Vegetable Sandwich at The Chesapeake Grill on the CBBT

My wife had the grilled vegetable sandwich. Presented on grilled focaccia, the sandwich had sauteed yellow squash, zucchini, spinach, tomato, red onion, mushroom, and artichoke heart (just a wee bit.) The chef used an aioli that was seasoned with a hint of sun dried tomatoes, along with a nice blend of spices. As a vegetarian, my wife was thrilled that someone put that much thought into a dish for those who do not choose seared animal flesh for meals. It was a hit!

I always try the seafood when dining over the water, literally. The flounder sandwich was a total surprise….in a good way. Two HUGE flounder fillets, slathered in a beer batter and then deep fried, covered the bun and then some. I had the option of sides: fries, cole slaw, potato salad or pasta salad. The pasta salad that I chose did not come out of a tub. It was put together by caring hands: penne, red and yellow bell pepper, chopped green onion, feta cheese, tomato, capers and seasonings. Again, a very nice surprise.

The price? $7 for the grilled veggie sandwich and $11 for the flounder. Looking at the menu, it seems that prices range from $5 to $14 or so.

Everything that came out of the kitchen had presentation that would rival the best of restaurants.

The fine details: sandwiches and salads for lunch / full menu for dinner. We already plan to go back for dinner. You just can’t beat the view, either. BONUS: the food is procured from local sources whenever possible.

Walking in the door you will be confused. There is a sign that helps, but let me elaborate: gift shop to the right, to-go snacks to the left. For table service, go straight ahead and wait at the entrance to the dining area. A server will seat you.

Is it worth the $12 toll to cross the bridge, maybe or maybe not. That’s up to you, but if you are visiting the Eastern Shore, the Chesapeake Grill is a GREAT PLACE to start your culinary adventure. Try it and let me know what you think.

Next week…how “corny” can you get?

Sugar Plum Bakery – more than just great cake!

Chocolate Decadence Cake - Sugar Plum Bakery in Virginia Beach

I’ll make this short. If you live in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, and you need a great cake, there is only place to go: Sugar Plum Bakery in Virginia Beach. Just walking into their store is an experience. So many tantalizing choices!

We had a full sheet cake made and also purchased a specialty cake called Chocolate Decadence. And indeed it was!

Aside from fabulous cake, the whole business model employed by Sugar Plum Bakery is way cool. Check out their mission statement: “… to serve the needs of people with disabilities through employment, education and training.” In other words, this is a very successful bakery that employs, educates and trains persons with various types and levels of challenges. It has enabled many disabled people to transition into the mainstream employment environment.

The cakes help people on both sides of the counter. Find out more by checking out their website: http://sugarplumbakery.org.

In the meantime, take a look at the magnificent cakes below and at the top!

Full sized sheet cake, half chocolate - half vanilla / all tasty!

Bananas for Charity and Spam Fritters!

Tonight I had the great fortune to witness an event that happens only once in a band’s career – the ”first gig.” Three young ladies, all still in high school, had the opportunity to play an acoustic set at the Oasis Café and Bar, located in a shopping center on North Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach. All three sang solo and in combination of duet and often as a trio. Two named Hannah and one named Charity, they perform as the group, Bananas for Charity.

While not quite ready for the proverbial record contract (yet) it is obvious that they take their music seriously and, more importantly, have the music in their hearts. Bananas for Charity gave the crowd a variety of well sung tunes, ranging from Simon & Garfunkel, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, and Kansas to Norah Jones, Kings of Leon, Coldplay, Train, and Antsy Pants. A crowd favorite was John Denver’s Country Roads, which had plenty of audience participation. I could go on about the sheer number of different artists covered, but many over the age of 30 may not know The Postal Service, Oasis or Snow Patrol. I did recognize one tune from the movie, Napoleon Dynamite, too.

The girls had excellent stage presence, interacted well with the crowd, and didn’t let the occasional flub dampen their spirits. Bananas for Charity had fun on stage and the audience connected with them. No easy feat for established bands, let alone first timers who are not yet old enough to have a pint at the pub they are performing in.

The café’s owner, who I did not get a chance to speak with so I haven’t his name yet, is to be commended for seeking out local talent and providing such a welcoming place to play. The Oasis Café and Bar is set as a pub, which makes sense since the owner is an actual Brit, not a faceless corporation with a marketing department trying to create what “they” think “we” think a pub should be like. The food was excellent, as was the service. Considering there was just one server, plus a bartender/owner/dishwasher, and presumably a cook somewhere, the packed house looked to be very satisfied with the service and food offered.

The Food
Our party of six had a mix of entrees. The presentations, simple yet thoughtfully executed, were met with looks of approval and anticipation. The hamburger and cheeseburger platters looked home-cooked, not prepackaged. The salads, one Caesar with grilled chicken and one house salad, were full of fresh ingredients and looked fabulous. Unlike salads offered at higher-priced restaurant chains, these salads were large, yet not overwhelming. One of us had the grilled salmon bites, slathered with a garlic butter sauce. The one-word comment I kept hearing was “Awesome.”

Since we were at a “British pub,” I just had to try the fish & chips. Judging by the dozen or so platters I saw leaving the kitchen, many others ordered this, too. After a bite or two, I could see why. Two large pieces of breaded and deep fried cod, served with steak fries, young peas and two slices of bread made for a filling dinner. But wait, there’s more! I opted for an additional side dish, labeled on the menu as something for “True Brits.” Spam Fritters. Yes, you have read correctly. A half inch slab of Spam, breaded and deep fried like the cod. I actually liked this better than the fish! What memories that little side dish brought back from my youthful days in Scouting, where fried Spam was a veritable staple for survival. Good for your arteries? Probably not. Tasty and worth getting again? Most definitely!

I will keep my ears open as to when Bananas for Charity will perform again, hopefully at the Oasis Café and Bar. There are enough enticing menu items remaining untested to keep me coming back for many more times. Well played, ladies and well cooked and served, sir.

The Oasis Café and Bar is located at 1348 North Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach. That is per Google and the Oasis Facebook page. The address on the door reads 1314 N. Great Neck. Take your pick, I guess.

Disclaimer: As with everything on Exploding Potatoes, I have received no remuneration or consideration for my review. Heck, the staff did not know anything about me, which is how I like to keep things, that is to say – anonymous. Also, I am not related to anyone in Bananas for Charity, although my daughter did know one of the singers. Would I have given the same music review had my daughter not had that connection? Probably. Those who know me will tell you that I was in the music business way too long to tolerate poorly performed music. If it sucks, I say so. Notice that I did not use that word anywhere in my review. What counts is (1) did I put some cash into the tip jar? Yes. And (2) will I come back and pay again, probably for much of the same set list? Absolutely. Bananas for Charity is a joy to listen to and the Oasis Café and Bar is one of those undiscovered best-kept secrets of Virginia Beach. See for yourself!