Monday, March 11, 2013

Lucky Garden Restaurant, Bloomington,IL


My wife was so much depressed that day. I had to cheer her face up. After a long day of trying to be joker and make her smile, I thought to bring some happiness with a wonderful dinner. In Bloomington, IL there is never scarcity of restaurant. Good, better, worst all type of restaurant and all type of cuisine are present there. We used to try different restaurant when I visit that place fortnightly. We used to try different kind of food based upon our mood and demand of tongue.
                But that night I didn’t want to try. I want her to be happy with an already tasted food from a visited restaurant. So we chose Sushi from Lucky Garden. In last visit they did show their best and we were so glad about their hospitality. Previously we had best Sushi in Tokyo Sushi, MI. but Lucky garden exceeded by their taste of Dragon Role.
                We were bit late. Almost 9-30 we visited the restaurant. Some people were there. I asked the waiters that are they open. With a wide smile she responded affirmative and we get in. the restaurant have a retro-modern look with Chinese setup (Though they have Japanese sushi in their cuisine).
                Last visit they gifted me a calendar where the Chinese calendar was printed. The same man, who gifted me the calendar, screwed up this dinner completely.
                After getting seated a sweet lady asked us about the drink and left. She came back within 2 min with our drink and asked if we are ready or not. I told her that we are checking as we were checking the Sushi menu and we don’t eat raw. She went back but within 2 minute the guy came who gave the calendar to me.
                He is taller chubby man with a chubby voice. He was having excellently worse vocabulary and throwing of English is worse than me. In last visit I asked the name of a symbol from the calendar. He failed. I was amazed. Neither he is Chinese neither Japanese nor American. So what he is doing in a Chinese restaurant in America. May be he is Korean.
Whatever, lets not talk about his race as I am also struggling with my English pronunciation. But he came with an attitude that they are going to close their kitchen by 9-45 and we have to order now. I said all right. And the lady came out from behind and he gestured her to take our order. The situation was like “Okay I slapped them…. Now you kill”. The gesture was really offensive in terms of etiquette in America. But we ordered. We ordered in hurry. And we ordered wrong.
We ordered a curry and two sushi role (California role and Tiger eye [I forgot the name. It was in the last in special sushi menu.]) Fortunately the curry was excellent. It was awesome and you will lick your finger if you use your finger as spoon. The gravy was brown and brown sauce never fails.
Both plates came at the same time. Seeing the Sushi plate we understood our mistake. Raw salmon was on the Tiger role. She asked me that we are okay with it or not. But she was not in mood to change that. Normally they have to do their business. Seeing her hesitation the man came and said, “Normally you people don’t eat raw. I don’t know why you ordered.” I don’t know what “You people” means. I am from a country where 23 national language is present. So there is no mean to “You people”. He should learn to talk before serving food.
Anyway, with a smile I accepted the sushi as I don’t have problem to eat raw and I love Sashimi. But my wife don’t eat. Unfortunately the night was to cheer her. We started eating.
The worst part came after. The guy came with the check and asking that we can pay it now. We were in middle of the curry. I gave him my credit card without seeing the check, as I was so angry facing that behavior. He came back and told me to sign the receipt. I was not in mood to give any tip for their worst service. And that shameless guy said, “No tips????” I stopped eating and saw his face and said, “No”.
From then onwards the guy was standing and looking towards our table with a very irritating look. His body language was saying, “When will you finish???”
My wife got so much irritated and stopped eating. We left wasting half of our money.
I completely understand that we were late. They also have to go to home. They also have their family waiting in dinner table. Then why you told us to have dinner there. We can carry out our order. You should say it upfront. No need for this kind of humiliation.
                My purpose to visit there was not solved and her depression converted to anger. I want to give 10 out of 10 about the food from my two visits. But that tall man should be ignored when visit. A worthless and ill-mannered fellow. 

Friday, March 8, 2013

Buddys Pizza


Pizza born in different country and flourished perished and cherished in different country. Americans are the biggest consumer of pizza in the world. And they have their own version. They love to see and eat it in their own way, as other. So before going to a pizza shop you really need to know what kind of pizza they are serving.
                I have been to east coast and west coast to see and eat different kind of pizza. I can post the difference of the different kind of pizza available in US. But for that you need to wait for some time.
                Today is the day of Buddy’s Pizza, serving pizza only in Michigan from 1946. I visit Auburn Hills pizza shop at least 5 times as it is a common destination for an office lunch. This is a complete Americanize Pizza so don’t expect the taste you got from Italy.
                The shop is outstanding if you think American. It has TGI Friday looks. But I really don’t understand how an oversize guy can sit in those small chairs. I know one of my colleagues who don’t want to get in as in office lunch they need to join the tables and doesn’t provide the sofa. That’s really acceptable. It is not their problem that you are fat. Though they are making people fat.
                Cheese and Cheese and cheese are everywhere. Even in customers face. It is a complete Americans place and you will not get parking properly in time of lunch. So must visit in AM not PM.
                Some round of parking space and get a good parking spot when you enter the shop a yummy smell of mix pizzas will snatch your attention from the beautifully dressed waiters (I don’t know if in America it called something else.) They are really well mannered and the make-ups make them really than others.
                You will get a beautiful salad with no dressing and lots of Feta cheese to taste you up. As our team has vegan and non-vegan, beef-pork and non-beef pork, we used to order almost every famous pizza they have.    
                Then your wait time starts with salad and lots of business talk from the managers. Salads are not chewable and also the office talks. I used to get bored and turned my head to see the customers and their expression. And then you will feel you are the only not happy person in the room.
                Lots of happy face discussing the beauty of pizza. Lots of senior people are moving their fork and knife making small piece of cheer and add into their face. “Wow” and “Excellent” word you can here everywhere if you have the bad habit of overhearing. But their happiness will tell you that how tasty pizza you can expect from your buddy’s order.
                The wait time is longer and a new order will take a lot of time so better order everything at one time. You should be smart enough to understand your hunger and the weight of those pizzas.
                It came after all, excellent looking flat chicken fajita pizza on your plate, properly baked, crunchy in corner. But wait. Don’t take a bite. Leave your Indian, Mexican, Italian dot dot dot taste from your tongue. Then take a bite. The salt less, flavor less, pile of wheat flour with lots of Marinara will cheer your lunch. It’s really tasty when you think American. It’s really nasty if you think global.
                My vegan friend who is in US for more than five year was enjoying a vegetarian pizza with a smiley face. I took a bite from his plate which was really awesome. I added some chili flakes remove the tomatoes and add some salt. It simply melts in my mouth.
                So here is the confused conclusion from my side. Buddy’s pizza is for them who use buddy in place of friends. It’s not their fault that their cuisine doesn’t satisfy a person (or a community) but they are best in what they are doing. If you are American and have tested a lot you should go for this place to give a star. But if you are from the country which loves spices then definitely you can ignore. It’s not the place for you.  For me I will definitely not going again.
                Buddy’s you should try to make a Asian buddy.