HUB Restaurant and Creamery

We chose Hub, in downtown Tucson, for dinner. We ordered the Shanghai salad and the Hub ribs. The restaurant itself was very large, with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a bar and an ice cream counter.

The salad was very good, although I felt the lettuce was very roughly cut whereas the salad toppings were very finely diced. Many of the toppings fell to the bottom of the bowl, making for a very hard to eat salad.

The ribs were very good. The meat was fall off the bone tender and there was a lot of meat on the bones.

We also ordered both the french fries and the tater tots and preferred the fries.

After dinner we ordered a 4 oz portion of the house made ice cream. We chose the Mexican Wedding Cookie flavor - cinnamon ice cream with candied walnuts. The ice cream was definitely the star of the dinner. And the 4 oz. scoop was perfect for two of us to split after dinner.

Bisbee's Table

In the heart of downtown Bisbee, AZ, is Table, a fun restaurant with a great menu. The dining room is large, but fills up very quickly. We stopped in for lunch and the restaurant was busy.

We ordered the Copperman Pasta dish and the Table Reuben. The Copperman Pasta was penne pasta with chicken and a spicy sausage in a creamy basil pesto sauce. The sauce on the pasta was fabulous.

The reuben, which I ordered with the chipotle sauce, was messy, in the best way. This sandwich should come with a bib...and maybe gloves. The fries were also wonderful.

Canyon Cafe at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort

Before driving up Mount Lemmon, we stopped for a late lunch at the Canyon Cafe at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. The cafe had outdoor dining around the resort's pool with beautiful views of the canyon.

We ordered the chicken quesadillas and the fish tacos. Both were very good entrees. We also ordered the devils food chocolate cake, which was lovely and a perfect sized sweet treat after lunch.

Our biggest concern at this restaurant was, after the restaurant was closed for the day and tables and umbrellas were being put away, our waitress also disappeared. We walked our bill up to the hostess desk to pay, where it was clear the employees were busy preparing for an event and were not terribly worried about the tables of diners still in the restaurant.

I would still recommend Canyon Cafe. The food was good and the views from the patio were beautiful. However, try to plan to be there with a good buffer of time before they close.

Coyote Pause

Coyote Pause is located just before the entrance to the Saguaro National Park West. If you are visiting the west side of this national park, this is the last restaurant as you enter the park and the first restaurant as you leave the park.

There is a dining room and an enclosed patio, which is where we sat. The enclosed patio was lovely, with wide windows and lots of light but not the overbearing sunlight and heat that can accompany Tucson summers.

We ordered the fry bread taco and the coyote burger. The taco was served with black beans and a side of sour cream. The burger was served with fries.

The fry bread taco, was more of an open face sandwich, on a very thick but moist fry bread and topped with ground beef, lettuce, cheese and tomatoes. The fry bread itself was dense and heavy, but moist keeping the fry bread crispy and fluffy.

The burger was served with lettuce, tomato, bacon, onion rings, and prickly pear barbecue sauce. The mondo burger was very good, and accompanied by delicious fries.

The service here was great, and on our way out, we added a couple fresh-baked cookies for our scenic drive through Saguaro National Park.

Manuel's

We ventured to Manuel's for lunch and were very glad that we did. The restaurant was very busy for a week day afternoon!

We ordered the three item combo plate, which was served with rice and refried beans, to share. They charged an additional $1.50 to share the entree. For our three items, we chose the chicken burrito, green chile tamale and chile relleno.

Everything was very good and the three items were the perfect amount for the two of us to share for lunch. 

The tamale - the first for both of us - tasted like a sweet cornbread with green chiles. It was very good.

The chile relleno was perfectly cheesy with just a hint of heat from the chile pepper, especially towards the top as you started getting the seeds. 

The burrito was our least favorite - simple Mexican seasoning on white meat chicken wrapped in a tortilla. 

Chips and salsa were also brought to the table and hot and mild salsa were offered. Both salsas were good, although we preferred the mild. 

This restaurant is located very close to the Titan Missile Museum and perfect for before or after your tour!

Country Club at the Portmarnock Hotel

We ate dinner at the Country Club at the Portmarnock Hotel. The hotel and country club is located right on the ocean, and the small restaurant features very large windows that overlook the ocean. However, dining late in the evening, we missed out on the beautiful views. That said, the drive to get here at sunset was breathtaking.

Our dining party ordered the fish and chips, the sirloin steak and the seafood linguine. The fish and chips was a good size, but for me, the breading was a little soft, not the crispy breading I like with my fish and chips. The steak was fantastic, well seasoned and had a nice crust on the top and bottom from the griddle. The seafood linguine was also very good, but we were told, can run out quickly on busy nights.

After dinner we walked around the gardens a bit, and were taken to a coat of arms and plaque towards the front of the gardens, that explained that the location is formerly the Jameson Estate and the coat of arms is the Jameson family coat of arms.

Maguire's at Tara Hill

After hiking up the small hill to see the Hill of Tara, we stopped at Maguire's of Tara Hill for coffee and cake and to enjoy the Irish countryside. We also ordered some of the Irish local craft beers they had on the menu, which were served in their bottle with a glass.

We ordered the Bailey's cheesecake and the chocolate cake. The cheesecake was on the fluffier side of cheesecake and mousse-like, but the flavor of the Bailey's definitely came through.

The chocolate cake had a moist center but the cake itself was on the drier side, which was disappointing.

Seating was available inside and outside on the patio, so there was a lot seating in the little cafe.

Rachel's Cafe

We stopped for lunch at Rachel's Cafe in Trim, Co. Meath, when we were touring Trim Castle.  We were incredibly impressed by the service and the food in this quaint cafe.

The three of us ordered the cheeseburger, the chicken fillet burger and the chicken cordon bleu. Everything was served with fries, salad and coleslaw.

The burger was fabulous - moist patties and topped with a very good amount of cheese. Both chicken dishes were moist and the cordon bleu was a chicken breast stuffed with ham and cheese, which was very, very good.

We also ordered coffee, which was very nice and fresh brewed.

This small cafe was lovely, with wonderful food for a very reasonable price, and perfect to stop and enjoy a bite or a cup of coffee while sightseeing in Trim.

Reddan's of Bettystown

Reddan's of Bettystown was definitely somewhat of a hidden gem. The place itself was pretty set back from the street and even on a busy night in town, the restaurant was slow (the bar area was busy).

We ordered a plate of fish and chips, and the two specials of the night - the corned beef and the grilled bacon chop. The fish and chips was a huge portion! Served with a small salad, fries, mushy peas, and tartar sauce. The corned beef meal was served with potatoes, cabbage and steamed vegetables and the bacon chop was served with potatoes and steamed vegetables.

Our waitress brought the steamed vegetables for the table out in one large bowl to share, which was definitely helpful, since the entrees were very generous and took a large portion of the plates.

The corned beef was good, a little dry for my taste, but I'd still order it again. The fish was moist inside and crispy on the outside and paired wonderfully with the tartar sauce and the mushy peas. The bacon chop, on the other hand, was definitely the star of our dinner. Juicy, melt in your mouth and smokey. All the wonderfulness of bacon, in a think cut chop and grilled to perfection. When we passed bites around of each entree, we all wished we had ordered this!

The Church

We stopped at The Church bar in Dublin for some sweets and coffee while strolling and touring downtown. We ordered Irish coffees, which were perfectly made, and the Bailey's Cheesecake.

Grabbing a quick bite and a coffee here, was the perfect way to enjoy this very unique restaurant. The place is built in an old church, with the stained glass windows still there, the old organ still in its prominent location at the front of the church. The history of the church itself is very interesting, as well, and according to their menu and website, the church has been associated with Arthur Guinness, Jonathon Swift, and more.

Cafe en Seine

We went to Cafe en Seine, located in downtown Dublin, for lunch. The restaurant was recommended by friends, so we definitely checked it out. The restaurant is French themed and has a number of French dishes on the menu.

At lunchtime during the week, only a quarter of the restaurant was open, however, the restaurant was extremely large and apparently gets very busy in the evenings and on weekends.

For lunch, we ordered the ham and brie sandwich and the daily special - the pork and leek sausage with gravy and mashed potatoes. The ham and brie was also served with soup - I tried the carrot and ginger soup, which was also very good. The sandwich was a little light on the brie, but was very good regardless.

The sausages were definitely the star of our meal, light sausages with really delicious gravy.

Since we were dining with friends, I also tried the hot wings, which I was told are some of the best in Dublin. They had a nice hot sauce and were served with blue cheese dressing. Definitely a nice change of pace.

Relish Cafe

Right on the water in Bettystown is Relish Cafe, which came highly recommended by locals. The little cafe was busy, with tables both inside and on the back patio that faces the ocean all full.

However, on the beautiful September afternoon we were there, the patio was full, but all of the windows to the restaurant were open, so even the indoors felt lovely.

We ordered the Cajun Chicken Panini and The Favourite, off the sandwich menu. The sandwiches were very large, big enough for two to share one, or to have leftovers. The cajun chicken was perfectly spicy and the cheese and creamy, but slightly spicy mayo, cooled it. The Favourite was the perfect comfort food - chicken, bacon, stuffing on a warm roll. Yum!

Relish Cafe also serves some of the best coffee I have ever had. It's called Tiger Paw coffee and is very rich and very strong but creamy without being bitter; doesn't need cream or sugar to have that creamy mouth feel.

Nan's Cafe

We stopped for lunch at Nan's Cafe in Laytown, County Meath, before the Laytown Races. However, we were not the only ones with this idea. Nan's was packed. However, because it was a gorgeous day outside, everyone wanted to sit outside, so we opted to sit indoors and found a table relatively easily.

We ordered the bread and hummus platter, and the pulled pork sandwich. The bread and hummus platter was very good. The hummus was lovely, and also came with a tapenade and an olive oil. The breads were a crusty frnech bread, a crispy naan bread, and a thicker, sweeter bread (I would guess zucchini, but I'm not sure).

The pulled pork sandwich was also very good. The pork was moist and the sauce was not over powering. It was topped with crispy onion rings.

Queen of Tarts

There are two locations of Queen of Tarts in Dublin, and they are not very far from one another. However, the location on Cows Lane at Dame Street is larger and has a larger outdoor patio with seating.

We ordered the chocolate and pecan tart. The slice was a decent size, a good size for two to share (unless you have a sweet tooth!). The tart was decadent and sweet and the crust buttery and flaky.

This is the perfect stop for something sweet and a cup of coffee while in Dublin. Make this a must do.

Luxe Burger Bar

Luxe Burger Bar, located on Memorial Blvd., in downtown Providence, RI, was a fun find with amazing burgers. We both did the "build your own burger" option, pairing sauteed onions and pulled pork, and onion rings. One of us did the traditional beef burger and the other the leaner bison burger. Both were juicy and huge and delicious.

For sides, we ordered french fries and the cheddar tater tots. Both were fantastic.

We also ordered, to share, the S'mores Spiked Milkshake, made with marshmallow vodka and s'mores vodka and topped with roasted marshmallows. It was the perfect accompaniment to our very rich burgers.

The Tavern on Broadway

This place was hopping, and that's always my best judge of a restaurant when we are traveling. The Tavern on Broadway in Newport, RI serves brunch on weekends and it was fantastic. We ordered the spicy ham and tomato benny and the pancake of the day. Both were fantastic and we cleaned our plates.

The eggs benedict were creamy and spicy - a beautiful combination of flavors and served with home fries. The pancakes were fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside and served with a creamy cinnamon sauce spiked with Fireball. You barely needed the warm maple syrup (didn't stop us from adding it, though!).

We also ordered the specialty sangria, the apple pie sangria, made with white wine, peaches, apples, and rimmed with cinnamon. It tasted just like drinking a lovely apple pie.

While the food was good, the service wasn't so great. Our waitress apologized and told us they had been very busy earlier in the day and ran out of pancake batter and had to make fresh. But that did not explain the slowness in other aspects of the service.

Overall, though, we definitely recommend The Tavern on Broadway for brunch, but expect to spend some extra time here on weekends due to the service.

La Creperie

I love crepes. Period. Sweet, savory, breakfast, lunch, I love them all. So, when we came across La Creperie in Providence, RI, we made a stop for lunch. The shop was tiny, with only a few tables and a small bar, and right on the edge of Brown University's campus.

We ordered the Napolitaine and the Catherine. The Napolitaine, made with ham, swiss and mushrooms (we had it made without mushrooms), was melty and the perfect comfort food. The Catherine - chicken breast, cheddar cheese, sauteed spinach, and black olives - was the perfect balance of creamy and bitter to keep me coming back bite after bite until it was gone.

I would definitely recommend La Creperie, but be prepared to either take your crepes to go, or to wait for one of the few tables to free up.

Back Bay Ale House

We were looking for a low key joint for dinner near Atlantic City during the New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge. After a little searching on TripAdvisor and Yelp, and some local food blogs, we decided to try Back Bay Ale House. The location, incredibly off the beaten path and on the bay - near the Atlantic City Aquarium - was hopping for a chilly night in October. However, There were still some indoor tables available, and we were able to snag a cozy two-top in the second floor dining room. There was also a patio on the second floor with seating and full menu service at the bar on the first floor.

We ordered the Corona Battered Fish, a beer battered fish served with fries, and the Cheeseburger in Paradise. Both were very good, and the atmosphere in the bay side dive was fun and relaxed. This was a great find in Atlantic City.

Greenhouse Cafe

We stopped at the Greenhouse Cafe on LBI for brunch during the New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge.

The little restaurant, located at the corner of 6th Street and Long Beach Blvd., was one of the few restaurants open during the late fall in this beach town. However, we were not disappointed!

We ordered breakfast - although the full lunch menu was available. We ordered the Almond Joy waffle and the eggs benedict. The Almond Joy Waffle was definitely the star of the show - the two of us were fighting over bites of it.

The eggs benedict was good, but definitely not the best I've ever had. But still satisfying, creamy and smokey.

We also ordered a side of sausage links and home fries. Both were amazing, and the two side orders were perfect for the two of us to share.