Restaurant Review: Kyi Kyi Restaurant; Lisbon, IA

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Usually when Asian restaurants pop up in small towns you don’t expect too much in the quality of the food that is going to be served. So when my 5-year-old said he was hungry for “Kung-Fu Noodles” and I didn’t feel like driving to Iowa City or Cedar Rapids to get Chinese our only other option was Kyi Kyi restaurant in Lisbon, IA. Lisbon has your typical small town eateries, a pizza place, bars, and of course a Caseys. Getting to know that this is a family run restaurant specializes in dishes from their culture made me feel a little better about picking this place and our first experience was very pleasant. While waiting in line at Kyi Kyi I noticed 15-20 college students from local Cornell College in Mount Vernon lined up asking if they had Pho still available. Looking closer into this I saw that Pho was a type of soup with super thin slices of beef cooked in a scalding hot broth topped with bean spouts, cilantro, rice noodles, fresh jalapeno, and a lime wedge. I took note to order this the next time and today was the day to do so.
My wife and son shared an order of Lo Mein, which was good. We always get crab rangoons at any asian restaurant we go to and sometimes they can be very disappointing, too mushy, too little cream cheese, something like that; these were perfect, fried perfectly with the correct amount of filling; excellent!! Onto the Pho, we got it to go and my broth mixture had the beef already in it, you could tell it was freshly made as the beef had a gray look to it; not necessarily appetizing to look at but it gets better. I added the rice noodles first and then the sprouts, cilantro, fresh jalapeno, and a squeeze of lime wedge. Mixed it around and was blown away by how fresh and satisfying this dish was. This is the dish that I needed, that I had been missing after watching so many Anthony Bourdain “No Reservation” episodes where he goes off on how fantastic the cuisine in Asia is or Andrew Zimmern scarfing down bowl after bowl of this stuff on “Bizzare Foods”. This was it!! You think sometimes these guys over react with some of the foods they eat but I was absolutely blown away by this soup. Knowing I am supporting a local family, within a bike ride distance of a fantastic Asian restaurant in an otherwise lackluster culinary local (Lincoln Cafe not included in that of course). If you happen to find yourself in Lisbon, Iowa and need a meal option, please make it Kyi Kyi, get the Pho, and eat and slurp every bite.

Restaurant Guest Review by Slim: Mullets; Des Moines, IA

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Restaurant Review #2 by sLiM

Mullets-Des Moines, IA http://www.mulletsdm.com/index.html

A place that I’ve grown fond of during my time in Des Moines is Mullets. It is located very close to Principal Park. So a meal at Mullet’s followed by an I-Cubs game makes for a good night. Des Moines has more unique places to eat than most would think at first. The key is to stay on the east side away from West Des Moines and Ankeny where it’s almost all chains.

Mullet’s has a diverse menu which has a little something for everyone but also includes some unusual but tasty offerings like the Strawberry Gouda Turkey and the Sandberg (polish sausage stuffed with swiss cheese, wrapped in bacon and then fried). It has a nice selection of seafood but also has a wide variety of excellent specialty pizzas. I tried the Southsider which has Graziano’s Italian sausage (locally made) combined with a mix of veggies. We also had the Waikiki (sweet chili sauce, pineapple, bacon, Canadian bacon, and mozzarella cheese) which was one of the most tasty and clever combinations I have ever tried.

Most of all, the overall environment is what makes this place top notch. It has a two-level outdoor patio that has a great view of the river, Principal Park, and Downtown Des Moines.  It is a very casual atmosphere and the wait staff is cool and friendly. The only average thing about this place is the beer selection (although they do have Bell’s Two Hearted). I was able to enjoy some Ranger IPA’s which went down well on a warm summer night. I have always had a great experience when I have come here. I highly recommend giving it a try if you’re in the metro area. El Bait Shop is also in the neighborhood; another sLiM hot spot that features the best selection of draft beers in all of Iowa and possibly the Midwest. A review for that fine establishment will likely follow…

Restaurant Review: Lincoln Cafe; Mount Vernon, IA

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I know, I know, I’ve already review Lincoln Cafe a couple of times but each time it has been a different meal and also my wife and I will not be having any romantic evenings out at nice restaurants anytime soon because Baron Baby #2 has arrived. 
Throwing ideas around for lunch today and in Mount Vernon, we are pretty limited unless we wanted to travel to CR or IC; which we occasionally do. Today however, we wanted to stay close and get some take out food which usually limits us to Hardees, Casey’s Pizza, Subway (I despise Subway and think it is evil), or a local bar. We often forget we have a gem of a restaurant in town that is Lincoln Cafe.
Today I ordered their special: Homemade bratwurst with their house made mustard and homemade potato salad. All of this was great. The brats were not too greasy and had the right amount of fat to give you the juicy wonderfulness that brats give you. The potato salad was very good and refreshing. Their soup special was a watermelon gazpacho. I’ve never ordered a gazpacho before just because cold soup really doesn’t appeal to me. This soup today will always make me rethink my choices. This soups was great! The best way to put it is a cold watermelon broth, with cucumbers, onions, spices, and herbs. Amazing! Refreshing, light, and the perfect thing (besides beer) to cool you off on a hot, muggy Iowa summer day. If you ever get to Mount Vernon, and you love food, make sure to check out Lincoln Cafe. (www.foodisimportant.com)

Guest Review by Slim: Boulevard Zon

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Thanks to Slim for another great guest review. Here it is:

ABV:  4.4%

Style-Belgian Wit

This beer was briefly mentioned in one of the IA Beerbaron’s earlier articles. I thought this would be a good one to review because I had not tried it in awhile but I remember it being a pretty solid summer seasonal. I stumbled into it at my friend’s wedding. I was impressed by the fine selection they had at the reception. It included 4 different types of Boulevard alone. And it came along with those precious words that will instantly bring a smile to your face…open bar. With unlimited Boulevard Zon’s at disposal, it was shaping up to be a rough night for sLiM.  But I made the wise decision to focus on enjoying the beer instead. I feel that Zon is an underappreciated offering by Boulevard. It’s super easy to drink and sweet like the unfiltered wheat. But I feel like it gives you a different type of sweet that you aren’t exposed to with the wheat. It’s a nice alternative to the wheat. My only complaint to this beer is that it doesn’t seem like you’re drinking a beer after about two of these. Very tasty, though, and without a doubt one of the best beers you can grab for any occasion during the summer.

 

Pour-Hazy yellow pour with a thin white head. Minimal Lacing

Aroma-Mostly a sweet, citrusy smell, not overpowering by any means

Taste-Great taste out of a summer seasonal. A great balance of citrus and lemon, but wish there was more of a trace of hops.

Overall– B+. I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted this beer after going a few years since last trying it. It was much better than I remembered.  My taste has evolved over the years but I can still appreciate a very clean, easy to drink brew and the Zon fits the bill perfectly. I think this is one of Boulevards best offerings and I would drink this outside of the summer. Don’t know how well it would do being sold year-round but I would buy it regularly.

Beer Review #62: Rogue Yellow Snow IPA

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STYLE: India Pale Ale

ABV: 6.2%

PURCHASED AT: Family Beer and Liquor, East Dubuque, IL

I would consider Rogue Ales one of the better breweries in America. They produce a few beers I would consider to be in my “Top 10” list and they also can be ballsy with some of the beers they produce. Their Yellow Snow IPA is terrific take on the hugely popular style of India Pale Ale.  Like most IPAs you get the fruity citrus aromas from the hops that goes along with a little bit of bitterness. I would think this IPA is more sessionable than others because of its ABV and it is a very tasty beer to sit and drink. I purchased this at Family Beer and Liquor in East Dubuque which had a huge selection of Rogue products, so if you are in the area check it out.
An excellent beer as Rogue continues to shine.
REVIEW
Pour: Sunny gold pour with a really thick white head. Huge amounts of lacing on the glass.
Aroma: Your typical citrus/grapefruit with a touch of grassy smell.
Taste: Nice hop bitterness with the citrus flavor.
Overall: B+

Eastern Iowa Residents: Purchased at Family Beer and Liquor and I’ve also seen it at John’s Grocery in Iowa City on occasion.
Would I Buy Again?: You bet, it is sold in a bomber for about $7.99 each. A little pricey but well worth it.

Let me know if you try this and what your thoughts are!!

Beer Review #61: Sam Adams Coastal Wheat

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STYLE: Wheat Ale

ABV: 5.3%

PURCHASED AT: Hy-Vee Liquor store; Marion, IA

Sam Adams continues to make very good craft beer. Lately the word craft isn’t being attached to the Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams makers) because of the number of batches of beer that the brewery puts out; but to me, as long as they continue to use high-end, hard to find ingredients, and don’t sell-out to the big corporations, they are definitely craft beer.
The Coastal Wheat is another beer that could be considered one to drink for this who are still trying to venture into the world of craft beer. My first craft beer experience and the one that got me into craft beer, was Boulevard Wheat. This is similar to the Boulevard with less citrus and more resemblance to a German Hefeweizen. Really great on a hot day with the flavor of lemons and the wheat malt combining nicely. Give it a try!
REVIEW
Pour: Hazy gold pour with a nice thick white head. Lacing sticks nicely to the glass.
Aroma: What and lemon citrus smell.
Taste: You get the citrus flavor followed by the wheat malt; nice and smooth.
Overall: C
Eastern Iowa Residents: Purchased at my local Hy-Vee. I’ve seen some Hy-Vees that do not have this beer but most do; any good liquor store would carry it.
Would I Buy Again?: Yes, easy drinking and refreshing; perfect for the beach or after mowing the lawn. Price tag on mine was $7.99 for a sixer; not bad.
Let me know if you try this and what your thoughts are!!

Restaurant Review: Reds' Alehouse; North Liberty, IA

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This past Friday night my wife and I had the pleasure of going out to eat with my parents and my sister and her husband. We had been talking up Reds’ Alehouse for a long time and since they live in Indiana, they had yet to try it. When we got there I noticed they didn’t have Bells Two Hearted Ale on tap, which is my go to beer. Usually when a place doesn’t have your go to, you are disappointed, but at a place like Reds where the kegs are ever-changing, it’s kind of nice because you get to try something new. Here’s the first beer I had:

 

**Rogue Ales Chatoe Rogue OREgasmic Ale**
An American pale ale and you know if Rogue makes it, it will be pretty good. The best part of this whole thing is that at Reds from 3-6 EVERYDAY it is happy hour! Two for ones baby!! A nice smooth pale ale that has the spicy fruit aroma and smell. Excellent beer for a summer day!

My dad decided to go with Rogue also, but he went a different direction with the style.
**Rogue Dad’s Little Helper Black IPA**
A somewhat new trend is taking the wonderfully bitterness and citrus flavor of IPAs and adding the nice roasted flavor of stouts, porters, and black lagers. When you drink this beer you get the hop flavor and bitterness right away and it finishes with the nice roasted maltiness.

We threw in a couple of standards (Moose Drool Brown Ale) and then we decided to try the flight. A flight of beers is something a bar/brewery puts together to let you try the different styles without having to order a pint of beer. We get smaller amounts to try. Reds’ flight on that Friday consisted of these four beers:
*Dieu De Ciel Peche Mortel which is an imperial stout that www.ratebeer.com gave 100/100. Its ABV is 9.5%
*Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast which is a stout with 7.5% ABV.
*Mikkeller USalive Belgian Wild Ale which has the hoppy aroma mixed with nice maltiness. Its ABV is 9.4%
*Mikkeller Big Worst which is an American Barley wine and its ABV is…….ready for this??……………18.5%

I’m not going to lie to you, the Big Worst scared the shit out of me, but since I was sharing it was worth trying. This flight of beers was amazing, I really enjoyed the Peche Mortel and the Beer Geek Breakfast stout, the USalive was a different style than I had ever had but would like to try more of that style. The Big Worst, although the 18.5% ABV was frightening to see, what is even more worrisome is the fact that the alcohol does not dominate this beer at all. You get a nice sweet beer with some hop bitterness and it is relatively smooth. A fantastic flight!!! If you want a beer experience in Eastern Iowa, Reds is your ticket. Check out their site www.redsalehousenl.com for constantly changing beer menu.

I talked about beer most of this review, but their food can’t go unnoticed. My wife always orders their seared tuna appetizer, which is always great. I had their Alehouse burger which I have yet to have a better burger in the area than this one. And the best was my mom’s order of Black and Tan onion rings. The best onion rings I have ever had! Thanks again to Reds and their knowledgeable wait staff and servers!

Restaurant Review: Reds’ Alehouse; North Liberty, IA

2 Comments

This past Friday night my wife and I had the pleasure of going out to eat with my parents and my sister and her husband. We had been talking up Reds’ Alehouse for a long time and since they live in Indiana, they had yet to try it. When we got there I noticed they didn’t have Bells Two Hearted Ale on tap, which is my go to beer. Usually when a place doesn’t have your go to, you are disappointed, but at a place like Reds where the kegs are ever-changing, it’s kind of nice because you get to try something new. Here’s the first beer I had:

 

**Rogue Ales Chatoe Rogue OREgasmic Ale**
An American pale ale and you know if Rogue makes it, it will be pretty good. The best part of this whole thing is that at Reds from 3-6 EVERYDAY it is happy hour! Two for ones baby!! A nice smooth pale ale that has the spicy fruit aroma and smell. Excellent beer for a summer day!

My dad decided to go with Rogue also, but he went a different direction with the style.
**Rogue Dad’s Little Helper Black IPA**
A somewhat new trend is taking the wonderfully bitterness and citrus flavor of IPAs and adding the nice roasted flavor of stouts, porters, and black lagers. When you drink this beer you get the hop flavor and bitterness right away and it finishes with the nice roasted maltiness.

We threw in a couple of standards (Moose Drool Brown Ale) and then we decided to try the flight. A flight of beers is something a bar/brewery puts together to let you try the different styles without having to order a pint of beer. We get smaller amounts to try. Reds’ flight on that Friday consisted of these four beers:
*Dieu De Ciel Peche Mortel which is an imperial stout that www.ratebeer.com gave 100/100. Its ABV is 9.5%
*Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast which is a stout with 7.5% ABV.
*Mikkeller USalive Belgian Wild Ale which has the hoppy aroma mixed with nice maltiness. Its ABV is 9.4%
*Mikkeller Big Worst which is an American Barley wine and its ABV is…….ready for this??……………18.5%

I’m not going to lie to you, the Big Worst scared the shit out of me, but since I was sharing it was worth trying. This flight of beers was amazing, I really enjoyed the Peche Mortel and the Beer Geek Breakfast stout, the USalive was a different style than I had ever had but would like to try more of that style. The Big Worst, although the 18.5% ABV was frightening to see, what is even more worrisome is the fact that the alcohol does not dominate this beer at all. You get a nice sweet beer with some hop bitterness and it is relatively smooth. A fantastic flight!!! If you want a beer experience in Eastern Iowa, Reds is your ticket. Check out their site www.redsalehousenl.com for constantly changing beer menu.

I talked about beer most of this review, but their food can’t go unnoticed. My wife always orders their seared tuna appetizer, which is always great. I had their Alehouse burger which I have yet to have a better burger in the area than this one. And the best was my mom’s order of Black and Tan onion rings. The best onion rings I have ever had! Thanks again to Reds and their knowledgeable wait staff and servers!