Kids Quest at Sands Bethlehem Review and Giveaway

We have a winner! With each comment given a number in the order in which they were received, the random number generator gave me #2, which is Bobbie Butz! Congratulations to our winner and thanks to all who entered.

*Please note: This Giveaway is lightning fast! It will end on Thursday, December 4th at 11:59 PM EST so the winner will have time to use the Kids Quest Certificate. See instructions below.

All Smiles at Kids Quest!

I don't know about the rest of the parenting world, but for me the biggest obstacle in going out on dates has been childcare. There are many qualified sitters out there, but with the amount of children we have it's not always easy to get a sitter who's willing to deal with them.

Now that most of them are older and we really only need a sitter for two, that presents its own challenge. Sometimes the older kids are willing to babysit and sometimes they have things going on that keep them from being able to.

Kids Quest is the perfect solution for date nights. It's convenient, the kids are well taken care of, and most of all, they don't see it as having a sitter, but more like having their own night out and it's close to the same cost of an in-home sitter.

Last night we took advantage of the services at Kids Quest and dropped off the 10 and 8 year-old kids. I had registered ahead of time online (very easy!) and so all my information was already there. I signed the kids in, they were tagged front and back with labels that matched a bar coded label put on my own ID. 

The kids removed there shoes (this is a socks-only play area) and off they went. They looked a little apprehensive at first, but by the time I got back for them just under two hours later the first thing Lara said was, "I want to live here!" She had been painting a picture and was up to her elbows in paint - so it's a good idea to send along an old shirt or smock should the kids decide to do crafts.

Ian spent most of his time watching a movie and playing video games and the two of them had their own "dinner" from the Quest Cafe and when I picked them up I paid for their meals and stay. It was a very simple procedure and they were thrilled to be there and having fun while the rest of us went upstairs to Emeril's Italian Table for dinner.

Here is all you need to know about Kids Quest at Sands Bethlehem:

Kids Quest is now officially open to drop-off your children at our exciting new center. You can then enjoy any of the casino property amenities or shop at the Outlets at Sands. 

Play Time For Kids- Free Time For You!

Kids Quest is designed to be a place where kids are physically and mentally engaged with age-appropriate play-events, helping them grow happily! Parents love Kids Quest because they can entrust their children to our care with complete confidence-allowing parents to use their free time to better handle busy schedules, cope with frenetic lifestyles, or just take a break and relax and re-energize. 

Kids Quest Drop In Process

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFc97R4Cgt8

Like Kids Quest-Sands Bethlehem on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kids-Quest-Sands-Bethlehem/221004524749427

Hours:

Monday-Thursday 10AM-11PM

Friday 10AM-1AM

Saturday 10AM-1AM

Sunday 10AM-11PM

As for Emeril's Italian Table, this time was just as good as the last visit. Our servers were attentive and professional and the food was excellent. We took 4 of the 7 kids with us and they all said they wanted to go back sometime soon.

This time we sampled the Classic Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken, Linguine Alfredo, Shrimp Scampi and Angel Hair Pasta, Homemade Lasagna, Chicken Parmesan and the Eberly Farms Chicken Plate. Wow. Not only is the food consistently delicious, it doesn't seem to matter what you order, it's always perfection.

The Eberly Farms Chicken Plate - this was fantastic!

Shrimp Scampi with Angel Hair Pasta

Homemade Lasagna

The Eberly Farms Chicken Plate was mine and I was in food heaven after one bite of the brussels sprouts with pancetta. They were creamy and smoky and paired so well with the saffron risotto. The chicken was flavorful and there wasn't one dry bite to the entire breast. 

We're planning to go for Christmas Eve dinner, as well and I can't wait to try something new and wonderful! Now, here is YOUR chance to visit Emeril's Italian Table and make use of the services at Kids Quest, as well. 

**Simply leave a comment here and you're entered to win! Remember, this contest ends on Thursday, December 4th at 11:59 PM so enter SOON!**

Here is what you will receive, and let me tell you, the Sands goodies are so fun to have - the umbrella is quality and smart looking, the water bottle has a unique design and the kids absolutely love the puzzle box.

1 Emeril's Italian Table $75 Gift Certificate (expires 7/31/15)

2 Kids Quest Certificates (expires 12/30/14)

1 Sands Bethlehem Umbrella

1 Sands Bethlehem Puzzle Box

1 Sands Bethlehem Eco Water Bottle

*Please note: I was given gift certificates directly from Sands Bethlehem specifically for the purpose of reviewing Kids Quest and the restaurant and I was more than happy to oblige. Please note that the benefit of having my kids time at Kids Quest and my meal paid for does not in any way influence my review. 

Emeril's Italian Table at Sands Bethlehem Review and Giveaway

This is the entrance from the hotel side of the restaurant. It's quite stunning!

Saturday night I had the pleasure of dining at yet another of Emeril Lagasse's restaurants here in Bethlehem, Pa and once again it was a wonderful experience. Dave and I seem to only be getting out together when I get these opportunities and I jump at each one. I think we're getting a little spoiled, but I know neither of us minds.

Emeril's Italian Table is decidedly less "fancy" than Emeril's Chop House, and I'm certain it's meant to be that way. The decor is more rustic and the wait staff is more laid back making the experience casual and relaxing. The menu is full of classic Italian dishes and the choices are limited making it very easy to choose from. 

Our choices are outlined in the photos below and I can assure you each bite was wonderful.

*Please note: I was given a gift certificate directly from Sands Bethlehem specifically for  the purpose of reviewing the restaurant and I was more than happy to oblige. Please note that  the benefit of having my meal paid for does not in any way influence my review. 

On to the review. 
Each restaurant is scaled according to the type of restaurant it is. In other words, I  wouldn't use the same gravity of point for a fast food restaurant as I would for fine dining.  That's comparing apples and oranges. Scaling is 1 for Poor and 5 for Excellent so the total  Perfect Score for any restaurant would be 25.  

Parking- 5 There isn't any other score possible for this because there is valet parking at  all of The Sand's should you so choose to make use of it. Even so, there is ample parking  near the event center and everything is tied together inside so walking to the restaurant is  simple

Ambiance- 4 The only reason I'm docking 1 for this is the fact that my table, and the seat I was in specifically, was directly next to a serving station. There were moments when the wait staff was directly behind me (about 1 foot) getting silverware, glasses and the like. Other than that the atmosphere was very calm and relaxing. The lighting was ample and the fixtures were beautiful. Table distance from one to the next was also very comfortable. 

Food- 5 I don't think any of Emeril's restaurants would get anything but a 5 from me. The food was perfect, seasoned well, served at the right temperature and the serving sizes were just right. I know Dave liked his Veal Parmesan enough to go back and I've heard from others that that specific dish is always a winner.

Service- 5 Knowledgeable staff, prompt service, drinks refilled as needed and everything cleared and taken away or packaged for us to take home as asked. Everyone was friendly and upbeat, as well. 

Pricing- 5 As always, the pricing was commensurate with the quality and quantity of food. We ate very well and spent just under $75 for the two of us including starters, salad, entrées and dessert. We went away very full and very happy.

Check out these links below and keep reading below the photos for your chance to win a meal at Emeril's Italian Restaurant for yourself!

Emeril's Italian Table at the Sands Bethlehem Casino Resort

See the menu HERE for yourself. 

Follow Emeril's Italian Table on 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emerilsitalian    

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/EmerilsItalian 

Instagram: http://instagram.com/EmerilsItalian 

Visit the Sands Bethlehem Casino Resort site for more fabulous restaurants and shops, as well.

Very rustic looking menus.

Fresh, still warm bread with honey paprika butter and sweet cream butter.

The Chef's Antipasti Sampler with marinated artichoke hearts, Castelvetrano olives, Gorgonzola Dolce cheese, Taleggio cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano, Salami Calabrese, Prosciutto di Parma, Soppressata and a lovely apricot mostarda served with fried pizza dough. This is the perfect starter and we even took some home. You can choose your own as well and make up a different platter each time.

The Caesar Salad. David has become quite fond of these at Emeril's restaurants!

I had the Chicken Marsala which was beautifully tender and served with a Kennet Square mushroom sauce and rapini. 

Dave chose the Veal Parmesan and said he'd come back again just for this!

Perfect ending - three mini house made cannoli filled with orange flavored cream. Just the right size and absolutely delizioso!

Now, for your chance to WIN $150 in Gift Certificates to Emeril's Italian Table at Sands Bethlehem Casino Resort see the Rafflecopter widget below and GOOD LUCK!  This means you must live nearby or be planning to visit in  order to use the certificate. U.S. Residents only.

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Carnegie Deli at Sands Bethlehem Review and Giveaway

I'm writing up this review the morning after my visit to Carnegie Deli at Sands Bethlehem -   and while finishing up the second half of my hot pastrami sandwich from last night. Yes ...  for breakfast. I don't often take home a full half of a sandwich including a bit of the other half, but the food at Carnegie Deli is just that big. I'm starting to think a Carnegie Deli in Texas, where everything is over-sized, would make sense.

I have wanted for years to stop in at Carnegie Deli in New York City, but was always rushing  here and there and never had the chance. How awesome is it that there's a Carnegie Deli in my  own neighborhood? There is nothing better than a really great Kosher-style deli and Carnegie more than fills the bill.

If you follow this blog at all, or my Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram, you'll know that we suffered a fire recently at the home of my ex-husband. My children live primarily with me, but one of the older girls lived with him full-time and many of the children's belongings were there at the house. Everyone but one of the cats made it out safe and that day all the children were with me. I've acquired a dog, a turtle and my second-oldest daughter is also now staying with us for an indefinite amount of time until things can be worked out. The stress of this has weighed a little on Dave and I and getting out for a night was a very welcome distraction.

We went on a Wednesday evening and it wasn't too busy, but had steady traffic and a line at the door, a true indicator of good food. We were seated quickly and our drink orders  taken right away. We were handded 3 separate "menus", the main menu, specials for the day the  Early Bird special menu. I already knew what I wanted from perusing the menu online beforehand. You can view that for yourself HERE. 

On to the review. 
Each restaurant is scaled according to the type of restaurant it is. In other words, I  wouldn't use the same gravity of point for a fast food restaurant as I would for fine dining.  That's comparing apples and oranges. Scaling is 1 for Poor and 5 for Excellent so the total  Perfect Score for any restaurant would be 25.  

*Please note: I was given a gift certificate directly from Sands Bethlehem specifically for  the purpose of reviewing the restaurant and I was more than happy to oblige. Please note that  the benefit of having my meal paid for does not in any way influence my review. 

Parking- 5 There isn't any other score possible for this because there is valet parking at  all of The Sand's should you so choose to make use of it. Even so, there is ample parking  near the event center and everything is tied together inside so walking to the restaurant is  simple.

Ambiance- 5 This is just what a deli should be. Austere but interesting decor, comfortable  seating and appropriate lighting. Everything was clean and easy to navigate. The walls are decorated with famous patrons to the Deli and photos of NYC. 

Food- 5 I wouldn't expect any less from Carnegie Deli no matter what the location. We had two  appetizers, two sandwiches and shared a dessert. Here are the photos and descriptions:

Three menus for all your dining needs. The main menu, early bird specials and daily specials. We were also given a plate of Carnegie's famous half-sour pickles. Yum! 

We started with the potato pancake, which is served with sour cream and applesauce. Perfectly crispy outside and tender inside. 

This is the Carnegie Deli Potato Knish. Dear me, I would go back just for this! Crisp exterior and soft, beautiful potato inside. Seasoned perfectly and also served with sour cream and applesauce. This is one thing you MUST try when you visit.

David had the "Woody Allen", which is billed as "lotsa pastrami plus lotsa corned beef". He added lettuce and melted American cheese. Totally tender and delicious. Nobody can eat the whole thing, so be prepared to ask for a box!

I had the classic Hot Pastrami, which Carnegie Deli is famous for. I added melted Swiss cheese to mine and it was absolute perfection. 

I think this is illegal in several states just because of the sheer size ;) This chocolate behemoth cheesecake was so delicious it was hard not to eat the entire thing alone. Like much of Carnegie's menu, though, it was too large for one person and even though Dave and I shared it, it was still hard to finish. Another must-have when you visit.

I plan on trying more things the next time I go, like the matzo ball soup, which looked like baseballs being served in chicken broth, or "Milton's Smorgasbord" which looks like it could feed an entire family, or more sandwiches or the GINORMOUS pies we spied in the front dessert carousels. Lots left to try.

Service- 5 Our server was not just knowledgeable and efficient, he was fun. There wasn't a  question we threw at him that he couldn't answer and by the end of our stay we had gotten  used to saying to one another, "Just ask him." He knew what the best bread was for each  sandwich, what the pickles were brined in, whether or not the deli was kosher, what other  diners were eating (we had questions about everything that passed us by!) and if he didn't  know the answer he didn't say so, he simply went about finding out the answer for us. 

Pricing- 5 While the sandwiches seem pricey, they really aren't. Each one is the equivalent  of two sandwiches (and then some!) and they're just so good it's completely worth it. The  Early Bird menu features 3 courses for a mere $15 - you really can't beat that for food  that's as good as this. 

Total score for Carnegie Deli at Sands Bethlehem is 25.

Now, I want to share this experience with you and pass on $100 worth of Gift Certificates to Carnegie Deli at Sand's Bethlehem. This means you must live nearby or be planning to visit in  order to use the certificate. U.S. Residents only.

PLEASE follow directions for entering the contest below, and GOOD LUCK!


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Emeril's Chop House: Impeccable Service, Beautiful Food

*We have a winner! We still do things old-school here, so each commenter was assigned a number and they were given one entry per share. The number chosen was 6 and that commenter is Junk Drawer Kathy! Congratulations to you and thank you to everyone who entered!*

_______________________________________________________________________________

Last evening I had the pleasure of dining at a restaurant owned by one of the world's greatest chefs, Emeril Lagasse at Emeril's Chop House at the Sand's Bethlehem Resort. I've known of Chef Emeril since he first landed on The Food Network with The Essence of Emeril. I can't count the amount of recipes I've made that were inspired by Chef Emeril, but his influence on my own culinary life is immeasurable. I've even made his Poulet Tchoupitoulas as featured in The Last Holiday ... just because it was Chef Emeril's recipe.

I remember several years ago when I first learned that Chef Emeril would be opening several restaurants here in my little old town how excited I was. This was a first for our community and I wasn't the only one looking forward to it.

*I was given a gift certificate specifically for the purpose of reviewing the restaurant and I was more than happy to oblige. Please note that the benefit of having my meal paid for does not in any way influence my review. 

Scaling is 1 for Poor and 5 for Excellent so the total Perfect Score for any restaurant would be 25.

Parking- 5 There isn't any other score possible for this because there is valet parking at all of The Sand's should you so choose to make use of it. Even so, there is ample parking near the event center and everything is tied together inside so walking to the restaurant is simple.

Ambiance- 5 This is a beautiful restaurant with a classic understated design with some very beautiful components thrown in. There are large crystal chandeliers in a contemporary design and soft peach drapes over the large windows. The peach color is pulled into the paint on the ceiling and walls and the colors compliment not only the food, but the diners as well. The chairs were very comfortable and the tables were roomy without being too large.

Food- 5 This is what I would expect from any restaurant of Emeril's and I was not disappointed. I didn't get the best photographs, but that's a personal choice. I didn't want to drag my Canon Rebel into the restaurant and make a spectacle of myself and I also didn't use the flash on my camera phone so as not to disturb other diners.

That being said, here are the photos I did take and descriptions of what we ate.

I had the Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad. This was a beautiful plate of food. The beets were sweet and tender, the watercress provided the perfect crunch and bitterness and the locally-sourced goat cheese was firm and tangy. The seasoning was spot-on and nothing extra was needed.

David had the Caesar Salad. The dressing was divine and the salad was very large. I like the idea of the single large slice of Parmesan on the top, as well. 

This is the Grilled Swordfish with Winter Squash Ratatouille and Chipotle Aioli. The swordfish melted like butter in your mouth and was seasoned perfectly. The eggplant in the ratatouille was almost floral and absolutely delicious. The chipotle aioli had an excellent balance of creaminess and heat. 

David ordered the NY Strip Steak and it was grilled exactly as ordered. It was seasoned well and tender. A very good steak as you would expect from a steak house. The sauces served with it were Bearnaise, Worcestershire and horseradish, all house-made and really delicious. The Worcestershire is something you need to try. 

This is the Cannellini Bean Cassoulet side. The beans were tender and expertly seasoned, garlicky and rich. The Italian sausage within was tender and delicious. 

I was the only one to have dessert and coffee. The coffee was a wonderfully rich cup and the Crème brûlée was divinity ... the crust was crisp and delicious and beneath was a creamy smooth custard. A beautiful ending to a beautiful meal. 

There is also an extensive wine list and a very large and beautiful wine cellar the sits in the center of the restaurant as part of the decor. I didn't order wine, but if I had wanted to, there is a plethora of wine to choose from.

Service- 5 This is quite possibly the best service I have ever had at a restaurant in the Lehigh Valley. The training these servers have is evident and the whole experience was exceptional. We were seated by a waiter who informed us who our server would be for the evening. She came and took our drink orders and told us that she and another waitstaff would be taking care of us for our meal. This is very important to me. We didn't have anyone other than the waitstaff we were told we would have for the entire night.

I understand having to use runners when things get busy, but the personal care you get from having the same waitstaff gives a winning edge to any meal. We were not left alone or forgotten, our utensils were replaced when needed, our drinks were refilled when necessary and any questions I had about my meal were answered in such a way that you immediately understood the waitstaff have all sampled the dishes and been well educated in what they're serving. Truly impeccable service.

Pricing- 5 I believe that the prices of the menu items reflect not only the food, but the entire dining experience. The service is so superior that it makes the food even that much better. Our entire meal came to almost $130 for two of us, and I find that very fair for the quality of the food and the ambiance and service provided.

Now, I want to share this experience with you and pass on a $100 Gift Certificate to Emeril's Chop House at the Sand's Bethlehem Resort. This means you must live nearby or be planning to visit in order to use the certificate. U.S. Residents only. 

Please Tweet, Pin or otherwise post to Facebook or other social media and post in the comments below a link to your post to be considered. 

The contest will run until Monday, June 30th at 11:59 PM Eastern

A Tale of Two Restaurants: Bonefish Grill and Red Lobster Review

Given the opportunity to review Bonefish Grill and Red Lobster, I leapt at the chance. I love seafood, but the opportunity to be able to afford time and money to go out for a night rarely presents itself. So, when MS&L, on behalf of Bonefish Grill contacted me to check out and compare the two restaurants, I took them up on it without a second thought.

These are my personal findings of the restaurants - presented in a scaled format and are wholly unbiased.

I will say, before heading into the review waters here, that I found the comparison of these two places to be a bit like apples and oranges; they're vastly different in their approach to both seafood and dining, but I will leave you to read and let you know that I will most definitely be back to both places in the very near future. I loved them both.

Scaling is 1 for Poor and 5 for Excellent so the total Perfect Score for any restaurant would be 25.

Parking -

Bonefish Grill 5 - The parking is directly in front of the restaurant and we chose to go at a later time - 8:45 PM, so there were lots of convenient spaces open.

Red Lobster 5 - Being on a busy corner, the parking for Red Lobster is primarily off to one side, so it can sometimes be difficult to find a close spot. That being said, we also dined later in the evening here and had no trouble finding a good spot.

Ambiance -

Bonefish Grill 4 1/2 - The only thing keeping this from a 5 was the fact that my seat was facing the side door of the restaurant - which was facing the Drive-Thru at Wendy's and the lights from the cars passing through were glaring at times. I liked the booth, it was very roomy and comfortable and the wall hangings and polished look overall was very nice.

Red Lobster 5 - The very definite nautical feel of the restaurant is something my companiion and I both enjoyed very much. The acoustics were good (we couldn't hear other conversations from our seat) and the lighting was just right.

Service -

Bonefish Grill 4 1/2 - I will repeat this ad nauseum until restaurants listen up: I want to start, continue and finish with the same server - always. We had 5 different servers bring different parts of the meal to us and I find that very disturbing. I don't care if they want us to get our food on time - a single server should be able to do that no matter what. If your servers need that much help, then something needs to change. The servers we did have were very polite and our original server was more than professional - when she was there.

Red Lobster 5 - At one point our dinner tray was brought out by a server that wasn't our own - I saw the girl carrying it look up at our server, who was across the room and shook his head at her, and then promptly set the tray down on the table adjacent to us. Two seconds later, our server was there and ready to do his job. He was perfect in every way - in fact, I haven't had that level of service from any restaurant in the past few years. It was a refreshing change and my companion and I both appreciated that.

Food -

Bonefish Grill 4 1/2 - This was an easy 5, except for the fact that my companion's scallops were gritty and the side dishes were more of an afterthought than a dish. In fact, what should have been zucchini and tomatoes had no tomatoes whatsoever and I mistook the dish for a garnish. It was only after inspecting it that I realized it was the vegetable of the day.

I started with the Bonefish House salad, which totally rocked. It was one of the best salads I have ever had; filled with pine nuts, Kalamata olives, hearts of palm and a divine citrus dressing - it was perfect. In fact, I'd go back just for the salad!

We had a small loaf of bread delivered to the table with what the server called 'pesto'. It most definitely wasn't pesto, but rather closer to a bagna cauda. Either way, both the bread and the dip were delicious.

My entree was the Ahi Tuna that was impeccably prepared to a medium doneness with a side of Jasmine rice, which was equally perfectly done and my companion had Sea Scallops and Shrimp, which were the proper doneness, but the scallops all still had some grit to them that was rather unpleasant. My companion didn't like the usual sides and asked for fries with gravy. He said the fries were terrific and he was overall a happy camper.

We finished off with the Macadamia Nut Brownie and I have to tell you, that was the best restaurant dessert I have ever had, hands-down. It was perfectly warm and yet the ice cream wasn't melting at all. It was truly decadent from start to finish, but we only ordered one, and I'm glad we did because there was no way I'd have been able to eat one myself.

Red Lobster 4 1/2 - I started off with a house salad here, too. I asked for the Caesar and it came piled with freshly grated Parmesan and plenty of croutons, but the dressing was less garlicky than should be for a Caesar.

My entree was the Honey BBQ Grilled Chicken and Shrimp which came with garlic mashed potatoes and pico de gallo. The chicken was perfectly done, moist and delicious. The shrimp were excellent - they were done just right and the wood-grilled flavor put them over the top. The broccoli side was done to perfection and quite large for a side, as well.

My companion ordered the Endless Shrimp in Teriyaki and Cajun flavors and he had 50 shrimp by the end of his meal! He didn't like the french fries here as much as at BG.

We ended with Warm Apple Crumble à la Mode (which we shared) with coffee and it was another excellent ending to a great meal.

Pricing -

Bonefish Grill 5
Red Lobster 5

Both restaurants had good pricing for value. Red Lobster had larger portions, but Bonefish made up for that with well-prepared dishes.

Total for Bonefish Grill: 23.5 out of 25
Total for Red Lobster: 24.5 out of 25

Bottom line? They're both very worth the trip and I will surely be back for more great seafood at both restaurants.

Gift Cards provided by Anna Murphy of MS&L. This is not a paid product endorsement.

Restaurant Review: Outback Steakhouse

Before last night, I had never been to Outback Steakhouse. I know; How is that possible? Our server actually laughed and didn't believe me at first, but it's true. So, when I was offered a gift card to try it out and give a review, I jumped at the chance. It's OBSH's 20th Anniversary! Twenty years, and I hadn't been there. It was high time I stopped in to check it out.

We went to the Outback Steakhouse here in Bethlehem, Pa and this is how our dining experience rated.
Scaling is 1 for Poor and 5 for Excellent so the total Perfect Score for any restaurant would be 25.

Parking - 5 - Keep in mind it was a Sunday evening, so we basically had our choice of parking spots.

Ambiance - 4 1/2 - The only thing keeping this from a 5 was the lighting - it was a little dark, but that's a good thing when it's just two of you. Everything was clean and shiny and I wasn't bothered by other conversations going on in the restaurant, so the sound aspect was good.

Service - 4 - This would have been an easy 5 if the service had been consistent. We had the nicest waiter - Jarrett H. - but we didn't have him the whole time. We had three other servers drop off various parts of our dinner and they were all super nice so they get a solid 4 for service.

Food - 3 - I really, really wanted this to be a 5, especially after the appetizers. My companion had Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie and I had Gold Coast Coconut Shrimp. Both were excellent, perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned and at just the right temp. The grilled shrimp came with a remoulade sauce that was very good, but my companion said the shrimp were so good as-is that he didn't even need to salt them, and that's saying a lot since he's a real salt-oholic. The Creole-marmalade that came with my shrimp was to-die-for and my companion kept stealing it to put on the bread that was served with our drinks (which was also awesome). I was so wowed, that I expected it to continue on to the entrees.

I ordered Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad and my companion ordered the Bacon Cheese Burger with Swiss Cheese, medium-well. He was going to order medium, but when the server said "a little pink inside", he changed his mind and went for a bit more done.

When my salad came, it looked odd and I couldn't figure out why at first until I realized that there were no croutons- a must for Caesar and also part of the menu description billed as "hand-cut". I did eventually find them all buried in a little pile under one side of the salad. I don't know if the dressing was bottled or not, but there was so much garlic in it that it was very hot. I love lots of garlic, don't get me wrong, but I won't be breathing near anyone for a week, and that much garlic in a Caesar isn't the norm.

My companion didn't do so well on the burger front, either - his burger was too done and dry and he only ate about half of it. I was thoroughly bummed out because they had started so strong with the appetizers.

Pricing - 4 - We ordered cheaper meals, so our total was $57, but if we'd actually ordered a steak from the steakhouse, our total would have been that just for entrees. So, for this cheap Scot, the pricing for value gets a 4.

Total for Outback Steakhouse? 19 1/2 out of a possible 25.

The bottom line? I'd go again, but I'd order a different entree, and go with my own instincts about burger doneness.

OBSH Gift Card provided by Charlie Kondek of MS&L. This is not a paid product endorsement.