The Pier House Restaurant - Nags Head, NC

The Pier House Restaurant
Nags Head Pier MP 11.5
Nags Head, NC

While traveling in the Outer Banks we had breakfast at the Pier House Restaurant. The restaurant sits right at the end of the Nags Head Pier and you can walk on the pier to sightsee for $1.50 or fish off it for $10.00. If you like, once you catch your fish, the Pier House Restaurant will clean it and cook it right there for you. Prefer to just sightsee? The view is spectacular and in addition to watching the waves crash into the sand, you can watch the surfers and the fishermen bring in their catch.

Beautiful view from the restaurant

The restaurant has a bait and tackle shop at the entrance way where you can also purchase t-shirts and some small food items, ice cream, snacks, and drinks. Once you enter the restaurant, there are two rooms – one inside and one on the patio where you can sit right over the beach and watch the shore. The rooms are small and on weekends if you want breakfast you need to go early to get a seat or you’ll be waiting for a while. The floors and tables are made of wood, there are beer signs on the ceiling, there’s a long bar area, and the atmosphere is noisy, casual, and comfortable -- a typical diner. 

The menu has lots of basic diner fare with some interesting exceptions, but don’t try to create a plate yourself or remove an ingredient you don’t like or are allergic to. The menu states clearly, “No Substitutions or Deletions, please do not ask.”

For breakfast we ordered the Seafood Omelet, Scrambled Eggs and Grits, Blueberry Pancakes, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Eggs and Cheese “McMuffin,” Oatmeal with chocolate chips and a side order of the Home Fries.

The Seafood Omelet came and we were told it was the only one the cook was making that day. They only make this item when they have sufficient fresh shrimp, crab, and scallops. It was served with grits and wheat toast. The omelet was delicious, the seafood perfectly cooked and the texture was creamy and light. It was unusual to have seafood with eggs, but it was delicious. The grits were not the instant variety, but were flavorless despite the pool of melted butter sitting on top. Lots of salt and pepper helped. The toast was so lightly toasted it was really like warm bread and it came without butter on it or on the side, but we enjoyed it with jam from the big basket of packaged jams on the table. We would definitely order the omelet again, but not the grits or the toast.

Seafood Omelet, Wheat Toast, and Grits

 The Scrambled Eggs were good, but a little dry. The side of Blueberry Pancakes were cooked perfectly. They were loaded with blueberries, crisp around the edges, and soft and tender in the middle. We loved these! With just a drizzle of maple syrup they were delightful.

Scrambled Eggs, Grits, and Blueberry Panckaes

The Chocolate Chip Pancakes were as good as the blueberry ones, lots of chocolate chips and two huge cakes to keep us busy. They offer several types of pancakes and they all looked good.

Chocolate Chip Pancakes

The Egg and Cheese “McMuffin” was plain, but okay.  The egg was well cooked and the muffin was toasted, but the cheese was the American “peel and stick” variety that we really don’t like – especially since it wasn’t melted. Still it was as expected and because of the simplicity we may order it again.  We were a little confused as to why they called it a "McMuffin" when that's a McDonald's trademark, but ultimately shrugged it off as Nags Head being a small tourist town.

The Oatmeal with chocolate chips was completely flavorless. The oatmeal was thick, but even after stirring in the melted chocolate chips it lacked flavor. It was bland and unappealing.

Oatmeal with Chocolate Chips and Egg & Cheese "McMuffin"

The side of Home Fries was spectacular! We loved these. Potatoes cut in cubes and fried, served crispy and hot, they shared the spotlight with the seafood omelet for the best thing on the table. We would return just to get these again! We put some ketchup on the plate from the bottle on the table, and were disappointed. The ketchup was a generic brand, too sweet, and the bottle on our table was dirty from leaking ketchup. But the potatoes were so good, we devoured them anyway! Definitely order these.

Home Fries

In addition to these items we had coffee, which was good and the waiter kept our cups full. The service was quick and nice, but not exceptionally friendly. We went at about 8:45 a.m. on a Wednesday and it was busy, but we didn’t have to wait for a table. Overall, it was a good experience. The food was good and the atmosphere was welcoming, but the view was incredible and if you get the chance while visiting Nags Head, be sure to stop in.

Georgia Brown's - Washington DC

Georgia Brown’s

950 15^th St. Northwest

Washington DC, 20005

Washington D.C. has many things to see and places to go and eventually you have to stop to eat.  After a busy day of flying, sightseeing, and visiting family we stopped in at Georgia Brown’s.  The restaurant is gorgeous with lots of arched windows, huge metal sculptures attached to the ceiling, black and white tiles in the kitchen area, and soft carpeting and tablecloths.  The entrance is welcoming and the staff is exceptionally friendly and attentive.  We were asked if we had reservations, which we did not, but being somewhat early on a Friday evening, we were taken directly to a table and seated.  We sat for a moment to take in the ambience and listen to soft jazz being piped in, and we knew we were in for a treat.

Georgia Brown's bee logo

Table setting with spicy vinegar

 The menu features “low country” cuisine and we excitedly ordered appetizers of Fried Green Tomatoes, and Crab Cakes.  Before they were delivered to us, we were served a plate of biscuits and sweet corn bread with a side of butter.  The biscuits were delicious – light and fluffy – and the sweet corn bread was heaven.  We munched on those and very shortly our appetizers arrived.

Cornbread, biscuits, and honey butter

The Fried Green Tomatoes were assembled as two thin slices of green tomato with a goat cheese filling, breaded and fried.  They were piquant, slightly crisp, and delicious.  The Crab Cake was served on a corn pancake and fresh pea shoots.  They were thick and loaded with crab.  The tartar sauce was thick and flavorful and the dish was scrumptious and just the right size to share.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Crab cake atop corn pancake

For our entrees, we ordered Arctic Char with Lentils, Fried Chicken Salad, She Crab Soup, Beer Can Chicken and their signature dish, Shrimp and Grits.

The Arctic Char with Lentils came with the fish atop black lentils, zucchini ribbons and tomato puree.  The fish was perfectly cooked and the lentils were tender and flavorful.  The zucchini ribbons added just the right amount of brightness to the dish and the overall experience was delicious.

Arctic Char with Lentils

The Fried Chicken Salad came with fresh garden greens from a local market, dried cranberries, peanuts, blue cheese, croutons, red onions and tomatoes.  The fried chicken was succulent and flavorful, perfectly cooked, and the vegetables were fresh and crisp.  The croutons were homemade, crunchy and buttery, and overall the salad was perfect except that there was too much dressing.  Next time we’ll ask for half the dressing and it should be perfect.  Having fried chicken in a salad – well, what could be better?  You get to feel noble for the salad part and yet you have the delicious fried chicken as a bonus!  We loved it.

Fried Chicken Salad

She Crab Soup isn’t something you can get anywhere and whenever we visit the east coast we try to find it.  The She Crab Soup at Georgia Brown’s is loaded with chunks of lump crab meat and deliciously flavored with cream, nutmeg and sherry.  It was unbelievably good and incredibly rich.  You must try this when you go!

She Crab Soup

The Beer Can Chicken came with half a chicken, which we knew we’d never finish, but was so delicious we gave it our best effort!  The chicken had been cooked perfectly in Guinness beer and then was coated with a Guinness beer glaze – scrumptious.  It came with macaroni and cheese that was cheesy and gooey, and a nice succotash of peas and corn.  The peas in the succotash were sweet and perfectly prepared. We enjoyed the entire dish immensely.

Beer Can Chicken

The Shrimp and Grits is the signature dish for Georgia Brown’s and the reasons for its popularity are many.  The shrimp – and there were about 8 of them – are large and served heads on, a delight for anyone who has tried them.  The dish has their specially made grits which are unimaginably creamy on the bottom, topped by Andouille sausage, shrimp and scallions, all swimming in a succulent broth.  We’ve had this dish a few times and each time marvel at the incredible creaminess of the grits.  They are amazing and addictive.  Long past our point of being full, we continued to eat simply because it was that good!

Shrimp and Grits

 After all of this we determined we couldn’t possibly order dessert, but our server, Emily (who was wonderfully attentive, friendly, and informative) brought the menu and we decided to just take a look.  The offerings were inviting and despite being full, decided to try the Banana Cream Pie and the Peach Cobbler.  Well, you only live once right!

The Banana Cream Pie was served with the small pie cut in half and arranged one half against the other, beautiful.  The pie was topped with maple glazed pecans and salted caramel glaze.  It was a lovely presentation, but the pastry was so tough we could hardly cut through it.  The inside of the pastry was coated with chocolate ganache – very unusual – and filled with custard.  The chocolate was delicious but the custard was a little too soft and thin.  We couldn’t find the salted caramel, but overall the dessert was very good. 

Banana Cream Pie

The Peach Cobbler stole the show arriving in a darling mason jar, steaming hot, served over cinnamon spiced oatmeal with a vanilla orange zest sauce on the side for drizzling.  This dessert was unbelievably good!  We loved it – every last bit of it!  Definitely try this when you go!  It’s sweet, spicy, warm, gooey, and everything a dessert should be.  Perfect!

Adorable presentation of the peach cobbler

Peach Cobbler detail

Dining at Georgia Brown’s was a great experience.  Very relaxing, elegant atmosphere, comforting, welcoming staff, and incredibly delicious food.  If you’re in D.C. you must go.  Don’t miss this jewel!

Mama Kwan's Tiki Bar & Grill - Kill Devil Hills, NC

Mama Kwan’s Tiki Bar & Grill

MP 9.5 Croatan Hwy

Kill Devil Hills, NC

Mama Kwan's is a pleasant beach restaurant with grass mat ceilings, surf boards on the walls, and paddle fans keeping everyone cool.  The tables are laminated with a tropical flower motif – very bright and colorful.  There are tropical flowers and beach murals on the walls, a big U shaped bar, and TVs on every wall.  The greeting area features a thatched roof hostess station and there are wood floors throughout.  The bathroom alcove is painted with a bright seascape and signs for “Dudes” and “Babes” don the doors– lots of fun.  The atmosphere overall is colorful, welcoming, noisy, and exciting.  There is reggae, beachy music piped in and the menu is very friendly with add ons listed as “And Maybe.”  One of the featured items on the menu was listed as B.O.F.F. with the description reading “basket of French fries – duh.”  Very cute. 

Bathroom Doors

Grass mat ceiling with mounted surfboard

Bar area

When we went on a Tuesday for lunch, there were lots of locals with not an empty seat in the house.  After looking through the menu we ordered Blackened Tuna Nachos, Jerk Wahoo, Blackened Fish Tacos, regular Fish Tacos, and Jerk Chicken Tacos. 

The Blackened Tuna Nachos came as an appetizer and the presentation was very inviting.  There were homemade tortilla chips topped with melted shredded cheese, big chunks of blackened tuna, tomato, lettuce, red onions, scallions, and Napa cabbage all covered with a drizzle of sour cream lime sauce.  It looked scrumptious and from the very first bite we were in love.  We ordered this appetizer because of the novelty and were delighted by the flavor.  The tuna was perfectly cooked, delicious, and intensely seasoned.  The chips were crisp and light, the vegetables were fresh, and the lime sour cream sauce was exquisite.  We devoured the entire dish and were scraping the bottom to get the last bits up.  Definitely order this when you visit.  DEFINITELY!

Blackened Tuna Nachos

The Jerk Wahoo was beautifully served atop jasmine rice, covered with black beans, then the Wahoo, and topped with a slice of grilled pineapple.  There were grilled grape tomatoes and steamed broccoli dancing around the sides and the plate was a work of art.  The fish was delicious, but overcooked so somewhat dry.  The rice was plain, but offset by the black beans and pineapple – quite delicious.  We added some soy sauce (there’s a bottle on every table) and that polished off the fish beautifully.  Overall it was a large serving that we couldn’t finish, and a delicious entrée.

Jerk Wahoo

 Both the Blackened and regular Fish Tacos came with a big scoop of jasmine rice topped with sesame seeds, three fresh flour tortillas, a mound of pre-shredded cheddar and jack cheese, scallions, Napa cabbage, and lime sour cream sauce.  They also came with a side of salsa.  The difference between the blackened fish and the regular fish – both Mahi Mahi – was the intensity of flavor.  The blackened fish was highly seasoned and succulent and the regular fish was delicate and pleasing.  The tortillas were fresh and soft.  Once we assembled the tacos, they were delicious; however, we would prefer freshly grated cheese to the pre-shredded variety we were given as the flavor wasn’t as bright.  The rice was plain and dry and we really didn’t eat much of it.  The fish tacos are good and are a signature dish for this restaurant.

Fish Tacos

Blackened Fish Tacos

The Jerk Chicken Soft Tacos came with big chunks of fresh red tomatoes, fresh spinach, chopped red onions, a mound of shredded cheese, salsa, and lime sour cream sauce.  The plate was completed with a big scoop of jasmine rice topped with sesame seeds and three fresh flour tortillas.  The tortillas were, like all the others, fresh and soft, and the rice was plain and next time we’ll ask for a substitution.  The tomatoes and spinach were very fresh and overall the taco was delicious.  The chicken was cooked well and the combination was delicious.

Jerk Chicken Soft Taco

The plating of all the dishes was beautiful and well executed.  There was a spicy red sauce garnish on each of the plates – originally we thought it was just for decoration, however, when one of the Mahi Mahi tacos came in contact with it, we discovered it was actually the perfect complementary flavor for the dish.  We would have loved a side order of that and will ask for it next time. 

Exterior

Overall our experience at Mama Kwan’s was excellent. The servings are large and the food is great.  The atmosphere is fun and relaxed and was a great addition to our vacation.  Of all the dishes we tried, the Tuna Nachos beat everything.  As we left, we noticed the picnic tables outside and thought it would be a great way to spend an evening to eat dinner and look forward to returning to try other menu offerings.  If you’re in Kill Devil Hills, we highly recommend that you stop in and try this local favorite.  

Luigi's Ristorante and Pizzeria

Luigi's
6225 4th Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87107

We recently had lunch at Luigi’s Ristorante and Pizzeria in Albuquerque’s North Valley.  The outside of the restaurant is dated and has neon signs in the windows above lace curtains; inside the décor is very 1970s.  There are yellow concrete floors that have seen better days, the ceilings are painted a bright yellow, the chairs are steel with red vinyl cushions, and the tables are imitation black marble (Formica).  There is a long salad bar/hot bar station (we didn’t know anyone still had these) with lights above with gold plastic panes, at least 40 years old.  The support poles are wrapped with twinkle lights, there are big murals of Italy on the walls, and three, count ‘em, THREE TVs lined up above the salad bar – all showing sports stations with the sound muted.  The feel is less welcoming than cluttered and the whole place needs a makeover.  Luigis advertises that they are “The Look, The Feel, The Taste of Italy.”  If that’s true, Italian style is way behind the times!  We were hoping the “taste” part would be true.  That said, we were seated by a very friendly waiter who showed us the offerings on the bar area and handed us vinyl menus.  Our drinks were brought to us in amber colored plastic tumblers – again, very dated not to mention it’s such a turn off to be served in plastic anything once you’re of the age where you can drink from a cup without spilling on yourself.
Luigis’ menu is extensive and is available for viewing online.  There are traditional Italian dishes you can find in many Italian restaurants in the area and some surprising ones such as Braciole, Zepole, and Stuffed Shells.  We ordered Luigi’s Chicken Florentine and the Spinach Lasagna.  The wait service was slow and our waitress did not know the menu.  We had to repeat our order four times for her to understand what we wanted, which was annoying.  Our entrees came with salads and when we asked what kinds of dressings were available, she said they had “all of them.”  We had really no idea what “all of them” were and finally after several questions settled on blue cheese and Italian.  Maybe it was her first day.

After placing the order we wanted to wash our hands and headed to the restroom, which was interesting and somewhat uncomfortable.  There are two stalls in the ladies room – one does not have a door so there is a curtain there.  We weren’t too sure about that idea, but made the best of the situation.  A curtain in a public bathroom is not the best solution to offering privacy.  If we return to Luigi’s, we will avoid that if possible.

Our service was slow throughout our meal, but when our salads arrived, they were very fresh.  Like the drinking tumblers, the salads were served in plastic bowls – most unimpressive.  The side salads were composed of romaine lettuce, chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, and delicious croutons.  We don’t usually like croutons, but these were savory and crunchy and we ate every one of them.  The blue cheese salad dressing was very thin, but tasty and the homemade Italian dressing was delicious.  We enjoyed our salads which were the right size for a side dish and very good. 

Side Salad (dressing on the side)

Our entrée’s were delivered one at a time, the Chicken Florentine and a basket of bread arriving first, then the Spinach Lasagna.  They were served on actual plates and not plastic – thank heaven!  The lasagna was extremely hot – obviously just out of the oven – and we figured the waitress wanted to be careful so delivered it on its own.  The bread was served in a small wicker basket with a tiny cup of what the waitress called butter, smelled fresh and was warm and looked delicious.  The butter mix was whipped and seasoned with herbs and garlic and very delicious, but was suspiciously yellow and we thought it was probably margarine.  We asked for a second tiny cup of it – one would not likely be enough for two diners.  The bread was disappointing – basically flavorless.  It was warm and had the texture of fresh Italian bread, but lacked flavor.  The buttery spread was needed to make it tasty and helped a lot.

Fresh Italian bread and herb butter

Luigi’s Chicken Florentine was beautiful in presentation, but virtually drowning in cream sauce.  The plate was filled with it.  The pasta was perfectly cooked, buttery and rich, but the chicken was dry and overcooked.  The spinach, ricotta, and mozzarella filling was tasteless and the mushrooms added texture, but no flavor.   It needed salt and after adding that (from a very grimy salt shaker) it was better, but not by much.  And there was just too much sauce to differentiate whatever flavors there might have been.  We didn’t care for the chicken at all and ended up leaving about half of it on the plate, but the pasta was delicious and we ate it all.

Luigi's Chicken Florentine

The Spinach Lasagna was delectable!  Steaming hot from the oven with a nice chewy cheese layer on top, it was very delicious.  The filling of mozzarella, ricotta, and spinach was soft and flavorful and the marinara sauce was rich and delicious.  It was very, very good.  The serving was large and we took half home for later.  We would definitely order this dish again.

Spinach Lasagna

We ordered the Tiramisu for dessert, and since we’ve tried this is several restaurants were eager to see what Luigi’s would offer.  We hoped we’d see the traditional slice of layers of coffee soaked lady fingers surrounded by scrumptious creamy goodness, sweet and delicious.  That’s not what we got.  For a restaurant that bills itself as “true” Italian, it was a big disappointment.  We were served a small ramekin with coffee soaked lady fingers set on the sides, filled with a cream filling.  One bite and we were finished.  It seemed that this dessert, besides being extremely disappointing in presentation, had been sitting uncovered in a refrigerator.  It carried with it all the flavors of that exposure and we sent it back.  It was awful.  The filling was creamy, but the flavors of sitting open in a refrigerator were so prevalent, we couldn’t eat it. 

Tiramisu

Overall, most of our experience at Luigis was disappointing.  The sign says the restaurant has been family owned and operated since 1996.  Obviously, when the family bought it in 1996 they didn’t do anything to improve the 1970s appearance.  It is so dated, so clumsy and cluttered, it takes away from the diner’s experience.  We know that remodeling is costly and time consuming but it is hard to revisit a restaurant, even when the food is amazing, if the atmosphere is uncomfortable.  And except for the Spinach Lasagna and the Italian dressing, we didn’t see anything that we felt would be worth coming back for.  The curtain in the bathroom is unforgivable and should be addressed immediately.  When we entered the restaurant, there were two large parties finishing their meals.  The entire time we were there – well over an hour – no other patrons came in.  We would like to try some of the other offerings at Luigi’s because we have the sense that there are probably some dishes we would love.  However, it’s hard to say, given the slow service, the untidy surroundings, and the overall sad ambiance, if we would seek it out again.

The Range Café

The Range Café
4401 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87111


This is one of our favorite restaurants.  The décor is whimsical and rustic, blue spotted cows hanging from the ceiling fans, racks of cowboy boots, wooden tables and chairs and red booths.  The menu is mostly New Mexican but has some home cooked surprises like apple slaw and meatloaf.  We’ve had many items on their menu and without exception everything is delicious.  This time, we ordered two salads – the Rio Rojo with chicken, and the Steak and Shrimp Fajita salad.


Rio Rojo salad – Fresh greens with chunks of gorgonzola cheese, grape tomatoes, artichoke hearts and grilled chicken, topped with “frizzled” onions, which are basically deconstructed onion rings.  Served with balsamic vinaigrette dressing.  The dressing was scrumptious and we got it on the side but used most of it over the salad.  A good hearty salad that we’ve had with sliced steak and highly recommend.  Rating – Delicious!


Steak and Shrimp Fajita salad – Fresh greens with grilled peppers and onions, parmesan cheese and tortilla strips, served with chipotle Caesar dressing.  The dressing was very thick and rich and we ordered it on the side.  We ate very little because a little went a long way.  This was a good salad but there were a lot tortilla strips so you might ask to have them put only half on.  Rating – Delicious!

Anatolia Doner Kebab

Anatolia Doner Kebab
521 Central Avenue NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102


What an interesting place this is!  Located just off the downtown strip, this tucked away restaurant sits quietly near the intersection of 6th and Central.  Upon walking into the restaurant, a very casual atmosphere is present.  There are concrete floors, an open ceiling painted black, and minimal décor.  We were unsure if we should order at the front counter or if our order would be taken at the table.  At first we sat and then we went to the counter, which has to go menus lying on the short ledge of space and several other items in front of the cash register.  The kitchen is open and the owner/chef, Mehmet Kokangul, is on site and cooking.  After you place your order, you’ll take a seat at a table covered with both a red tablecloth and a clear plastic cover.  There are pictures of Turkish scenes on the walls and a TV mounted on the wall streaming Turkish music videos, which were sometimes interesting and at other times grating.  The overall look and feel of the restaurant is chaotic, but take heart dear readers – the food is worth it!


We ordered the two daily specials –Chicken and Beef Kebab plate that came with rice, salad, pita bread, and cacik (yogurt sauce), and we ordered the Chicken Kebab plate that came with the same side items.  We also ordered both desserts – the pistachio baklava and the Kadayif (Kad–a–yeuf) which was a bar of coconut, sugar syrup, and walnuts.


All the food at Anatolia is made to order.  Mehmet and his staff were extremely friendly and open.  We asked for pronunciations of the foods and they were delighted to explain things to us and tell us about their language.  The food came to our table in about ten minutes looking and smelling delicious. 


The Chicken and Beef Kebab plate was beautifully presented and the pita was warm and soft; delicious dipped in the cacik.  The rice on this plate was cold unfortunately, but the meat was savory and extremely flavorful.  The salad was delightful with an unexpected mint vinaigrette and the vegetables were very fresh.   

Chicken and Beef Kebab

The Chicken Kebab plate was just as lovely and the rice on that plate was steaming hot.  We found the meat on both plates just a little salty, but once dipped in the cacik, it was perfect.  The entire meal was very delicious and we both had enough to take home for lunch the next day.

Chicken Kebab Plate

The dessert portions were small; two pieces each of the Baklava and the coconut dish, but they were enough and a quite delicious way to end the meal.  The Baklava was crisp and sweet without being overly so, and the coconut dish was delightfully toasted and very good.

Baklava (triange pieces) and Kadayif (rectangles)

Overall we found the meal to be perfectly satisfying and delicious.  The ambience of the restaurant lacks appeal, but the food makes up for that tenfold.  We found we wanted to try several other things on the menu and plan to return soon to do so.