Kentucky Lake restaurants | Genuine Kentucky

Dockers Bayside Grille: How We’ve Missed You

February 25, 2014 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Dockers Bayside Grille’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich and Chips

Some restaurants are just funner to visit, aren’t they? Something about the experience (whether or not you can actually put your finger on the reason) just feels right. Dockers Bayside Grille (at Green Turtle Bay in Grand Rivers, Ky) is exactly this sort of place for us. It’s fun, it’s friendly, and it’s always ridiculously delicious.

I’ve written quite a few reviews of Dockers on Genuine Kentucky – always a good sign that it’s a personal favorite.

A Few of these reviews:

Dockers Bayside Grille: Best Breakfast and Best Lunch? What’s Fair About That?!

Dockers Bayside Grille – Mac Daddy of All Onion Rings (the onion rings have changed since this review was written, but they’re still pretty darn good)

When we found out that Dockers had reopened for the season, we went as soon as we possibly could – as in right away. I was set to order one of their delicious wraps with onion rings (something of an obsession of mine) when I saw the three magic letters: BLT. At that moment in time, nothing but nothing in this world sounded better than a BLT, so I went that route. When the server (extra friendly like all Dockers servers) asked if I’d like “chips” with that, for some reason that sounded ideal too.

Besides, I can always hook up with the onion rings on the next trip. And the next.. and the next.. and the next..

You have to understand, “chips” at Dockers doesn’t mean the kind that come in bags – they’re not the kind of chips that leave your fingers greasy and salty. Dockers chips are made in house and are crunchy and out of this world. No grease. No saltiness. No bag.

I knew the BLT would be great, because everything at Dockers is great, but I didn’t know it’d be BLT perfection.

Holy cats, that was a great BLT!

Honestly, if I were to dream up the ideal BLT, it would be just like this one was: The fresh, perfectly toasted bread was buttery and the bacon was cooked just the way I like it – not overly done, but not “fatty” either. Even the lettuce and tomato were on point. That’s a culinary miracle for this time of year.

The chips were excellent as well – crisp and yummy, a great sidekick for the star of the show, the awesome BLT.

Michael ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and chips. The grilled chicken was amazing – so much flavor! It was topped with Swiss cheese, sauteed onion and green pepper, and (again) lettuce and tomato that thought it was July instead of February. He said it was the best sandwich he’s ever had at Dockers – which is really saying something since the boy has had every one on the menu. I took a bite and have to agree that it was phenomenal.

Each of our sandwiches and chips came with yummy pickles too – a touch I always love.

In hindsight, I wish I’d “opened” one of my BLT’s halves before taking it’s picture. You can’t even see how juicy and delicious the bacon was! In my defense, I was just in a big hurry to dive into the sandwich.

Oh, shucks. I guess we’ll have to go back soon so I can take another picture. Hmmm, I need a recent picture of onion rings too…

Dockers Bayside Grille is located at Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina in beautiful Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Green Turtle Bay has GORGEOUS condos, boat rentals, and a Commonwealth Yacht Club (for dinners). Dockers is THE place to eat breakfast or lunch in the area (or, better yet, breakfast AND lunch!). You don’t have to be a guest at Green Turtle Bay to dine at Docker’s – you just have to enjoy delicious food and friendly people.

I hope you’ll go as soon as possible. Odds are we’ll see you there.

Also See: Green Turtle Bay Condos Review

The Majestic Pizza & Steak House in Benton, Kentucky in a Word: Perfection

February 18, 2014 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

There are certain Kentucky Restaurants that I could eat at several times a week – restaurants that are extra fun to review because the positive juices can just flow like a river. The Majestic Pizza & Steak House in Benton, Ky is definitely one of these restaurants. In fact, when we’re visiting Kentucky Lake (something we do OFTEN), The Majestic is one of our favorite places to eat.

The only complaint I have about The Majestic is this: It’s difficult to decide between all of the delicious options:

Their buffets are excellent. Their beautiful… make that gorgeous… salad bar is second to none. Tossed salad, pasta salad, homemade slaw, beets, bean salad, fruit, jell-o, etc. The hot food buffet never disappoints, either. Case in point, we went last night (which was a Monday). Let’s be honest, a lot of restaurants save their A game for weekends, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. We still chose buffet – because of unfailing trust in The Majestic – and our faith was richly rewarded. They didn’t just have their A game, they had the A+ game. I’m normally not that big a fan of buffets, but they are the exception. Last night’s buffet had fried chicken (excellent!), wonderful mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, stuffed cabbage rolls in a wonderful tomato based sauce that I could have eaten like soup, cheese pizza, pasta, greens, corn, and more. Yes, more!
Their pizzas are perfection. When our girls were younger, we’d never venture far from pizza – which was fine because The Majestic has mind-boggling delicious pizza. When they were kids, the decision-making aspect was taken care of… of course we were getting pizza! The thing is, their pizza is so fantastic, I can’t get enough of it either.
The Majestic has GREAT steaks. Ordering off the menu is just as delicious as choosing the buffet. Their steaks and baked potatoes are freaking fantastic. And when ordering an appetizer, you’ll definitely want to try the Greek Fries – they’re unlike anything you’ve ever had.

So, you see, the decision making process is a tough-y. Basically, you cannot go wrong. Fortunately, we go pretty often, so we just mix it up. In fact, the last three times we’ve gone, we’ve done something different each time.

The buffet last night was one of the best buffets I’ve ever had. The Majestic easily has one of the best (if not THE best) buffets around. And for less than $10 – most buffets I’ve seen are several dollars MORE than The Majestic’s and no where near as good.

Not only did the buffet have buffet-staples like mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn (which were all outstanding, by the way) – it also had excellent and juicy fried chicken. The Majestic has some of the best fried chicken in the state of Kentucky. They also had delicious cabbage rolls that I fell in love with. The filling was like a meatloaf (with rice), wrapped in a beautiful cabbage leaf, and covered with a fantastic tomato-based sauce. I actually put some of the beautiful sauce on my mashed potatoes…. something that proved to be a delicious idea.

The next time you’re anywhere near Kentucky Lake, Benton, Draffenville, Aurora, or Land Between the Lakes, you just have to stop in to The Majestic and see for yourself why I rave and rave and rave in these reviews. Gorgeous restaurant, uncommonly friendly people, outstanding food, and reasonable prices. There is nothing I don’t love about The Majestic.

The Majestic Pizza & Steak House (Benton, Ky) Buffet and Iced Tea

Majestic Pizza and Steak House in Benton, Ky

Read one of my other Majestic Pizza and Steak House ReviewsÃ?Â to see the Greek Fries, steak, and baked potato in action.

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Where Can You Find the Best Pizza When You’re at Kentucky Lake?

January 17, 2014 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

One of our favorite places to eat when we’re at Kentucky Lake is Mama D’s Italian Restaurant in Calvert City

A while back I raved and raved in a Mama D’s Italian Restaurant (Calvert City) Review. I threw adjectives around like they were baseballs in a Spring Training camp. I can’t help myself, really. Food is a great passion of mine, whether I’m cooking or eating, and when I find people excelling in the sport, I get uncommonly excited. I want to tell everyone about it and….. well.. that’s when the adjectives take flight.

Watch your head the adjectives are about to fly again.

I had Mama D’s Italian Restaurant on my mind since our first visit. I kept thinking, “If they made SUCH incredible bread and lasagna, what must their pizza taste like?!”

The mystery was almost more than this pizza fanatic could stand, so when we went back for our second visit, I told my husband (Michael) that, under no conditions, was I leaving that restaurant without trying one of their pizzas.

I kept my word.

Michael ordered a beautiful and tasty chicken and pasta dish – which came with bread and a salad. A very sound, economical decision. I ordered a large pizza.

That’s how I roll.

I knew there’d be no way I could eat the whole thing, but I was up for the challenge. Besides I just knew it’d be so incredible that Michael would jump in to help me out. Plus, taking leftover pizza home always makes us heroes with the kids.

Oh, boy, was I ever right about Mama D’s Pizza. In fact, I honestly don’t recall when I’ve ever been SO right about anything. Every single bite was an experience in and of itself. Heck, just the sight of it, alone, was a culinary adventure. The toppings were incredibly fresh, there was just the right amount of delicious sauce and cheese, and the crust? Wow. I could have eaten the crust all by itself and still been grinning ear to ear.

When our VERY sweet server came by to check on us after we’d been eating for a few minutes, I told her, “This pizza is so fantastic I never want to eat pizza again, just so this can be the last pizza I ever ate.” She laughed and said I’d just have to keep coming back there for my pizza.

Not a problem.

Every single thing they do at Mama D’s Italian Restaurant is first class. THIS is how Italian food is supposed to taste. The herbs and flavors are quite unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else and, trust me, once you go, you’ll return again and again. As soon as you step in the door, the aroma lets you know that you’re in for something extra, extra, extra special.

I’m also in love with the cleanliness of the restaurant and the happy, upbeat, and very friendly servers. Everyone seems genuinely thrilled to see you walk through the door and goes out of their way to make sure you’re well-fed and smiling when you leave.

Mama D’s in Calvert City is one of my favorite Kentucky restaurants – and if you read my restaurant reviews very often, you know that’s saying something. This gal has seen A LOT of restaurants!

I don’t care where you live, you just have to promise me that you’ll visit Mama D’s as soon as possible. Whether you have the lasagna or pizza (the best pizza you’ve probably ever had), you’ll be blown away. Then YOU’LL be spewing adjectives all over the place.

Trust me.

Pizza at Mama D's Italian Restaurant in Calvert City

Mama D's Italian Restaurant Calvert City, Ky

Directions to Mama D’s in Calvert City:

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Mama D’s Authentic Italian Restaurant
3885 U.S. 62, Calvert City, KY
(270) 395-0229

Mama D’s Facebook Page

Majestic Pizza & Steak House in Benton, Kentucky (Review)

January 2, 2014 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Majestic Pizza and Steak House Benton - Greek Fries

Greek Fries at Majestic Pizza & Steak House

It might surprise some people when I tell them that Majestic Pizza & Steak House (244 Us Highway 68 E – map at the bottom of the review) in Benton, Ky. is one of my favorite Kentucky restaurants. It wouldn’t surprise anyone who has eaten, there, however, because they’d know just how fantastic the food is. The pizza is out of this world good and they’re actually one of the few restaurants that “pull off” buffets.

Before I get back to their pizza (which I wish I were LITERALLY “getting back to” right now), let me just explain what I mean about them “pulling off” buffets. If you read many of my restaurant reviews, you’ll probably know that – generally speaking – I’m not a fan of buffets. Sure, buffets make it easier on everyone involved (the cooks, the servers, and even the diners – after all, the decision making is all but removed!) – but they’re almost always over-priced and the food usually isn’t as good as it is when it’s freshly prepared and not prepared in huge quantities.

The idea of paying MORE for food that tastes LESS than its best – that’s not something that makes me giddy.

However, Majestic Pizza & Steak House does wonders with buffets. When you fill your plate up and return to your seat (in a gorgeous restaurant, by the way), the food tastes like they prepared it just for you – one item at a time. Even their salad bar is better than most.

However, having said all of that, as far as I’m concerned, ordering off the menu is where the magic really takes place. Their steaks and baked potatoes, appetizers (especially their Greek Fries – pictured at the top), and pizzas are better than you could ever hope for or dream of. Their Pizza is extraordinary. Everything perfectly fresh and the crust is exceptional. I honestly rank their pizza in my top 3 pizzas in all of Kentucky.

Delicious Baked Potato and Juicy Steak from Majestic Pizza & Steak House

Truly great restaurants can take simple menu items and make them something extra, extra special. Majestic does just that with baked potatoes (my favorite in the entire state) and rolls. For the potatoes, I’m convinced there are potato ninjas in the kitchen. They’re simply extra delicious. Serving REAL butter on the side and name brand, quality sour cream (curses on off brand condiments!) add to the potato magic.

As for the rolls. They’re yeast rolls, which mean the Heavenly aroma works its mojo on you even before you take a bite. They are amazing, all by themselves, but when you add “Strawberry Butter” to them, it’s a whole new ballgame.

I absolutely LOVE when a restaurant goes above and beyond to do extra special things for their guests. I also love it when a restaurant has something uniquely their own.

Majestic’s steak is also killer. It’s always juicy and full of perfect flavor. One bite and you remember why you fell in love with steak in the first place. This is one of the few restaurants that I could eat the steak completely free of steak sauce – and that’s saying something because I’m a HUGE fan of steak sauces.

I was searching through my picture files earlier and absolutely cannot believe I can’t find any pictures of Majestic’s pizza. I KNOW I took pictures because I distinctly remember my inner pizza fanatic telling my inner photographer to “Hurry the heck up!” I also distinctly remember hurrying the heck up, snapping the pictures, and diving smile first into the pizza.

Oh, well. I guess I’ll just have to go back and have more pizza. Sigh. The things I put myself through..

Delicious! Yeast Rolls and Strawberry Butter

Don’t even wait for the next time you’re in the Kentucky Lake region to eat at Majestic. Make a special trip this weekend (or sooner) to Majestic and thrill your taste buds like they haven’t been thrilled in a while. The only complaint I have about Majestic Pizza & Steak House is the fact that they do too many things perfectly. I mean, it’s a real dilemma deciding what to have – some of the best pizza in Kentucky with a knock-out salad? Some of the best steak in Kentucky with the BEST baked potato in the state – with mouth-watering rolls and strawberry butter?

Truthfully, it’s a dilemma I can live with because it comes just before a culinary joy ride. At least I know one thing – Greek Fries as an appetizer will always be the first thing out of my mouth.

Majestic Pizza & Steak House is located at 244 Us Highway 68 E – and, yes, I’ve given the address twice in one review. You know what that means, don’t you? Right… G-O!!!

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Majestic Pizza & Steak House. The outside is perfectly cool – but the inside is really something to see. And the food… oh man… the food!

Mama D’s Italian Restaurant in Calvert City, Kentucky

August 27, 2013 by Joi Sigers 4 Comments

Mama D’s Italian Restaurant in Calvert City, Kentucky – Amazing!

You cannot judge a book by its cover. You cannot judge a book by its cover. You. Cannot. Judge. A. Book. By. Its. Cover.

We spend a lot of time in the Kentucky Lake and Land Between the Lakes region of Kentucky. Beautiful Lakes, several Kentucky State Parks, fried catfish, the Elk & Bison Prairie, The Homeplace – some of our favorite things in the world are in this beautiful area. Just try and keep us away!

We have countless (COUNTLESS) times driven right by Mama D’s on U.S. 62. We had never even looked at the words that are clearly (CLEARLY) hung on the front of the restaurant – Mama D’s Authentic Italian, and yet – there they are in plain sight. We each had simply assumed it was a diner-meets-dive type of place.

Boy was I wrong. In fact, I don’t know when I’ve ever been so wrong. In my defense, Mama D’s Italian Restaurant is only 6 years old this year. So, before they turned this spot into a little piece of Culinary Heaven, maybe it was a diner or a dive or something in between.

I’m not sure words can even describe how far removed Mama D’s actually is from this type of place, but I’m going to summon up all the words I know in this restaurant review and give it a go. I’ll give you a map with directions at the end – believe me, you’ll want it.

When we walked in, my first impression was, “Wow! How pretty!” The colors, decor, and murals on the wall were very unique and, somehow, relaxing and soothing. Whoever was in charge of choosing the color scheme did a bang up job – it’s lovely. There were quite a few people dining in Mama D’s that evening, so I had to wait a little bit for a few tables to clear out before I could snap a few pictures – I didn’t want anyone thinking I was some kind of a nut job.

Another impression left upon me was how incredibly clean and spotless everything was. Sure, I’ve seen clean restaurants before (in fact, most are) but I would have eaten off of the floor , baseboards, or wall. Don’t ask how you can eat off a wall… frankly I have no idea. But you get the point. C-L-E-A-N.

Holy cats, this restaurant is spotless.

I also loved our server. She was equal parts sassy and sweet and if I owned a restaurant, I’d want an entire staff just like her. She knew the menu and foods inside/out and was able to make fantastic suggestions. She wasn’t just “on her game,” she improved upon the game. I was even more impressed with her than the beautiful colors!

The decor, food, and vibe in general defied what you’d expect when you walk through the doors. I love it when a restaurant catches me off guard and that’s exactly what this one did. Mama D’s Restaurant is one in a billion. It’s amazing, authentic Italian food with plenty of everyone’s favorites mixed in. Their Facebook page describes their culinary team as “New York Pizza Man and the cook moved from Italy to New York.”

Where else will you find a menu that includes the following mixture:

Chicken Tenders
Meatloaf w/ Red or Brown Gravy
Fried Catfish (What?!?! OMG, I just looked at the picture I took of the menu and registered that they have fried catfish.)
Pork Chop – Grilled or Breaded
Hot Open Roast Beef w/Gravy
T-Bone Steak
Chicken Carbonara
Lasagna
Seafood and Pasta
Cheeseburgers
Hamburgers
Philly Cheese Steak
Chicken Salad on Sub
Chicken Alfredo
Chicken & Pasta
Penne alla Vodka 2w/Chicken
Chicken alla Francese
Chicken Primavera in Pink Sauce or Garlic & Oil
Chicken Scarpariello
Chicken Parmigiana
Chef Salad
Caesar Salad
Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken
Garden Salad or Garden Salad with Grilled Chicken
French Fries
Tater Tots
Onion Rings
Mashed Potatoes
Spaghetti
Broccoli in Garlic & Oil
Penne Arrabbiata
Pasta Mama D’s
Pasta Primavera
Fresh Spinach in Garlic & Oil
Heroes
Calzones
Sausage Bread
Baked Ravioli
Stuffed Shells
Baked Ziti
And more!

Traditional Pizza:

Neapolitan Pizza
Sicilian Pizza

White Pizza:

Ricotta, Mozzarella & Garlic
Spinach, Ricotta, Mozzarella & Garlic
Broccoli, Ricotta, Mozzarella & Garlic

Specialty Pizza:

Supreme (sausage, pepperoni, onion, peppers & mushrooms)
Rustica (fresh tomatoes, pesto & mozzarella)
Lasagna (ricotta, meat sauce & mozzarella)
Chicken Parm (diced breaded chicken, sauce & mozzarella)
Tri-Color (diced breaded chicken, tomato, broccoli & pesto)
Stuffed Pizza (sausage, pepperoni, ham, salami, beef, sauce & cheese)
Veggie Delight (fresh veggies, peso & mozzarella)
Topping Choices: pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, ham, mushrooms, green olives, broccoli, spinach, onions, garlic, banana peppers, anchovies, black olives, and a lot more.

For Kids:

Spaghetti & Meatballs or Meat Sauce
Grilled Cheese & French Fries
3pc Chicken Tenders & French Fries
Hot Dog & French Fries

I ordered the Lasagna, while Michael went with Chicken Parmesan. He chose Linguine as his pasta. We both got a side salad and bread with our meals and ordered “Garlic Knots” (with mozzarella cheese added) as an appetizer. Just feast your eyes on this gorgeous appetizer in the picture above. They were beyond amazing.

The appetizer was out almost immediately and it was super, super fantastic. The bread was obviously homemade and the flavors were straight up Italian – just what you’d expect in an authentic Italian restaurant. There was a wonderful flavor of garlic that made it even more extraordinary. The mozzarella cheese was a wonderful addition, but make no mistake about it, the knots would have been just as fantastic without them.

The beautiful loaf of bread (served with real butter, always a beautiful touch) was also delicious. As I’ve said many times on Genuine Kentucky, I love to cook and baking bread is one of my favorite things – so I can tell when bread is fresh and homemade and when it was frozen in a previous life. This was, quite honestly, some of the best bread I’ve ever had in my life.

At this point – with an appetizer that blew us away and bread (with real butter… get the idea that that’s huge for me?) that was mouth-watering – I knew we were in a special place and that the “main event” would be something we wouldn’t soon forget.

Ding! Ding! Ding! I nailed that one.

First up, my lasagna. The lasagna was what I can only affectionately call, “Freaky good.” It looked completely unlike any lasagna I’ve ever seen (or baked) in my life. Just look at the picture above – I’m almost certain it’s unlike anything you’ve seen as well. After eating the garlic knots and bread like I’d been cut off from food for 4 months, I knew enough to trust whomever was in the kitchen, so I didn’t bat an eye. I just dove right in.

OH – MY – GOODNESS.

The flavors and deliciousness of this lasagna were even more unique and original than its looks. Ironically, the same can be said for the restaurant the lasagna’s made in.

This freakishly fantastic lasagna wasn’t just one of the best lasagnas I’ve ever had, it was one of the most memorable foods I’ve ever gotten in a restaurant. Anywhere. Anytime. Yes, it is that good. The flavors defy description – suffice to say they’re genuinely Italian.

I guess Mama D’s lasagna is a two-story condominium whereas others have three or more stories. Whatever, all the key components are there – ricotta, meat, pasta, mozzarella, and the best sauce you’re going to find anywhere. So much deliciousness, you won’t be able to believe it. Even our side salads were fantastic.

Michael’s Chicken Parmesan and linguine were absolutely delicious. Even if you took the sauce, cheese, Italian seasonings, and pasta away – the chicken was so fantastic, it alone would have been worth the price of admission, so to speak.

Speaking of prices, Mama D’s is incredibly fair. They offer different specials at lunch and dinner which make them EVEN more affordable. You get a great deal of delicious food for a very fair price. What more could you ask for?

Italians are known for living large – and when you eat genuine, authentic Italian food, that attitude comes through in every single bite. I’ve never, ever, ever seen this truth played out more beautifully than at Mama D’s.

You simply have to find your way to Calvert City, Kentucky as soon as you possibly can and enjoy an authentic Italian meal that’ll leave you utterly speechless.