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

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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.

Baked Potato with Steak at Majestic Pizza and Steak House in Benton

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..

Baked Potato with Steak at Majestic Pizza and Steak House in Benton

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 and Steak House Benton Ky

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

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Mama D's Italian Restaurant in Calvert City

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.

Mama D's in Calvert City

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.

Mama D's in Calvert City

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

Garlic Knots with Mozzarella Cheese

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.

Mama D's Freakishly Good Lasagna

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.

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

Mama D's in Calvert City

Don’t even think of passing this sign! Turn in and enjoy Italian food the way it’s meant to be enjoyed!

Willow Pond Southern Catfish in Aurora: As Good as It Gets

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Willow Pond Catfish in Aurora, Ky

Fried Catfish at The Willow Pond, Aurora

Read a more recent Willow Pond in Aurora Review by clicking the link!

I had the sublime pleasure of eating at Willow Pond in Aurora, Kentucky last night. It was the first time for me, but you can be certain that it won’t be my last. When we were leaving, our very friendly waitress told us to “Come back soon,” I nearly fell over myself assuring her that we would do just that.

As I’m writing this review, all I can think about is my next trip to this beautiful restaurant  with its Southern charm and delicious food.

Before I go any further, I want to say a little more about our server.  Although she was very young, she was actually one of the best servers I’ve had in a while. She couldn’t have been older than 18 but she did her profession proud. She was personable, sweet, checked on us often, and had an amazing knowledge of the menu and food.  A great restaurant wants their staff to represent them well.  After all, the service is as associated with a restaurant nearly as much as the food is.

If this young lady was an indication of the other servers, the owners of Willow Pond “get” that.

Like I said, I’d never eaten at Willow Pond before, even though I’m a frequent visitor to Land Between the Lakes.  You hear so much about some of the other restaurants in the Lake’s region – some of them are as famous as the lakes, themselves.  Willow Pond may not have the publicity, but what they do have is… well, everything else.

This is the sort of restaurant that makes you want to try everything on the menu.  Everything. Was.  Amazing. We started off with Fried Green Tomatoes as an appetizer.  They were deliciously battered and deep fried.  So southern!  They were piping hot, firm, thickly cut and served with a fantastic Ranch Dressing.  We knew, instantly, that we were in for a very memorable meal.
Willow Pond Southern Catfish

I ordered the Fried Catfish meal which came with a choice of baked potato, fries, or wedges.  I chose the baked potato, which I was very happy with.  Unlike a lot of restaurants, Willow Pond served a baked potato that was large – just like you’d want it to be. They also did not commit the Cardinal Sin – nuking the baked potato in a microwave. They baked that baby and it was delicious.

You also get perfectly seasoned and wonderful white beans and the best hush puppies you’ll ever eat.  The menu boasted of the hush puppies, “The best hush puppies you ever put in your mouth!”  They weren’t lying! Hush puppies are one of those things that I always sample first.  A lot of restaurants treat hush puppies as an after thought, something they hope people won’t pay too much attention to.

Willow Pond treats them like the stars they are.

As a matter of fact, I think that’s what separates Willow Pond from a lot of other restaurants.  They don’t just focus on their catfish or other meats (they also serve chicken, steak, and shrimp) – they, obviously, treat each and every menu item as though it were the cornerstone of the restaurant.  Even the coleslaw was the best I’ve ever gotten at a restaurant.  You’re given a choice between vinegar or mayonnaise coleslaw, and I guarantee you that you’ll love the vinegar one.  I’ll probably try the mayonnaise coleslaw on my next visit.

Nah, on second thought, why mess with perfection. The vinegar coleslaw is just ridiculously delicious.

Now for the star of the show: the catfish was beyond amazing. I knew, after just one bite, that writing a restaurant review was going to be tough. There simply aren’t enough adjectives in the English language to cover this fried catfish.  It was seasoned perfectly and had a traditional Southern style breading made from cornmeal. The breading was just right – enough to add to the flavor but not so much that the catfish flavor was lost in the mix.  It passed the “no need for tartar sauce” test I always give fried catfish.  For the sake of this review, however, I did sample the tartar sauce – perfect, of course.  It had a dill flavor that made me almost wish the fish needed it.

But, alas, it would have been a crime to have covered up the flavors going on with this fried catfish.

You’re served all the beans and hush puppies (did I mention how freaking amazing these hush puppies are?!?!) you can eat with your meal.  Again, our lovely young waitress didn’t allow us to run low on anything.

{Review continued below.}

Some of the other menu items are below:

SPECIALTIES:

  • Blackened Fish
  • Frog Legs
  • Country Fried Shrimp
  • Rib-eye
  • Sirloin Tips
  • New York Strip
  • Grilled Chicken Breast
  • Chicken Tenders
  • And a lot more!

APPETIZERS:

  • Cheese Sticks
  • Onion Rings
  • Green Tomatoes (!!!)
  • Jalapeno Poppers (our server said she loved these)
  • Fried Dill Pickles
  • Breaded Mushrooms
  • Sampler Platter

DESSERTS:

  • Fruit Cobblers (We had the Blackberry cobbler and it was amazing – even the ice cream was something to write home about.)
  • Pecan Pie
  • Brownie
  • Cherry Cheesecake
  • Turtle Cheesecake (Next time, my friend!)

Willow Pond also features some beautiful salads, burgers, sandwiches, and a children’s menu (“For the Lil’ Tadpole”) which includes Pizza Sticks, Fish Strips, Grilled Cheese, Shrimp, and Chicken Tenders.  Each is served with fries and hush puppies.

But don’t get me started on those hush puppies again.  I’m actually dying for one now.

I’ve saved something deliciously unique for the closing.  Each table has, of course, the standard Salt, Pepper, and tartar sauce.  Willow Pond, however, has something else that we flipped for.  It’s a sweet pepper relish to put on the beans.  You will not believe just how delicious it is.  Fortunately, the gift shop in the front of the restaurant carried this relish, so a jar came home with us!  It is delicious, of course, on beans, but it’d also be pretty amazing on cornbread, or on a hamburger or hot dog.

Aurora’s Willow Pond is a restaurant that you MUST visit. It’s located on Highway 68 East near LBL and Kenlake State Park.

Parking is available for buses, vans, and even motor homes!  Call for questions, comments, or reservations – (270)474-2202

Tell them  Genuine Kentucky sent you!

Read a more recent Willow Pond in Aurora Review by clicking the link!

More Willow Pond on Genuine Kentucky:

Willow Pond Map - Aurora, Kentucky

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