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Spudz-N-Stuff: A Favorite Place for Lunch in Owensboro (Review)

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Spudz and Stuff Garden Spud

Spudz and Stuff Garden Spud

Varying members of our large family love to get together in Owensboro at least once a week for lunch and laughs. Our goofy cast of characters supply the laughs and whichever restaurant we’re in the mood for supplies the lunch. Fortunately, there are a great number of Owensboro Restaurants to choose from.

To add to the decision-making proceedings, we have several “food determiners” in our group:

  • One of my daughters is a vegetarian and has followed a very strict vegetarian diet over half of her life
  • Another daughter has a wheat/gluten allergy and is now adhering to a very strict gluten free diet. Even cross-contamination is a real danger, causing frightening reactions.
  • I, myself, have to eat gluten and wheat free. My body has decided that they’re poison and will react violently if I allow them on the premises.

Even with these stipulations, we’ve found that Owensboro still offers us a lot of variety.

One of the most delicious options is Spudz -N-Stuff off of Highway 54.

Not long ago, my husband brought a couple of Spudz -N-Stuff’s Garden Spuds to me and one of our daughters (the vegetarian).  I’d been craving another since then, so we went to Spudz -N-Stuff Friday for lunch.  With salads and potatoes, gluten-free meals isn’t a problem in the least. What’s more, they have SO many options that the meat-lovers in the family (daughter number 3, for example, probably loves chicken more than Colonel Sanders ever did and her husband eats meat with every meal… I can’t prove it but I’m fairly certain he’d put bacon on his Cheerios!).

“The Vegetarian” and I ordered the same thing – the WONDERFULLY DELICIOUS and fresh-tasting Garden Spud. The baked potato is topped with cheddar, mozzarella, lettuce, grilled mushrooms, tomato, green onion, and ranch dressing. Words can’t even describe how delicious it is.

You may be like I was BEFORE I ate at Spudz and Stuff – wondering if a baked potato can be filling. Let’s just put it this way – we all left the restaurant wondering if we’d even eat supper later. When 4:30 rolled around, I still wasn’t the least bit interested in food. So, yes, these potatoes will most definitely fill you up. Males and females, alike.

There were two males in our group Friday and they left with serious “I’m stuffed!” faces too.

Spudz-N-Stuff's Chicken N Broccoli Spud

Spudz-N-Stuff’s Chicken-N-Broccoli Spud

My “Gluten Free” daughter ordered the Chicken-N-Broccoli Spud (pictured above). According to her it was fantastic. The potato is topped with a yummy combination of cheddar cheese sauce. chicken, broccoli, and real bacon. The combination’s a thing of beauty.

As for the “Chicken Fan” and “Mr. Bacon on His Cheerios,” they each went with the Chicken Bacon Ranch Spud (pictured below). Even though I’m not as in love with chicken as she is, I have to admit – I was tempted by this one! This potato is topped with cheddar, ranch, chicken, and real bacon.

Spudz a-N-Stuff Chicken Bacon Ranch Spud

 

Spudz a-N-Stuff Chicken Bacon Ranch Spud

A word about the REAL bacon… good on Spudz-N-Stuff for using real bacon as opposed to those insane little rubbery “bits” some places use on their potatoes and salads. They taste like a chopped up Barbie doll head and have about the same consistency.  The bacon Spudz-N-Stuff uses tastes like it could have just come right out of your morning skillet. Holy cats, does that make a difference?!

“The Vegetarian’s” boyfriend ordered a real masterpiece. It was topped with pulled pork, steak, and I believe bacon. I can’t even find his creation on the menu. I also wasn’t able to snap a picture because when my potato arrived, I dove right in, forgetting everything and everyone else.

I’m kicking myself now because this was one work of art. He loved every bite, too!

I wish at least one of us had branched out and gotten a salad, nachos, or pitas so that the review and pictures would be more varied, but.. what can I say.. we all had Spudz on the mind.

Gosh darn it, I guess we’ll have to go back again soon. Oh, what a shame. A serious case of sarcasm there, in case you couldn’t tell… I cannot wait to go back!

In addition to amazing combinations of potatoes, like the ones above, below are just a few more of the delicious menu items from Spudz-N-Stuff:

  • Taco Nachos (cheese sauce, seasoned beef, salsa, jalapenos, lettuce, sour cream, green onions)
  • Buffalo Nachos (cheese sauce, grilled chicken, hot sauce, ranch, lettuce, sour cream, green onion)
  • Gyro Pita (seasoned lamb, beef,Tzatziki sauce, lettuce, tomato, grilled onion)
  • Steak Fajita Pita (steak, cheddar, white American cheese, grilled onions, bell peppers, lettuce, tomato)
  • Classic Philly Sub (Philly steak, white American cheese, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, green bell peppers)
  • Sides: Mac-N-Cheese, Broccoli-CHZ-Bacon Bowl, Side Salad, Chips
  • Chef Salad, Garden Salad, Grilled Chicken Salad, Taco Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad
  • Check out the rest of Spudz-N-Stuff’s Menu online!

Oh! I just found my buddy’s masterpiece of a potato on the menu. It’s under the category “Hungry Man Spudz.” Well played, sir… well played.

There’s a Kid’s Menu in addition to the many, many other options and even brownies for those of us who are card-carrying chocoholics.

Cracker Barrel: If Comfort Food Were a Restaurant, It’d Be Cracker Barrel

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Cracker Barrel - Owensboro, Ky

Michael and I braved the winter cold Sunday morning for breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants – Owensboro’s Cracker Barrel.  While we have plenty of great places to eat breakfast in Owensboro (Denny’s, Bob Evans, Dunkin’ Doughnuts..), Cracker Barrel offers something none of the rest do…. Fried Catfish!  You know me, that little distinction is all it takes.

The breakfast I almost always order comes with your choice of any meat on the menu and, no, it never takes me long to decide. Although, I will say this – Cracker Barrel’s ham and bacon are uncommonly delicious too.

Breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Owensboro

The eggs are always exactly how you want them, the hashbrown casserole is the stuff culinary dreams are made of, and the biscuits?? Oh, man, words can’t even come close.

Something that always amazes me about Cracker Barrel is the WIDE variety of food they have – and yet they’re able to fix EACH like it’s their specialty. Fried Catfish, Chicken, Steak, Fried Okra, Green Beans, Gravy, Grits, Biscuits, Cornbread Muffins, Hashbrown Casserole, Eggs, Ham, Meatloaf, Greens, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots, etc (lots of etc.). Everything on their menu is excellent.

Breakfast at Cracker Barrel (Owensboro, Ky)

As soon as we sat down (even before our sweetheart of a server came over and long before I had my cherished fried catfish), something else hit me: Being in Cracker Barrel just fits. It’s home-y, it’s comfortable, it’s cozy, it smells delicious, it’s friendly… it’s comforting.

When you go to a restaurant regularly, you develop a camaraderie with its “faces.” These “faces” (hostess, server, manager, cashiers…) are the restaurants personality and the personality of Owensboro’s Cracker Barrel is as good as it gets. Servers who aren’t even taking care of you often smile, speak, and even ask if you need anything.

That’s not common in most restaurants, but it is common in Cracker Barrel.

When you walk through the doors, everyone seems intent on giving you a wonderful experience – and when you leave, almost everyone wants to know how it was!  I love that.  When we were leaving on this particular morning, our hostess asked how everything was. I told her, “Delicious as always,” and she said, “That’s what we like to hear!”  I also told her, “Every restaurant in the world needs a server just like Raymond (one of the faces of this Owensboro restaurant that provides enough personality for himself and twelve others).” The hostess and a server standing nearby both smiled and said, “That’s for sure!”

Cracker Barrel is a special restaurant chain here in the South and the one in Owensboro is (in my opinion) extra special.

Cracker Barrel Fireplace

Cracker Barrel proves that although great food and great value are important (they excel in each of those categories), how you make people FEEL is just almost as important. I’ve always felt like a restaurant (or any business) should make each person who walks through their door feel like a welcomed guest. Cracker Barrel has a reputation for doing just that.  I would say it’s just good old fashioned Southern hospitality – but we’ve all seen enough exceptions to know that this isn’t always the case.

There’s something within the foundation of Cracker Barrel, itself, that fundamentally seeks out the friendliest people as its “faces”. That’s more than just smart… it’s as comforting as the rocking chairs that sit out front.

Cracker Barrel Rockers

Owensboro’s Cracker Barrel is at 5311 Frederica St.

Fetta is Now Open for Business in Owensboro (Review)

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I always get excited when I can announce a new restaurant in Kentucky, but I must admit, I get even MORE excited when it’s a restaurant in my own city.  Given the fact that pizza is involved, suffice to say I’m over the moon.

Fetta Specialty Pizza & Spirits has opened in downtown Owensboro at 118 St. Ann St. (in the exciting and ever-growing riverfront area).

I’d heard great things about Fetta from my youngest daughter (Stephany) and her husband (Rusty). When they joined me and my other two daughters for lunch Friday, it marked their third time eating at Fetta.  One of the owners even recognized them!

Steph and Rusty know their pizza, so their enthusiasm let the rest of us know we were in for great pizza.

When we arrived at Fetta, it was almost noon. Now, 12:00pm on a Friday – at a new restaurant everyone’s excited about – meant one thing: The place was HOPPING like a rabbit on Red Bull.

At first we were told by the hostess we’d have about a 20 minute wait. While we were deciding whether to wait or get carryout to eat by the river, a server came over and said she could clear a table off for us.  We all loved her wildly at that moment.

Allow me to warn you, right off the bat, Fetta is pretty small. Don’t let the picture fool you, the restaurant doesn’t extend upstairs. However, there is a patio out back (you’ll see it in the pictures below), so when the weather’s nice – there’s a lot more space. Also, there is a “walk up window” on the side that’ll soon be functional. You’ll be able to walk up, order your pizza, then take it to one of the many benches or parlor tables on the waterfront.

Of course, if you plan your visit better than we did (seriously, noon on a Friday?), seating probably won’t be an issue for you.  If your party is fairly large, however, be sure you have a plan B in place, just in case.

First Impressions

My first impressions (outside and inside) were fantastic. The brick building is gorgeous – there’s even a handsome cornerstone on the side of the building that’s in keeping with a “downtown” vibe. The scenery is beyond beautiful, thanks to the uncommonly lovely riverfront. There’s a certain buzz in the air now in downtown Owensboro that’s palpable. The electricity from this excitement only adds to the experience.

On the walls inside you’ll see canvas photos of the Riverfront.  These are a really, really, really nice touch.

I also noticed the wonderful aroma right off the bat. Not only was everything spotless and beautiful, it smelled amazing.

Everyone was uncommonly friendly and seemed genuinely thrilled for us to be there – in spite of the fact that they were incredibly busy.  We were treated like we were the only ones there and, let’s face it, that’s pretty rare these days.

Fetta Specialty Pizza & Spirits, Owensboo - Margaritaville Pizza Fetta’s Delicious Margaritaville Pizza

Fetta’s Specialty Pizza

Each pizza I’ve eaten and/or sampled from Fetta has been ridiculously delicious. My favorite is the Margaritaville pizza (above), with the White Bean and Sausage (below) right on its tail… and I do mean RIGHT on its tail.

You can order pizza at Fetta by the slice (featured pizzas are $3.50 a slice) or as a whole (featured pizzas are 16″ – $15 or 12″ – $10). There are also salads available, as well as desserts (cookies and cupcakes from Owensboro’s Cup Cakery).  You’ll find the menu in the gallery at the bottom of this review.

The only negative I’ve heard from anyone about Fetta has been the fact that their slices are not as large as you’d expect when ordering by the slice.  They aren’t as large as Sbarro’s slices, for example, and I think Sbarro’s pizza slices are what most people envision when ordering pizza by the slice.

Fortunately, Fetta has an easy solution. If you’re ordering a lunch, simply order a salad with your pizza or their FANTASTIC Garlic Knots as an appetizer. They’re out of this world. They come with your choice of marinara or cheese sauce – but, quite honestly, neither is even necessary. These little guys are fantastic.

Of course, there’s also an obvious solution: Go with at least one other person and order a whole pizza! They’re so delicious, you’ll want as much of it as you can get – including leftovers to take home with you, if you’re lucky.

My only negative experience was a VERY minor one – when I ordered a salad, our server broke the heartbreaking news to me: They don’t carry French dressing. AUGHHH!!!Ã?  I’m annoyingly picky when it comes to salads and salad dressings. French (or it’s “Plan B” version Catalina) is the only one I like, so I simply decided I didn’t want a salad after all.  I know I’m a picky butt, but there you have it. They do have just about every other kind you can name though.

Just not French. Again, the solution is painfully simple: Smuggle in a packet of French if it’s the dressing that floats your boat. I won’t tell on you if you don’t tell on me. Shhhhh…..

HAPPY EDIT: Fetta now has French! I checked with our server the last time we went and he told me the great news. The salad was out of this world – uncommonly delicious… and I got my beloved French dressing. Good on them!

Now on to the heart of the matter. Pizza!

Fetta Specialty Pizza & Spirits White Bean and Sausage Pizza

Fetta Specialty Pizza & Spirits White Bean and Sausage Pizza

The Margaritaville Pizza is so delicious, you’ll eat extra slow to savor each and every bite.  There are so many fresh and beautiful flavors, I couldn’t even begin to describe them all to you.  It is, quite simply, one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had. I can only think of one pizza I enjoyed as much as this one – it was another fairly new Kentucky restaurant, Coppertop Brick Oven Pizza in Fredonia, Ky.

Next time I go to Fetta (and believe me there’s be too many “next times” to ever try to count), I’m definitely ordering the largest Margaritaville Pizza they have.

If you’re like us, you always plan extra cool snacks or meals around watching sports on tv – baseball, football, or basketball.  One of Fetta’s Specialty Pizzas would make any special game even more special… whether your team wins or not.

As delicious as the Margaritaville Pizza is, I also have to mention the White Bean and Sausage Pizza. It’s also too delicious for its own good. There’s a bit of a spiciness to it that makes it even better. Now that I think about it, when I order a larger Margaritaville Pizza, I’m going to grab a large White Bean and Sausage Pizza as well.

Wouldn’t want the Margaritaville Pizza to get lonely, now would we?

If you want a Monday Night Football (or a college gameday) your family will talk about for months, here’s all you need to do: Order two Fetta Pizzas to go – one Margaritaville and one White Bean and Sausage.

Believe me, the game will be the second most exciting thing happening.

Fetta Specialty Pizza & Spirits is located at 118 St. Ann St.  If you park in one of the parking lots at the end of Frederica, then walk toward the Riverfront, you’ll be mere steps from Feta… also known as mere steps from Pizza Heaven.

If you’ve been to Fetta Specialty Pizza & Spirits, please tell us in the comments which pizza is your favorite. Also, has anyone tried the salads or desserts yet??? Share your thoughts!

EDIT:  3/20/2015 – You may notice there aren’t any new posts, pictures, or reviews about Owensboro’s Fetta. It’s still in downtown Owensboro and I’m sure it’s just as delicious as ever… but I had to stop eating gluten/wheat for health reasons, so I’ve been unable to go back.  Like a lot of other old favorite restaurants, they’re just memories now – but when it comes to Fetta, the memories are excellent!

 

 

New Sushi Roll at Wasabi Express: Great White Shark!

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Great White Shark Roll at Wasabi Express in Owensboro

Great White Shark Roll at Wasabi Express, Owensboro

It’s no secret that one of my favorite places to eat lunch in Owensboro is Wasabi Express. I’m sure you’ve read my reviews on Genuine Kentucky and know I’m smitten with this restaurant. Here’s the thing – I cook a lot (I guess the fact that I have a food blog would tip you off to that fact). I consider myself to be a very good cook – if you can’t be cocky about your own cooking, who will be?!

Because I do cook regularly, when I eat out I prefer restaurants where I’m treated to food I don’t normally cook.  Wasabi Express certainly fits the bill – there’s NO WAY I’d ever even attempt to make sushi rolls. Not when Wasabi Express has the best sushi in the world.  I’d be silly to even try to compete.

I also love their fried rice, House Soup (can you say addiction?), Hibachi, Tossed Salad (with a ginger dressing that’s to die for), spring rolls, etc.  Their appetizers are all amazing, too. Yes, I’ve tried them all.

I told you I was a regular.

This restaurant review was written BEFORE I had to start eating gluten-free. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to eat at Wasabi Express because I have no idea what (if anything) on the menu would be gluten-free. If you have to eat gluten-free, I would not recommend this restaurant. Many dishes include soy sauce which is not gluten-free – Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce, but few restaurants use it.

Edamame at Wasabi Express, Owesnsboro

Edamame at Wasabi Express, Owensboro

A few days ago, my husband Michael’s  barber told him about a new sushi roll at Wasabi Express, the Great White Shark.  When he called to ask if I’d like to meet him at Wasabi Express for lunch in about 15 minutes, my purse was on my arm before he said “bye”.  15 minutes, nothing. I was there in 10.

I ordered my favorite sushi roll, the Kentucky Roll, because it’s a straight up obsession of mine. Michael ordered the Great White Shark. Be warned, it’s a hot one (you can even see the hot sauce sitting prettily on top!). He took one bite and was raving about it as he reached for his iced tea.

According to him, this is one of the best sushi rolls he’s ever had.

The Great White Shark Roll isn’t on the menu (at least it wasn’t when we were there), but the server will know what you’re talking about.

Kentucky Roll with Extra Ginger at Wasabi Express in Owensboro

The Kentucky Roll at Wasabi Express

On this particular trip, the Kentucky Roll (which is normally a perfect 10) was only about a 9.  There wasn’t any of the delectable sauce on the plate like normally accompanies sushi rolls and it just wasn’t as fresh as it normally is. Having said that, it was still better than everyone else’s sushi!  That’s the magic of Wasabi Express – even on a less-than-perfect dish, they’re still amazing.  This girl just digs the sauce.

This was, literally, the first time my Kentucky Roll wasn’t mind-numbingly perfect.  One time out of over 50 visits? I can live with those delicious odds.

If you love sushi – or have never tried it and are downright curious – you have to go to Wasabi Express in Owensboro. They’re in a league of their own. I do offer one small piece of advice though – and this isn’t something I’m ticked about or even annoyed by. It’s just something I think is funny.  I am ALL ABOUT the ginger they put on the plate to accompany the sushi. I could, literally, eat tons of it without taking a single breath. The past 3 times I’ve been to Wasabi Express, I’ve asked for “extra ginger” with my sushi.  Each time was a different server, so it’s not something one in particular does.  But, each time, my sushi has come out with a beautiful amount of extra ginger… but it’s been the ginger from the plate of the person dining with me!

If you’ll notice, in the pictures in this review (and probably in pics from previous reviews), my Kentucky Roll has a fat amount of ginger while the other person’s roll has zero.  To me, it’s pretty funny – but to whomever I’m dining with, probably not so funny.  Needless to say, I won’t be able to order “extra ginger” on the side anymore because I don’t want to take someone else’s from them.

It’s not something any of us have been particularly bothered by, I just think it’s funny.

So here’s the lesson to be learned – DO NOT ask for extra ginger. Just wait and pluck it off your companion’s plate yourself!

Wasabi Express is located at 636 Southtown Blvd – right off of Frederica. Go for lunch or dinner – you’ll absolutely love it.

This restaurant review was written BEFORE I had to start eating gluten-free. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to eat at Wasabi Express because I have no idea what (if anything) on the menu would be gluten-free. If you have to eat gluten-free, I would not recommend this restaurant. Many dishes include soy sauce which is not gluten-free – Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce, but few restaurants use it.

Authentic Mexican Food at its Best: Real Hacienda in Owensboro, Kentucky

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Real Hacienda Pollo Loco
Anytime I write a Real Hacienda (Owensboro) review, I run the risk of being overtaken by an intense craving for their rice, chips & salsa, grilled chicken tacos, cheese dip, refried beans, and Pollo Loco.  This time is no different – I just started the review and the cravings are already hitting.  I think I’d walk across glass right now for some of their cheese dip.  Words can’t even describe how amazing it is.

Real Hacienda has two locations in Owensboro (3023 Highland Pointe Dr, off of HWY 54 and 4820 Frederica St), and each one is out of this world delicious.  Of all the authentic Mexican restaurants I’ve eaten in, I believe Real Hacienda has the best salsa. It’s consistently great and the chips are always fresh and crunchy.  The complimentary chips and salsa are just one of the things I love about restaurants like Real Hacienda. It just seems extra cool, to me, to give your guests something “on the house” like delicious chips & salsa as a show of gratitude for choosing them over every other restaurant in town.

Frankly, I think it’s a sign of graciousness that all other restaurants should copy.

Two of my three daughters are absolutely OBSESSED with Real Hacienda, so when it’s their birthdays, we don’t even have to ask where they want to eat.  We simply write Real Hacienda followed by about 8 !!!!!!!s on the calendar and look forward to fantastic food.

The Real Hacienda on Frederica is the one we frequent the most – simply because it’s closer to us. In fact, it’s one of our favorite places for lunch.  Their grilled chicken tacos (soft shell or hard shell) are fantastic, as are their bean burritos and cheese enchiladas. It’s always tough to decide which one sounds best.

I love when you go to a restaurant so regularly that the servers and hosts or hostesses recognize you.  There are several at Real Hacienda who say, “Diet Coke” before the words even come out of my mouth. They’re always very friendly at both locations, too.

The pictures in this post are from a recent dinner at Real Hacienda. I almost always order Pollo Loco because it’s extraordinary. The tender, flavorful chicken blows me away every single time and the rice is possibly the best rice in the world.  It’s great every single time. I’m also wild about the guacamole salad on the side.

Naturally, the most important thing about a restaurant is the quality and taste of their food, and both locations of Real Hacienda are consistently fantastic.  However, there are a few “extra” qualities I judge restaurants on (whether I’m choosing where to eat or writing a review).

  1. I like to feel like I”m getting a good amount of food for my money. Come on, times are tough, and no one wants to be taken advantage of when it comes to their money.  Real Hacienda is one of the absolute best deals around. The food’s VERY reasonably priced and you get a generous amount of everything.  I’ve noticed over the past few years (with a cranky economy) that several restaurants have been giving less and less food. A few of my favorites have been the worst about it, actually. You can also tell a difference with appetizers in most restaurants – you get far less than you used to but, by no means, have they lowered the prices. Real Hacienda (along with Olive Garden, Beef O’ Brady’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and a few others) has never cut back on their serving sizes and never compromised the quality of their food. They haven’t adjusted the prices either. Like the rest of us, they’re simply riding it out while still doing right by their customers. I’ve got a ton of respect for the few restaurants approaching hard times that way. Respect and loyalty.  Real Hacienda is simply one of the best deals around for great food at a great price. PLUS, they throw in all the chips and salsa you can eat!
  2. I like clean, attractive restaurants. Both Real Hacienda locations are gorgeous. They’re absolute works of art and the more you look around, the more you find to love.
  3. I love servers who are friendly and on the ball. Real Hacienda servers are both.
  4. Certain restaurants are simply more enjoyable to eat in than others.  I’ve mentioned it before, but a pet peeve is when hosts/hostesses sit you right beside another full table when there are tons of tables to choose from. Oddly enough, I’ve never had that happen once at a Real Hacienda. They seem to gravitate toward giving you a table where YOU’LL be the most comfortable as opposed to where THEY want you.  The tables and chairs are large and comfortable, the ambiance is relaxed and fun – they’re just really cool places to enjoy a great meal.

The next time you’re in the mood for great food, a great deal, and an all around wonderful experience, head for one of the two Real Hacienda locations in Owensboro (3023 Highland Pointe Dr, off of HWY 54 and 4820 Frederica St).

Real Hacienda Salsa and Chips

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