Their Ads vs. Our Reality

Originaly Posted in July 2008:
Establishment(s) visited: Burger King on Military Road and KFC on Niagara Falls Blvd.

Its Summer and the grills in Niagara Falls are alive, with the smells of sirloin. So why on Earth would anyone visit Burger King when they have the option to slap a heavenly patty of red meat on the backyard barbeque? Because I ran out of propane. Minutes later I find myself at the Military Road Burger King ordering one of those Steakhouse Burgers... ya know the ones that are advertised every five minutes on network television? Well, if you haven't seen it, here is how the King presents it:



After seeing how awesome it looked on TV and in print ads, it had to be mine! Unfortunately, what I got instead was this:

If I really could "have it my way," I would go with the one I thought I was buying, the big fluffy, juicy burger with fresh lettuce and crisp bacon like they show in the ads... not the sloppy mess that I received. Ah well, teaches me the value of my backyard grill. This experiment was inspired by the Ads vs. Reality site, where you can find a bunch of these types of comparisons.

PART TWO: The Lying Colonel

On the way home from the Chambers abode, I stopped for a little bucket of southern fried chicken parts. To my dismay, the headless voice on the ordering menu stated in a crackled tone, "SORRY - WE ARE OUT OF CHICKEN." Hmmm... 8pm on a Sunday night, and they are out chicken? Kentucky Fried Chicken... is out of chicken? Wow. My cholesterol thanks you Colonel Sanders, but my taste buds are flipping you the bird (pun INTENDED). After being denied some of that grease dunked fowl, I remembered a couple photos I had on file of my last KFC order several months ago (intending on posting it then!).

This is the bucket of chicken they advertise you'll be getting with the big 'ole crispy, juicy pieces:




Here is one of the actual pieces that was nestled in the bucket of artery clogging doom:




Does this skanky little parakeet wing look anything like the giant crispy pieces offered in the bucket above? Not even close. After cracking past the crispy coating, nothing was inside but a small puff of day-old air... just like in the cartoons. So basically, my 4 piece dinner was only a 3.25 piece. First that, now the fact that they "ran out of chicken" on a weekend...DAMN YOU COLONEL! (I should'a known not to trust him simply because the way you say and spell "Colonel" just doesn't make any sense!)

Welcome Back Polish Nook!

THE POLISH NOOK
2242 Cudaback Ave, Niagara Falls, NY
(716) 282-6712‎
Hours - Wed to Sun 3pm-9pm

Yes folks, the restaurant is once again back in business and the food is as good or better than it ever was. It has started serving customers since last Friday. There has not been any public advertising as yet, but that will began in a week or so. So far it is by word of mouth, and that is how my wife and I wound up going there this evening for an excellent dinner for two! We had their Polish Platter and Steak and Shrimp dinners.. The meal included desert & coffee. The prices are excellent! Our cost for the two delicious meals was only S23.00!

They have a good selection of both Polish and Italian foods.

John, the former owner of "Johns Flaming Hearth" is now the owner of the' POLISH NOOK.' The combination of foods served at both former restaurants, should please all the former patrons of both restaurants. It is certainly a welcome addition to this area of the city and we wish them much success. This is what the city needs, more local investment by local entrepreneurs. We, my family and I, encourage the local people to make it a point to support this local effort to re-establish a lost business in the city! You can do this and enjoy great food at the same time!

Review by Terry L. Equils

Consumer Review: LaBruschetta

The restaurant being reviewed LaBruschetta, 9400 Niagara
Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY. They are closed on Mondays and open
from 4PM to closing (usually around 9PM) except Fridays when they are
also open for lunch.

The décor is Italian and the menu features American and Italian
cuisine. There is a full bar and the service is friendly and
efficient. Lighting is subdued and light opera plays in the background
while you eat. Parking is plentiful and the building is handicapped
accessible.

Recently I took some out-of-state visitors and some family members to
dinner on a Thursday evening. One of my guests was a former chef at
Buffalo’s exclusive Park Lane Restaurant, now closed. He is a stickler
when it comes to fine dining and I was concerned as to whether he
would enjoy the meal. Since I was footing the bill I thought I might
have an edge up in that regard. Myself and my guests enjoyed a
selection of the dinner menu, with all meals including either the soup
of the day or a crisp dinner salad, and fresh Italian bread and
butter. The salad was delightful with various greens, garbanzo beans
and tasty croutons. I had the (8) cheese ravioli & (2) meatballs
($16.95) in a tasty meat red sauce. One of the diners had a nightly
special of stuffed haddock: a filet stuffed with mushrooms, spinach,
crab meat and sun-dried tomatoes. She proclaimed it delicious! Two of
our tablemates had the eggplant parmesan ($14.95) which featured giant
portions of what was described as the most tender eggplant parm
they’ve ever eaten. One diner was a blooming vegetarian and declined
the meat sauce and it was suggested to try the dish with Alfredo
sauce. She did and said it was scrumptious! One had the stuffed
manicotti special (wonderful!!) and our other guest had the house
specialty, which is mostaccioli with veal parmesan ($16.95) and
couldn’t believe the size of her plate of food. Other than myself,
everyone took home half of their meal to be enjoyed the following day.

Two of my guests were literally world travelers, having just returned
from Australia and New Zealand with an upcoming trip to the Galapagos
Islands next on their itinerary. They proclaimed their meal at
LaBruschetta’s as “the best meal of fine dining they have ever had.”
Believe me, that is saying a lot!. (By the way: the former chef raved
about it as he finished his eggplant parm the next day, too)

The owner, Dante Cipollitti, began as a meat cutter and manager at the
old Great Bear Market. He had previous establishments on Niagara Falls
Blvd in Wheatfield, and at the former Crown & Anchor location at 29th
St & Pine Ave, in the city, both of which were called, Dante’s. He
puts out a terrific product and should anything not be to your liking
he will make things right.

The restaurant offers a large and varied menu of steaks, seafood, and
Italian dishes. Other than nightly specials, two of the seafood dishes
include LaBruschetta’s Fish, which is a 10-12 oz filet lightly
broiled, topped with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese ($13.95). They
also have on the menu Baked fish Florentine, a 10-12 oz filet with
fried greens and mozzarella ($13.95). On Fridays they offer one of the
best fish fries around featuring a large filet (baked or battered),
your choice of potato (try the parsley potatoes - their specialty and
a break from french fries), cole slaw, bread and butter, and a
wonderful dinner salad ($8.95).

They currently are offering Early Bird Specials from Sunday thru
Thursday, from 4PM-6PM. The portions are a bit smaller than their
usual dinner fare, but they are “normal” portions for the “normal”
eater, and will certainly fill you up. The EB specials all feature
your choice of soup or dinner salad, bread and butter and even a scoop
of ice cream as dessert!

Entrees offered for the early birds are:

Chicken parmesan with ziti ($8.95); Veal parmesan with ziti ($9.95);
Chicken cacciatore with rigatoni ($7.95); Mostaccioli parmesan with
meatballs ($8.95); Spaghetti with meatballs or sausage ($7.95);
Fettuccini Alfredo with spinach $8.95); Open steak with parsley
potatoes ($11.95). No substitutions or coupons or other combinations
with any other specials are allowed with the Early Bird Specials.

On a recent Wednesday evening I tried the Veal Parm Early Bird and
thoroughly enjoyed it. No short cuts here as the only difference from
the regular dinner menu was a smaller plate and portion. However, the
portion was enough to satisfy and certainly worth the $9.95 price.

Although I have never had a bad meal at LaBruschetta, as with any
eating establishment, stuff happens. Should you ever have any issue
with the food or service you should always attempt to alleviate the
problem with your server, and if that doesn’t work, ask for the owner
or manager. A good restaurant will always make things right.

LaBruschetta is the place to take your out-of-town guests, or a place
to enjoy a fine meal at a reasonable price. Check the “specials” chalk
board at the entrance for some real gourmet treats, which change nightly.

For a real bargain, try the Friday fish fry or their Early Bird Specials.

They do accept reservations at 297-6222.

Yegotta DeGasse

(The reviewer, from the Czech Republic, writes under the nom de plume
of Yegotta DeGasse and was a former pantry chef at the Hotel St.
Moritz in Lake Placid, NY; a former line cook for Howard Johnson’s
Restaurant; and has prepared meals for parties from 4 to 400)

LABRUSCHETTA IS NOW CLOSED - STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IF RE-OPENING

Food4Fitness Menu Selections

(Click to enlarge a sample menu)

Food4Fitness (in association with ChrisFit.net) "provides healthy, fully prepared and great tasting meals for the fitness enthusiast, busy parent or anyone striving to fit healthy meals into their daily lifestyle. These recipes are personal trainer designed and approved to take your physique to the next level. All meals are portion controlled and balanced for calories, fat, protein and carbohydrates so they will fit easily into your healthy nutritional plan" ... but here is the catch, do they TASTE GOOD? ARE THEY FILLING?

Well Dear Readers, I can personally say that a big hungry eater (can't ya tell!?) like myself found these meals to be a great substitute for the meals I normally inhale en masse - they tasted great and the portions provided were ample. The Chicken & Pesto Pizza was full of large chicken chunks, fresh veggies and a touch of pesto on a thin tortilla crust. Although it looked to be satisfying, I expected it to taste like a paper plate (as most "nutritious" foods seem to taste!), but my expectations were wrong. This pizza was not only delicious, but also large enough to satisfy hunger and fill ya up. The next day, I had the Chicken-Veggie Casserole for dinner and that too was just as filling and delicious. Filled with fresh veggies and ample amounts of chicken and seasoning, this meal really hit the spot.

The ease of getting these already prepared meals (great for people on the go!) and their great taste (your tastebuds will rejoice!) is a must for anyone looking to balance a healthy diet without making huge sacrifices along the way. Now if I can only get motivated enough to pry myself off the couch and away from the big screen TV, I might lose one of my multiple chins... but hey, its a start!

Check out Food4Fitness today!



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The Wagon Wheel Restaurant & Bar

It is a little known fact that after the tornado ripped through Kansas and carried Dorothy to Oz, it then traveled to a back road somewhere in Tennessee, picked up a honky tonk saloon and dropped it smack dab in the middle of Niagara Falls, NY. True Story. Okay, so I made that part up... but how else would you explain this lil' bit of country standing all by its lonesome on one of Western New York's busiest boulevards?

Now owned by Robert Timm, the Wagon Wheel has been around since the late 1940s when the building was first used as general store. Converting to a restaurant/bar in its evolution, the Wagon Wheel now serves up some of the best damn chicken wings in the area (cheap too!) and thanks to their original still-in-use BEERADOR beer cooler, they also serve up the coldest beers this side of the Mississippi.

[Quick sidenote regarding the BEERADOR from owner Robert Timm: "Built in Buffalo by the Jewett Refrigerator Co., from 1939-41, when the US entered World War 2. The company also made a Bevador, which was geared more for selling pop at general stores and whatnot, and didn't come with the "beer bottle top." We have had the shelves rebuilt, and ours holds 4 cases of beer on each of it's 4 shelves, for roughly 384 bottles of cold beer. I've only seen 3 other Beeerador/Bevadors in use in recent years."]


(From Popular Mechanix 1939)

Belly up to the bar and order your choice of many finger foods their menu has to offer... in fact, that is all their menu has to offer! Who needs fancy country club salads and hoity-toity martinis with floating fruit? At the Wagon Wheel, you can order a frosty Budweiser and 20 hot chicken wings, watch a Sabres game and still have enough money left over to play the jukebox and tip the bartender on your way out!

The prices all across the board (from the bar to the menu) are very reasonable and they offer a wide selection of beers and spirits for every taste. Stop in during a Buffalo Sabres or Buffalo Bills game and enjoy drink and food specials - 10 wings and a pitcher of beer only $9.50! The Wagon Wheel opens Sunday at noon (just in time for NFL action during football season), weekdays 2pm - 2am, and on Friday and Saturdays from 2pm - 3am. Enjoy your sporting events on their 65 inch big screen which can be seen from the moon! Well okay, maybe not the moon, but it has been mentioned that you can see that behemoth from the entrance way to Tops across the street!

If you enjoy establishments that welcome friendly neighbors while celebrating Americana with the true grit of John Wayne - then you'll enjoy the Wagon Wheel Restaurant & Bar... stop by and say howdy!

The Wagon Wheel Restaurant & Bar
7201 Niagara Falls Boulevard
Niagara Falls, NY 14304
716-283-9861


Do you have a story or a memory of the Wagon Wheel? Please submit it today to add to this article! Also welcoming any old photos or other nostalgia you might have.

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JustinTyme on the River Family Restaurant

When I was a little kid, the crew of us that rode our bikes around Cayuga Island and played at Jayne Park would peddle over to the Lighthouse Restaurant on Buffalo Avenue once a week to enjoy a hot dog or a burger while the summer days breezed past. Flash forward 15 years and you'd find us at the same location (during one of its many incarnations) at Dockers, playing volleyball on Tuesday nights and afterwards enjoying some adult beverages while watching those dancing on the dance floor to the latest pop songs booming from the bar's speaker system.

The establishment at 7611 Buffalo Avenue in LaSalle may have had many different names and themes over the past few decades, so when I arranged with JustinTyme's to come in and do a review of their new fingerprint on the building, I didn't know what to expect... and honestly, from what I have seen or heard about the last few tries from business owners at that location, I didn't expect much - whoa, was I wrong!

The Chickadee and I pulled up on Friday around 7pm, and after finally finding a decent parking spot amidst a sea of vehicles, we entered the building. This place was HOPPIN'! We put our names down on the waiting list (about 30 minutes we were told) and took in the sights. The general motif of JustinTyme's is a motorhead's dream! If the guys in my highschool's auto shop class were given the project of building their own version of an Applebee's, JustinTyme on the River would be their result. Now, I am more of an NFL die-hard and I generally lean away from anything NASCAR related, but after being there for about five minutes, I started looking forward to the first NASCAR race in Daytona and I started wondering just how fast my Blazer could go down the Robert Moses if I really floored it... maybe it was the hundreds of license plates hanging or the rear ends of classic automobiles sticking out of the walls the way a hunter would hang his prized deer head, but whatever the reason, the motor oil ambiance of the place was hard to ignore!

We were seated within ten minutes and handed a race car styled menu chock full of tastes for every palette. Choosing from the Warm Up Laps, Liquid Fuel, Victory Laps, and Home Stretch Desserts there is plenty of options for every taste. In fact, there isn't enough space in this article to list every offering but let me hit ya up with a few to get your taste buds yearning: Grandma's Pot Roast, The BigFoot Burger, 12oz. Steak Platter, and Southern Pecan Pie just to name a few.

The prices are very reasonable, burgers and sandwiches average about $7.00 and come with fries and larger dinners average about $11.00. I ordered Grandma's Homemade Meatloaf and it came with a choice of soup and potato. The Chickadee ordered the Friday Fish Fry with potato and cole slaw. My dinner was absolutely fantastic and large enough for a big eater like myself. The fish fry was crispy on the outside and perfect on the inside. That fish fry was possibly the best I've ever had... hmmm, I'll have to try it again sometime before I make that judgement! For both meals, the portions were large and the taste was delicious.

The wait time for getting seated was quicker than estimated, the customer service was good, the food came out fast, and the restaurant is very clean and comfortable. I am recommending JustinTyme on the River to anyone who is within earshot (or for the sake of this blog, I guess I would say eyeshot? uh... just trust me on this one). My expectations were surpassed and I definitely plan on visiting again. Not only did they offer great food at a great price, but overall, it was fun place to visit and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and having a good time.

Times have changed since Scotty Chambers and I rode our bikes to the Lighthouse, and times have definitely changed since Tony Kutis was bustin' moves on the dance floor at Dockers, but in this case, times have changed for the better! Visit JustinTyme on the River Family Restaurant today and help support a local business that is making its mark in LaSalle. You won't be disappointed!


Justin Tyme on the River Family Restaurant also offers an extensive take out menu as well as a catering menu. You can visit their website by

clicking here.


Justin Tyme on the River Family Restaurant
7611 Buffalo Ave. Phone: (716) 283-1339 Fax: (716) 283-1377
Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner


From their website:

Justin Tyme On The River offers a wide selection of food favorites.With more than 16 years of service, our caring staff and talented chefsare dedicated to making your dining adventure fun, relaxing, and pleasurable.Whether you bring your family in for quality time together or gather with your friendsfor a hearty meal, our family-owned and operated restaurant is the perfect place for you!

For the best food and catering services, come to our restaurant! Private Banquet room for up to 40 people.

Voted best "Beef on Weck" and "Best French Fries"in Niagara Falls by Niagara Readers Choice Award 2005. New Menu!
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5

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Joining the "Y"

(Click on image for larger photo)

After much deliberation and numerous pizzas and submarines, I decided that it was time (long overdue) to join a gym and get back into the swing of things. There are at least a dozen or more (published in the phone book) health/fitness gyms to choose from in the Niagara Falls area. After touring several, and while serving as your dedicated StenzTV owner, operator, publisher, editor, contributor, photographer (etc...etc!), I felt it was my civic duty to give my dough (catch the double meaning) to a community serving establishment, so I joined the YMCA on Portage Road.

I used to be on the Raquetball Team in high school (LaSalle Senior High School) and we held our weekly matches at the Y. The Y we used to visit and the Y that exists now are two totally different entities. I remember the Y being fairly run-down and in need of many improvements and updates... stale air and chipping paint come to mind. It was nice to see that these memories have been left to the past - the Y now is fresh and clean, offering hundreds of pieces of new equipment, clean rooms (including totally new tile and lockers), and also contemporary fitness classes and programs. The men's locker room has new tile and lockers and is kept clean and in good order.

Along with all of the new equipment and improvements, a lot of the old equipment still has its use and its place - free weights, the sauna, the courts (raquetball and basketball), the pool, the steam room, and so on... a fatty like me has everything he needs! Now its just a matter walking through the doors and doin' work!

Take a look at their website, but better yet, stop by and ask for a tour of the facility. Its nice to see that an old friend is still keeping up and lookin' better than ever.

For more information - click here: http://www.ymcabuffaloniagara.org/branches/niagarafalls.html


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Local Review: Eddie Jays Restaurant on Buffalo Avenue

For this week's review, the Chickadee and I decided to visit Eddie Jay's Restaurant on Buffalo Avenue in LaSalle. You may remember the building a long time ago as "Weekends" in the 1980s, or maybe as "Goomba's" in the 1990's, or perhaps you paid a visit when it was "Rock n' Jocks" a few years ago. If you've never been there in any of it's past incarnations, let me first tell you how to get there... you'll find Eddie Jays on Buffalo Avenue, just past the LaSalle Library and Cayuga Drive going towards the Summit Mall... in fact, here is a handy little map to help you find your way:


(click image to view larger)

Eddie Jay's was pretty empty when we arrived, but at 5pm on a Tuesday, I wouldn't expect too many customers at any restaurant on a dreadfully rainy November afternoon. The place was very clean, with a Tuscan-esque decor... a far cry from how I remember it as the pizza and wing place called Goomba's. Eddie himself greeted us at the bar and told us to sit anywhere we'd like. Although there wasn't any sports on at this time in the afternoon, the half dozen hanging LCD televisions scattered throughout the restaurant gave me the impression that this would be a great place to watch some games, drink some beers and have a good meal while doing so.

The menu at Eddie Jay's offers a lot of choices at very reasonable prices. Take a look at the menu by clicking here. After much deliberation, I went for the stuffed shells (with two meatballs) and the Chickadee decided to have the chicken alfredo. With our dinners, I had chicken soup and she had a house salad. The chicken soup was hearty and helped to nullify the lingering bite of the cold rain outdoors. Within minutes after finishing our starters, the entrees arrived, and they looked and smelled delicious. The portions were large, the sauces were rich (not acidy), and the taste was excellent. When you visit Eddie Jay's, if you stray from the regular choices of burgers, wings, etc. - I highly recommend the pasta dishes, there were great.

After our dinner plates were cleared, Eddie suggested we try one of his sister's homemade desserts. We went for the peanut butter cheesecake. Once again, awesome! The dessert was the perfect ending to a very good meal.

Our bill came to a grand total of $47.00. That included: 4 drinks (two glasses of Shiraz, and two Stoli-sodas), a dinner salad, a bowl of soup, a large plate of stuffed shells in meatsauce with two extra meatballs, a whopping plate of chicken alfredo, and one slice of homemade cheesecake. Great quality - great price!

Eddie Jay's also has a large late night menu and a full bar offering up all the spirits you could wish for, making it a great place to watch any sports action or to hunker down and watch a Buffalo Bills game. Bring the entire family during the holidays and enjoy the excellent family style cooking that Eddie Jay's offers. Visit the website here for more information.

For more information, click this link for a past Niagara Falls Reporter article featuring Eddie Jay's.

Friday Night At the Falls - RED COACH INN

There are certain nights throughout the glorious Summer right around 10pm when you can hear the booms of thunder, only to realize that it is actually the sound of fireworks being shot off above the mighty Niagara Falls. This Friday, we decided to go and see them rather than just listening to them faintly a couple miles away.
I decided to skip all hardcore parking spots, driving past the free Casino parking and the dozens of lame parking meters and drove to a sidestreet off of Rainbow Boulevard closer to Buffalo Ave. Free, quick and easy... and the best part about it was it was only about a block or two away from the Falls.

While passing the Red Coach Inn, we decided to stop there for a drink on the patio since we still had about an hour before the fireworks were set to go off. Being from Niagara Falls (born and raised, hanging out around Niagara Falls all of my life) these little spots (that attract thousands of tourists and out-of-towners a year) are often ignored by the local community. It is a very short walk from the Red Coach Inn to the actual Falls, and just as short of a walk to all of the tourist attractions that surround it. So instead of just walking past this cozy little establishment (like I have done a hundred times before), we thought we'd check it out.



Within minutes, we were seated at a comfortable, candle-lit table outside on the patio. The hostess let us know that at 10pm there would be fireworks over the Falls and we would be able to see them right from our table. Perfect!

The waiter brought out a basket of fresh bread and the bottle of Merlot we had requested. We then ordered two different shrimp appetizers - A plate of coconut-breaded-bacon-wrapped shrimp and a plate of shrimp stuffed with feta cheese. They were awesome. Fast delivery to the table and a decent sized portion enough to satisfy without overdoing it. We then ordered a dessert, a piece of chocolate cheesecake (which was as equally delicious as everything else we had prior) and shared that as the fireworks began.

The fireworks lasted about 10 minutes - and although they weren't as spectacular as something you would see on the Fourth of July, a night sky filled with fireworks (especially over one of the world's greatest natural wonders) is always a bonus.

The total bill, which included: fresh bread with dipping sauces, a bottle of Talus Merlot, two shrimp appetizers and a piece of cheesecake came to a total of $52.00. Add in the roar of the Falls and a skyline filled with fireworks and you have an affordable, awesome Friday Night at the Falls for you and your date... you can also pretend like you never read this blogpost and came up with the plan yourself, I won't tell!