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Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Church s Blue Pine Motel; City: Panguitch Utah; Review: I shouldn't expect too much from a hotel in little Panguitch, UT. The staff was just OK, certainly did not do anything special to make me feel welcome like some of the others hotels I stayed at on our trip. I can deal with most hotels as long as the bed is comfortable... this one was not very comfortable at all. On the plus side, it was pretty cheap and close to Bryce. If I come back I would look for a different place to stay, perhaps in Tropic or Cannonville, UT. In all, was just fine with the place... but was hoping for more!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Marble Canyon Lodge; City: Marble Canyon Arizona; Review: As some of the previous reviewers have stated, the rooms are very dated. My lamp didn't even have a lamp shade on it. BUT, the bed was quite comfortable!!! I was on a 10 day trip and this bed was right at the top for comfort. The staff was fine and the location/views were super! I sat outside in one of the lounge chairs they set out, had a glass of wine and enjoyed the view... very relaxing. Had a nice dinner at the restaurant too... But charged me $2 for a cup of coffee in the morning (I guess they have the monopoly on coffee in town!). Overall, a pleasant stay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Whitehouse Inn; City: Sedona Arizona; Review: I was expecting a bit nicer place based on all the positive reviews. It was OK, good size room but definitely not nice, very dated, but seemed pretty clean. The Thai restaurant connected to the hotel was the highlight... food was excellent.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn at Lake Powell; City: Page Arizona; Review: I had a nice king bed room... all was great with the room and the hotel. But I want to take my hat off to Chelly at the front desk!!! She was such a great help to me. I locked my keys in the car and Chelly made some calls and had someone there within 20 minutes!!! Without her awesome assistance I would have missed a photography tour I had planned my visit around. I would come back again thanks to the great service.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wildflower Inn at BellRock; City: Sedona Arizona; Review: The rooms are nicely decorated and have great shampoos/conditioner, etc... The bed was fine, the breakfast adequate, the night staff was OK (not very friendly), but the views were great and it was a fairly priced room. I stayed one other night in Sedona earlier in my trip at the White House, and The Wildflower is significantly better for about the same price.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Quality Inn Zion Park Area; City: Hurricane Utah; Review: If I were traveling through Hurricane again I would try a different place. The room had a bit of a mildew smell to it, bed was not real comfortable, but room was relatively clean. I left before the breakfast, so can't comment on that...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Marriott Cancun Resort; City: Cancun Yucatan Peninsula; Review: We enjoyed our five night stay at the CasaMagna resort. The beach is great with plenty of chairs and thatch umbrellas. We never had a problem getting a good spot. We used Marriott miles to stay but when purchasing food, drinks and incidentals... be careful, it is very expensive. I guess I was naively thinking we would get good values in Mexico.... The staff were very friendly. They ALWAYS greeted us in a nice positive way. Overall, a nice stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Villas of Cave Creek; City: Cave Creek Arizona; Review: We spent two nights at the Villas this week. Prior to our stay in Cave Creak we were in Phoenix at an Embassy Suites, which was nice, but for the money we paid, the Villas at Cave Creek is a real bargain. The villas are two bedroom units, nicely outfitted, and with its own hot tub. It is extremely convenient to the small town of Cave Creek. We walked into town for dinner at Bryan's BBQ (excellent, by the way). Also, the Villas are right at the base of Black Mountain, so that was an early morning hike for me each morning. The property was clean and well maintained and the staff was very friendly. Would definitely return here!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Homewood Suites by Hilton Phoenix North Happy Valley; City: Phoenix Arizona; Review: We stayed here for a few nights on a house hunting trip. We really like the "suite" layout and close proximity to the Norterra shops and restaurants. You can literally walk to the shops and restaurants, which we did several times. We enjoyed the evening snacks and beverages, as well as the FREE breakfast. It is a nice property but on a busy strip. Overall, we would definitely return.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Premier Grand Canyon Squire Inn; City: Tusayan Arizona; Review: We stayed here the night before going to the Grand Canyon. The location is perfect for a Canyon visit! The rooms are OK, on par with a nicer Best Western. The breakfast buffet is great, what a spread. And it is included in the price. Would definitely come back and/or recommend to people. But the rooms are just OK, but clean!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: On a Wicked Dawn (Cynster Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephanie Laurens Page; Review: If you are reading the series, you need these entries. Laurens weaves her characters through their own stories and brings them back for her 'Bastion Club' and 'Black Cobra' series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Lover (Cynster series); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephanie Laurens Page; Review: If you are reading the series, you need these entries. Laurens weaves her characters through their own stories and brings them back for her 'Bastion Club' and 'Black Cobra' series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Taste of Innocence (Cynster Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephanie Laurens Page; Review: If you are reading the series, you need these entries. Laurens weaves her characters through their own stories and brings them back for her 'Black Cobra' series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Temptation and Surrender (Cynster Novels); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephanie Laurens Page; Review: If you are reading the series, you need these entries. Laurens weaves her characters through their own stories and brings them back for her 'Bastion Club' and 'Black Cobra' series.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Devil of a Whipping: The Battle of Cowpens; Author: Lawrence E. Babits; Review: A detailed account of one of the 2 battles compressed to make the film, "The Patriot". Morgan was the consummate battlefield general many officers aspire to be.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lexington and Concord; Author: Arthur B Tourtellot; Review: round the world. And this book takes you inside the events. Who did what and why. Who didn't do something and the ramifications of that lapse. It was more complicated than 8th grade imparted to us.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Champlain's Dream; Author: Visit Amazon's David Hackett Fischer Page; Review: and how 'we' created a continent - and the people we ruined in the chase. The French were far more aware and observant of the native Americans and their culture than the English. The French lived WITH the Indians and garnered a lot of their loyalty (to the misfortune of the Indians). The English took more advantage and garnered the greater territory.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Ernie Ball Earthwood Silk and Steel Regular Acoustic Set.013 - .056; Brand: Ernie Ball; Review: Great bang for buck!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Donner DC-2 Guitar Capo for Acoustic and Electric Guitar,Ukulele Capo Silver; Brand: Donner; Review: Great price and works fine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: D'Addario EJ27N Student Nylon Classical Guitar Strings, Normal Tension; Brand: D'Addario; Review: sound sucks; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Jean Paul USA CL-300 Student Clarinet; Brand: Jean Paul USA; Review: awesome; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rogue RA-090 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural; Brand: Rogue; Review: Piece of junk in terms of sound.; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | amazon_Musical_Instruments |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Moen Collection DN8486CH Preston Bathroom Towel Ring, Chrome, Small; Brand: Moen; Review: it's aight; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Klein Tools NCVT-1 Non-Contact Voltage Tester with Low Battery Indicator and Auto Shutdown; Brand: Klein Tools; Review: Indispensable tool; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterDesign 40251 York Lyra Wall Mounted Paper Towel Holder – Save Kitchen Countertop Space - Bronze; Brand: InterDesign; Review: Holds paper towels; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AGPtEK Insulated Electrical Screwdriver Phillips and Flat Double Head Precision 7pcs Set Black Finish Blades With Magnetic Tips Home Outdoor; Brand: AGPTEK; Review: Great for the price. Started having issues with the locking mechanism, but it really doesn't hinder anything; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: xtf2015 99FT 300LEDs String Lights, Waterproof Dimmable Decorative Fairy Lights with Remote Control, Christmas Lights with UL Listed for; Brand: XTF2015; Review: Worked great, but moisture kept getting in the battery bay and making the batteries leak. Had to junk it. Was not exposed to water, just Georgia humidity.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Jeremy Renner's Ex-Wife Accuses Him of Threatening to Kill Her in New Custody Filing: Report; Abstract: Jeremy Renner's Ex-Wife Claims He Threatened to Kill Her; Category: movies
Title: Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day? Depends Where You Are; Abstract: Since 2015, several Council members in the District of Columbia have attempted to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day.; Category: news
Title: Today in History: October 15; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: Why Smoked Bologna Is the Secret Star of Oklahoma Barbecue; Abstract: No barbecue plate in the Sooner State is complete without a side of "Oklahoma tenderloin".; Category: foodanddrink
Title: 20 Funny Things People in the 1980s Were Totally Guilty of Doing; Abstract: We were far from saints in the 80s. Here are 25 things that were perfectly acceptable in an age before social media and online buffoonery.; Category: lifestyle
Title: 25 candid photos of icons who shaped pop culture; Abstract: Photographer Oscar Abolafia captured images of Elvis, Madonna, Robert Redford, Lucille Ball, and many more.; Category: entertainment
Title: Photo of emotional nurse after 'particularly hard day' goes viral; Abstract: Her sister revealed that she had just wrapped up four days worth of work that included assisting in the delivery of a stillborn baby.; Category: health
Title: 50 Delicious Dutch Oven Recipes; Abstract: Put your favorite pot to work with these Dutch oven recipes. The post 50 Delicious Dutch Oven Recipes appeared first on Taste of Home.; Category: foodanddrink
Title: Today in History: October 17; Abstract: ; Category: news
Title: Felicity Huffman is pictured in prison jumpsuit during visit from husband William H. Macy and daughter Sophia as she starts two week sentence over college admissions scandal; Abstract: Felicity Huffman was seen Saturday wearing her green prison jumpsuit and a white hat as she goes out to meet her relatives during family visiting day at California's minimum security FCI Dublin.; Category: tv
Title: Prince Harry acknowledges tensions with William in ITV interview; Abstract: Britain's Prince Harry has acknowledged tensions with his older brother Prince William for the first time, saying they are on "different paths."; Category: lifestyle
Title: Steelers linebacker Anthony Chickillo arrested, facing assault charges; Abstract: Chickillo has been charged with simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment. A source told WTAE that the incident involved Chickillo's girlfriend, so it's a domestic violence issue.; Category: sports
Title: Opioid Deal Could Open Door to Bigger Settlement; Abstract: AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, McKesson and Teva reached a $260 million settlement to avoid a trial seeking to blame them for fueling the opioid crisis.; Category: finance
Title: 25 Stars You Didn't Know Got Their Start in Commercials; Abstract: Most stars have to pay their dues before hitting the big leagues. Find out which A-listers got their start in ads for Burger King, Lisa Frank, and more!; Category: tv
Title: Lou Palmer, ESPN's first 'SportsCenter' anchor, dies at 83; Abstract: Two of Palmer's original colleagues at the network Chris Berman and Bob Ley remembered his contributions as "a true ESPN original."; Category: sports
Title: Blind USC long snapper Jake Olson has hilarious response to Lane Kiffin's tweet; Abstract: Conference USA fined Florida Atlantic head coach Lane Kiffin $5,000 over the weekend for violating the league's sportsmanship policy after he tweeted a photograph mocking game officials and suggesting they are blind.; Category: sports
Title: Michelle Pfeiffer initially blamed herself after #MeToo moment: 'I should've known'; Abstract: Michelle Pfeiffer is opening up about an uncomfortable and inappropriate moment with a "high-powered" industry person.; Category: movies
Title: The Day in Sports: Sunday, October 20, 2019; Abstract: The Day in Sports: Sunday, October 20, 2019; Category: sports
Title: 'Old Town Road' becomes the second country single to reach top-selling Diamond status; Abstract: Lil Nas X joins Florida Georgia Line in the country history books.; Category: music
Title: Kevin Durant: Draymond Green Fight Played Role in Decision to Leave Golden State; Abstract: Kevin Durant and Draymond Green's public argument near the beginning of last season appeared, from the outside, to cause a bit of a rift in the team.; Category: sports
Title: Sarah Michelle Gellar evacuates home during LA wildfires, runs into Selma Blair; Abstract: "These moments remind me to be grateful for all the blessings I have, and Selma you are certainly one of them," Gellar wrote.; Category: movies
Title: Bruce Willis brought Demi Moore to tears after reading her book; Abstract: Demi wasn't sure how her ex would feel about her book until he called her.; Category: movies
Title: Self-sufficient island hideouts for sale to survive the apocalypse; Abstract: If a nuclear holocaust, zombie apocalypse or other unthinkable doomsday scenario strikes, escaping to your very own remote private island will give you the best chance of survival.; Category: finance
Title: Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween Costume Transformation Is Mind-Blowing But, Like, What Is It?; Abstract: You might say she's scary good at playing dress-up, because Heidi Klum's 2019 Halloween costume is even more impressive than we could have imagined and that's saying a lot, considering transformative Halloween costumes are kind of her thing. But this year Klum took it up one more notch as she shared her metamorphosis into,; Category: lifestyle
Title: Cause determined in Jessi Combs' fatal speed record crash; Abstract: Occurred at speeds near 550 mph; Category: autos
Title: Demi Moore Says Her 'Addiction' to Ashton Kutcher Was 'Devastating': 'It Took Me Away Emotionally'; Abstract: Demi Moore Says Her 'Addiction' to Ashton Kutcher Was 'Devastating'; Category: tv
Title: 4 Things to Know About Keanu Reeves' New Girlfriend; Abstract: Keanu is single no more! From philanthropist to Instagram foodie, check out this video to learn more about his artist GF Alexandra Grant.; Category: entertainment
Title: Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito Urged to Recuse Themselves From LGBT Cases; Abstract: After posing for a picture with the leader of an anti-gay group, Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Samuel Alito have been sent a letter by the president of a judicial activist group, demanding the pair recuse themselves from upcoming court cases centered on LGBT rights.; Category: news
Title: Pro disqualified from Q-School for failing to sign scorecard; Abstract: Former U.S. Open low amateur Luis Gagne was disqualified from the second stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q-School when he failed to sign his scorecard.; Category: sports
Title: FAA threatened to ground 38 Southwest Airlines jets over maintenance concerns, report says; Abstract: U.S. aviation regulators "threatened" to ground 38 Boeing 737 jets operated by Southwest Airlines last month because the carrier isn't able to verify that the aircraft meet all mandatory safety standards.; Category: travel | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Crayola Story Studio Comic Maker Cars 2; Brand: Crayola; Review: My young nephew loved the interactive coloring book with the coloring pages he could personalize and add to the storyline and make a part of the book! Great gift!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MGA Lalaloopsy Soft Doll - Bea Spells a Lot; Brand: MGA; Review: Very age appropriate for a toddler. My young niece loves her Xmas present. I love the option of the soft doll as opposed to the traditional Lalaloopsy dolls for the young toddler since the latter dolls are heavier to play with.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Little Pony Fashion Angels Full Size Sketch Portfolio with Art Set styles may vary; Brand: My Little Pony; Review: Excellent Xmas gift; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Play-Doh My Little Pony Cutie Mark Creators; Brand: Play-Doh; Review: Excellent Christmas gift; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Play-Doh My Little Pony Rainbow Dash Style Salon Playset; Brand: Play-Doh; Review: Great Xmas Gift; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amscan Sidewalk Chalk Party Supplies | Party Favor | Pack of 18; Brand: Amscan; Review: Great stocking stuffer; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amscan 391321 Party Favors Puzzle Cubes, x 1 1/8", Assorted; Brand: Amscan; Review: Perfect stocking stuffers; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Original Slinky Brand Metal Slinky Jr. 5 Pack; Brand: Slinky; Review: Superb stocking stuffers; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rhode Island Novelty Bubble Bottles Assortment (12-Pack) - 4oz; Brand: Rhode Island Novelty; Review: Superb stocking stuffers; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hasbro Simon Micro Series Game; Brand: Hasbro; Review: Great stocking stuffers; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Iwata-Medea Airbrush Cleaner (8 oz.); Brand: Iwata-Medea; Review: Cleaner; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Knoxville Farragut; City: Knoxville Tennessee; Review: We stayed one night and it was great. The hotel is right off of I-75 (easy on and off). We called to say we would arrive late. When we arrived at midnight I asked where I could get a bottle water. I thought I was going to be directed to a vending machine - the woman at the counter promptly gave me two bottles. We asked if we could check out at noon instead of 11 AM - we were told no problem. We were told we could help ourselves to pancakes at midnight (this was an August promotion). We were told hot breakfast would be available till 9:30 am. The breakfast was good and the pancake machine was amazing. The pancake machine gives you perfect pancakes every time! The hotel is well run; the facility is clean and I hope you like a firm mattress (one of the firmest mattresses I have ever slept on). The internet is free and we had no issues with speed or connection. The Turkey Creek mall is across the highway (easy to go to) with plenty of restaurants and shops. We would definitely go back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn La Mirada; City: La Mirada California; Review: Stayed at the Holiday Inn La Mirada from 1/14 to 1/17/2016. The hotel has an outdoor pool, business center and a beautiful fireplace in the lobby. It is clean and quiet. Sited close to the freeway making it easy to get in and out. Eateries are nearby. There is fast food (In and Out Burgers) as well as family oriented restaurants. The hotel does have a sports bar. Disneyland is only eight miles from the hotel. The hotel gift shop has a nice selection of Disney and California souvenir t shirts at excellent prices. If you prefer shopping there is a nice sized mall nearby. Or you can go outlet shopping at "the Citadel". The facade of the building is gorgeous and the selection and prices were excellent! There is even a Disney outlet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental San Juan; City: Isla Verde Carolina Puerto Rico; Review: Stayed 4 nights. The hotel is a 5 minute drive from the San Juan Airport (we used Google Maps). Check in was a breeze; room was clean (balcony looked over hotel entrance); staff was friendly and very helpful/nice. Parking was easy (valet $25 or self park $20). The parking lot is across the street. Pool area was clean and not very noisy. Where you pick up the beach towels you could spray "Off" on you to repeal mosquitos. Luckily we did not get bitten or see any mosquitos. Jacuzzi only complaint - tarnished all my silver jewelry. Looked so bad I had to take it off. Once I got home the polishing cloth took off all the tarnish. Poolside - we ordered lunch and drinks. Staff was attentive - only issue is cost. Not cheap but the food and drinks were good. Nightlife - the hotel is very quiet. During the weekend we walked next door to the Intercontinental. Live salsa music and casino. We had a great time and would go again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wildwood Hotel; City: Wildwood Missouri; Review: The hotel is lovely and the staff is courteous and nice. Our room was spacious - king sized bed and pull out sofa. The king size bed was comfortable until you realize you are falling into the middle of the bed. Did not realize how uncomfortable this could be until the next morning when you realize you did not get a restful night's sleep. The location is very nice - across from the hotel is a movie theater. Its close to Six Flags. The front desk recommended a Mexican restaurant in the outside mall next door. The food and service was excellent. We were pleased to see the hotel is pet friendly and would definitely go back with out pooch. Breakfast included with your stay. Recommend it. The food was plentiful and the place was spotless! The pool/whirlpool were clean and inviting. There is a laundry room and business center. We used both.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Suites Clarion; City: Clarion Pennsylvania; Review: Hotel looks brand new, the room is not only spacious it is also well thought out. There are plenty of electrical outlets and charging ports for your your devices. The beds are comfortable. The free breakfast was excellent. Jonah at the front desk is very nice and pleasant. He recommended The Texas Roadhouse Restaurant the food and service was great. Jonah gave us a business card and we scored a 10% discount. Great location there are plenty of restaurants, a mall with an 8 screen movie theater and a Wal-Mart. Highly recommend. Easy to get on and off Route 80.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: City Centre Hotel; City: Den Bosch North Brabant Province; Review: The hotel is in the quaint town Den Bosch. It’s not even a block away from San Jan Catherdal (a lovely old church) and lots of shopping. We happened to have stayed during a hot stretch of weather - the room was unbearably hot (we wished there was an air conditioner or even a fan). We left the window opened and for a quaint town it’s incredibly noisy. Drunk (or very happy) folks can be heard laughing, yelling or talking at all hours of the night. The best was a group of men singing love songs at 3 am (they were so good the crowd cheered and gave them a round of applause). Not sure why but there was no hand soap or soap in the bathroom. We used the shampoo provided until we purchased some.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Learning Resources Healthy Breakfast Basket; Brand: Learning Resources; Review: It is a basket of food. The food is durable and looks pretty realistic. We were pleased with the quality of the basket as well. It was exactly what we wanted for our two youngest kids and their play house.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BLACK+DECKER Jr. My First Tool Box - 15 Piece Set; Brand: BLACK+DECKER; Review: My son loves this toolbox. He carries it everywhere. I love how light weight yet durable the tools are. The tool box is the perfect size to carry the included tools and a few other things that he throws in there. It is easy enough for him to get the tools out and play and the tools stay inside the box pretty well when he is carrying it around. The size is just right too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: LEGO Juniors 10665 Spider-Man: Spider-Car Pursuit(Discontinued by manufacturer); Brand: LEGO; Review: I love how these Juniors legos make the Lego toys a little easier to manage for younger kids without pushing them down to the Duplo type toys. I believe they do a great job bridging the gap between baby/toddler and middle-grade kids. This spider man set was a particular favorite for my son. He has built and re-built the car in about a million different configurations and as is consistent with other Lego brand products, the quality is top notch. Even though this set is designed for younger kids, I see it still being of value as my child gets older. It isn't so baby-ish as to lose value in relation to the other Legos in our collection.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marvel Avengers Hawkeye Longshot Bow Toy; Brand: Marvel; Review: I know I probably should have paid more attention to the product details. But, I was still very surprised at just how small this bow is. When it arrived I truly laughed out loud. It seems to work fine enough and since we bought two of them, my kids have enjoyed playing with them back and forth but even they have said a few times how silly it is that it is so small.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Marvel Avengers Age of Ultron Iron Man Arc FX Armor(Discontinued by manufacturer); Brand: Marvel; Review: My son has absolutely loved these gloves. The way the gloves work is with internal sensors that can tell when the hand is down, upright, or lifted into firing position. My son loves that he can turn them on and then just use his hand motions to fire. The sounds are super cool and the gloves fit nicely enough to a fairly broad range of sizes. For example, I have medium-large hands for an adult and I can fit them just fine. My son is only 5 and they stay on his hands just fine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ty Beanie Baby Hello Kitty - Ballerina; Brand: TY Beanie Baby; Review: My daughter loves this thing. Why?!? I really don't find anything about this toy to be appealing. However, my daughter loves it and we have had to purchase it three times to replace old ones that she gets dirty or loses. They are made of excellent quality though. I'm sure they would last quite a long time if not for kids losing them. :-); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: VTech Lil' Speller Phonics Station; Brand: VTech; Review: I have purchased a number of products from vTech and this one left much to be desired. It annoys me that there are tons of words that can be spelled with the included letters that it does not understand. Some of the games seem like they could have been so much better. It feels like they rushed this thing to market without thinking through everything. It could have been so great.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Barbie Voice Changing Rockstar Boombox; Brand: Barbie; Review: I knew when I purchased this thing that it would probably be of cheap quality. Well, it is. In this case you really don't get what you didn't pay for. It's a cheap toy and it works like a cheap toy. My kids were fairly disappointed in it as well.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Water Wigglies - 5 inch, Beads (1, Assorted Colors; Brand: Rhode Island Novelty; Review: I purchased this to use as a distraction for my son who was undergoing extensive medical care. It seemed to work well enough. But, it didn't last very long before it was punctured and had to be thrown away. I guess the nature of this kind of a toy would lend itself to being somewhat fragile. Still, I probably wouldn't purchase another one. At least, not for younger kids.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Videosecu Tilt Swivel TV Wall Mount 32"- 70" LCD LED Plasma TV with VESA 200x200, 400x400, Up to 600x400; Brand: VideoSecu; Review: good quality; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 4-Year Home Security Plan under $75; Brand: SmartGuard; Review: serves its purpose.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lightdow LD4000 1080P HD Sports Action Camera Kit; Brand: Lightdow; Review: no wifi; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Supershieldz for iPad Mini 4 Tempered Glass Screen Protector, Anti-Scratch, Bubble Free, Lifetime Replacement Warranty; Brand: Supershieldz; Review: perfect fit. no issues.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ESR Case for The iPad Mini 4, [Corner/Bumper; Brand: ESR; Review: love it. perfect fit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Risky Business (1983); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Roger & Me (1989); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek: Insurrection (1998); Genres: Action, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stripes (1981); Genres: Comedy, War; Rating: 0.5/5.0
Title: Deliverance (1972); Genres: Adventure, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bull Durham (1988); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dazed and Confused (1993); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Doors, The (1991); Genres: Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lawnmower Man, The (1992); Genres: Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Showgirls (1995); Genres: Drama; Rating: 0.5/5.0
Title: Arlington Road (1999); Genres: Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989); Genres: Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Waking Ned Devine (a.k.a. Waking Ned) (1998); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jerk, The (1979); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 0.5/5.0
Title: Fargo (1996); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Genres: Action, Drama, War; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City of God (Cidade de Deus) (2002); Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004); Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The (Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il) (1966); Genres: Action, Adventure, Western; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Hotel Rwanda (2004); Genres: Drama, War; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Memento (2000); Genres: Mystery, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pan's Labyrinth (Laberinto del fauno, El) (2006); Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Silence of the Lambs, The (1991); Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blade Runner (1982); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003); Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002); Genres: Adventure, Fantasy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Matrix, The (1999); Genres: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller; Rating: 0.5/5.0
Title: Princess Bride, The (1987); Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) (1981); Genres: Action, Adventure; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Shawshank Redemption, The (1994); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sixth Sense, The (1999); Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Oliver Twist (2005); Genres: Drama; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pursuit of Happiness (2001); Genres: Comedy, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: American Gangster (2007); Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Animal House (1978); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 0.5/5.0
Title: Caddyshack (1980); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 0.5/5.0
Title: Rock School (2005); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eddie Murphy Raw (1987); Genres: Comedy, Documentary; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Jesus Camp (2006); Genres: Documentary, Drama; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Longest Yard, The (1974); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lost in America (1985); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: People vs. Larry Flynt, The (1996); Genres: Comedy, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip (1982); Genres: Comedy, Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Singles (1992); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: True Romance (1993); Genres: Crime, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Warriors, The (1979); Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime, Thriller; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 48 Hrs. (1982); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Werewolf in London, An (1981); Genres: Comedy, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop (1984); Genres: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blazing Saddles (1974); Genres: Comedy, Western; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blues Brothers, The (1980); Genres: Action, Comedy, Musical; Rating: 0.5/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Genres: Drama; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bowling for Columbine (2002); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Genres: Documentary; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hustle & Flow (2005); Genres: Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Knocked Up (2007); Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Last King of Scotland, The (2006); Genres: Drama, Thriller; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Misery (1990); Genres: Drama, Horror, Thriller; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Genres: Comedy, Crime; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987); Genres: Comedy; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Something Wild (1986); Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Genres: Comedy, Documentary, Drama; Rating: 3.5/5.0 | movielens |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Trumark Slingshots Folding Slingshot; Brand: Trumark Slingshots; Review: I use this to scare away critters in my yard who do damage to my stuff. It scares them away without hurting them if I just aim off to the side. Definitely working for what I need it for. I also use it to scare stray cats when I see them ready to pounce near my bird feeder. I hate watching little birds get grabbed up by stupid stray cats. And no, I don't hate cats, I have too INDOOR cats of my own. I hate when people let their cats out to poop in other people's yard and they also attempt to jump in my pond to grab my expensive fish and also scare the birds from my feeder....too many stray "people owned" cats around. Which is sad for the cats too since they get attacked by the foxes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bodylastics Ultra Heavy Duty Handles with solid Nylon cores, super strong nylon webbing and heavy gauge O-rings; Brand: ; Review: I like these alot. They seem more sturdy than the ones I purchased with my resistance bands set. Because that set came with only one set of handles I purchased a set of these for every other color band I have so I don't have to switch handled all the time. That seems more efficient to me because otherwise using the bands would be a pain and I'm just starting to work out so I don't want to give myself any more excuses not to do it. (I'm trying to out think myself...lol) Now I'm just trying to figure out a way to hang the bands in my exercise room like a gym so I can just go in there and start working out. I know you can use the bands without hanging them but I like the idea of having them stored too so I don't have to pull them out all the time and then put them away (I have cats). Rather just leave them hang high on the wall and have other hanging things to move them to for different heights...just like at the gym. Awesome handles though...they are more sturdy and seem more comfortable to use than the original band handle I got.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 2000lbs Anti Burst Exercise Stability Ball with Pump; Brand: ; Review: Love it. Helping me with my posture. Also use for exercising and stretching my back. It's so think that I haven't had to worry when my cat jumps on it believe it or not. She likes to exercise her core apparently too...and it's pretty funny to watch.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Graveyard Book; Author: Neil Gaiman; Genres: young-adult, mystery, thriller, children, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Loved this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Gods (American Gods, #1); Author: Neil Gaiman; Genres: thriller, crime, paranormal, fiction, fantasy, mystery; Review: Thought provoking book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Outlander (Outlander, #1); Author: Diana Gabaldon; Genres: history, romance, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: Great book. Can't wait to see the movie.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anansi Boys; Author: Neil Gaiman; Genres: paranormal, young-adult, fantasy, fiction; Review: great book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Vicious Vet (Agatha Raisin, #2); Author: M.C. Beaton; Genres: thriller, crime, fiction, mystery; Review: Another classic Raisin book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grey (Fifty Shades, #4); Author: E.L. James; Genres: romance, fiction; Review: Good I thought it was good. A retelling of the first book as told by Christian. Not happy at all with the ending.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: We Both Can't Be Bae 2 (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Twyla T Page; Review: Man what an emotional roller coaster! Part 1 was great and Part 2 was just as great. I finished both books the same day I bought them. That's when you know it's a hit! Honestly, the situations that Cameron is experiencing are a reality to some people. Hopefully Cameron will realize that no matter how messed up her situation she deserves better and she's a strong black woman that needs to stand up for herself especially against her husband. I can't wait for Part 3 and I'm super proud of my big cousin!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We Can't Both Be Bae 3 (We Both Can't Be Bae) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Twyla T Page; Review: I am soooo happy that Cameron came out on top! I was rooting for her and Keith. All those secrets though OMG! I wasn't ready. I wish the story never ended lol. Great way to end the series Twyla T.!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Andrue and Sy'mone: An Urban Love Affair; Author: Visit Amazon's Olivia Shaw Page; Review: There was definitely a lot craziness in this book. I feel like there was a few details left out but the storyline kept me reading more. I'll be waiting for book 2.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ACE & BLEU: A Dopeboy Love Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Chase Sidora Page; Review: OMG I loved this book! Ace is the man for real and even though he messed up at least he was a man about it and cleaned up his act for Bleu. Had my emotions going crazy and I did not like Dominique ugh. I was rooting for him and Bleu but that ending had me screaming like it was me lol. I love them. I can't wait for part 2.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My New Lil' Boo 2 (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's LaQuita Cameron Page; Review: I was not disappointed. Of course I love the drama and this book was filled with it! I didn't want to put the book down. I'm waiting for part 3 definitely. I know it's gonna be the icing on the cake.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Lips That Thugs Love 2; Author: Visit Amazon's Twyla T Page; Review: Omg I am on pins and needles waiting for part 3! I still can't stand Kentay but I'm soooo glad Ashanti and Ahmad finally got it together at the end. I'm speechless on how part 2 ended. I wasn't ready for that at all. Had my emotions on 10!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Her Savage, His Addiction: Chainz & RayVen's Love Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Taye Storm Page; Review: This was my first time reading this author but it will not be my last. Trust and believe. I love how the story progressed with Ray'Ven and Chains from beginning to end. It was soooo beautiful yet real. I'm so glad they took care of Jaylen because I was ready to take him out myself lol. By the end of the book I was in tears. Great read!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stay; Author: Visit Amazon's Ivy Symone Page; Review: I'm so glad I decided to read this book! I absolutely loved it! The love Zion had for Frankee was so real and unconditional but she was so blinded by her anger and resentment to realize it. I'm glad she realized it before it was almost too late though. Antwan was not the person she thought he was and I hate that she had to go through that tragic loss to realize that Zino was everything she needed. I wish this book ever ended but I'm glad everything worked out for them in the end.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gangsta's Paradise 2: How Deep is Your Love (Volume 2); Author: LaToya Nicole; Review: And I thought Sauve was bae! That dang Gangsta though omg! I wouldnt dare get on his bad side because he is certified crazy. Lucifer is the perfect name for him lol. I love how it started off his early years of meeting Paradise then it got even better. The lies, betrayal, and twists had me not wanting to put it down. Im so glad everything worked out between Gangsta and Paradise. The whole series was great!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love & Hennessy: An Addictive Kind of Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Carmen Lashay Page; Review: This book had my attention just from the first few sentences alone. Rodney is so disrespectful and a straight up coward! I know Ghost better NOT be that babys daddy! I really feel like its Rodneys just by Chelseas reaction but because shes steady taking slick shots at Tommie. Ghost... ooo lawd that man is something else! Im rooting for him and Tommie but I know stuff is about to get real in part 2. That cliffhanger had me hollering.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Send Me (Joaquin & Nayeli) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's B. Love Page; Review: Now listen I wasn't even ready for this one! That bomb Joaquin dropped at the end had me yelling all types of obscenities lol. Everything started off so well then BOOM! All these secrets started coming out. This read was definitely different from the norm but it did not disappoint. Once again B. Love has came through with another 5 star read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: D-City Chronicles Book Three: Aja and Ro; Author: Visit Amazon's Annitia L. Jackson Page; Review: Listen this finale was the bomb.com!!! It picked up right where part 2 left off at. Ro/Viper is still bae ok. I loved him and Aja. They aint got no chill. The whole crew is crazy though lol. Im glad they got revenge and took care of all the psychos and Ray is going to be traumatized for life but it serves him right!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Malice Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Bianca Page; Review: That ending! I just knew it was her lbvs! Baaaaby Malice done got himself caught up real bad and Im praying he can get out of this one. Cat is crazy af and so is Kams dad. I cant believe how these dads are behaving. I cant wait to read Part 2!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Malice Love 2 (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Bianca Page; Review: All I can say is OMG! I knew the truth was going to come out eventually but I wasn't expecting that ending to be like that. Poor Kam! She had me crying right along with her! I don't know how Malice is going to fix it but I cant wait to read Part 3.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scorpion & Zolar: A Dangerous Gangsta Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Bianca Page; Review: When I say this book was everything! Bianca has done it again! This book was so good. Zolar was out here grinding and all she wanted was her husband, not the man in the streets. Semaj lost his good thing because his priorities were all screwed up and his sloppiness got him caught up. Her friends had me dying laughing ok lbvs. Oooo Scorpion was a godsend. Lawd that man came in and swooped Zolar off her feet. I loved them together and they deserved happiness. Im glad Semaj did get his act together in the end though.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Without Permission; Author: Visit Amazon's Kachet' Page; Review: I cant wait for part 2. Malaya had to take on so many responsibilities at a young age and to see her and Camilla being bosses is admirable. Theyre truly best friend goals. Im loving the relationships between the women and their men. I love Marcus and Malaya & Camilla and Miles. I cant believe what Keyshia did! I wasn't ready for that but I know its about to go down because that ending was a shocker.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yours to Keep; Author: Visit Amazon's B. Love Page; Review: B. Love NEVER disappoints! I loved this book from the jump. I so love Aali and Lex. Theyre so beautiful together. I love how they fought for their love. I couldn't stand Oxford and he literally almost lost his family because of his greed. I love how humble Lex was. Her and Aali were perfect for each other. The ending had me so emotional!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: We Got The Keys To The Streets 2: A Naptown Love Story (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Courtney B. Page; Review: This was a good read. AZ and Cutty were as loyal as they come and Raja made sure he took care of em. Bree is forever that down chick and she had AZs back even when he was doing her wrong. In the end everybody still got their happy ending.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Faith in my Hustla 2; Author: Visit Amazon's T'yanna Sha-Nay Page; Review: Lord not the baby! Im sick of Lia and Tevin! They gotta go asap. Cyn and Britt been having me dying laughng. I just love them. They are some real sisters to Erin. I need for E and Kymani to get it together but Im glad she forgave them and they're moving forward. Im so glad she found out her trifling her dad really is. I cant wait to read Part 3.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: His Weekend Lover:: Loving A Boss through it All; Author: Visit Amazon's Chanique J. Page; Review: This one right here man! It had me on edge the whole time. I love happy endings but I feel like Monica deserved way better than Rich. Monica was too good for him. Free and Shauna were both working my nerves as well. They both did the most. I guess the heart wants what it wants. As long as they're happy. This was a great read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: In Due Time; Author: Visit Amazon's B. Love Page; Review: Omg I absolutely loved this story. The love between Mackenzie and Rahim was so passionate and beautiful. Her loyalty to their friendship and Tony almost made her miss out on true love. Once again B. Love comes through with another banger. I loved the lessons on finding closure to move on and knowing that its ok to give love another chance.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Addicted To A Savage (Hood Love Story); Author: Visit Amazon's Zoya Page; Review: When I say this book had my attention from beginning to end I mean just that! Omg I am in love with Promise do ya hear me?! That man is everything and the love that he and Hazel share is soooo magnetic! I just love them! So much drama and betrayal. Im loving it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Khiaere & Phy: A Charleston Love Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Mel Dau Page; Review: Yassss boo you did that! I cant wait for part 2. These couples had me dying laughing. I cant wait to see what happens next.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Legrand - Wiremold CMK50 Cord Mate II Kit- Raceways Cord Management Kit to Hide Cables, Cords, or Wires- 4; Brand: Wiremold; Review: Simple to install. cleaned up 2 installations of flat screen cabling.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ASUS Dual-band 3x3 AC1750 Wifi 4-port Gigabit Router with speeds up to 1750Mbps; Brand: Asus; Review: Easy to setup , increased my coverage in my house and now 13 devices and no lag.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Logitech M705 Marathon Wireless Mouse – Long 3 Year Battery Life, Ergonomic Sculpted Right-hand; Brand: Logitech; Review: Great Mouse, bought one previously for home use and this was for use at work. fits my hand and is very responsive; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: [7 Port USB HUB + Ethernet Adapter] Unitek USB 3.0 Hub 6-Port + 1 Charging Port +1 Gbps Ethernet; Brand: Unitek; Review: Not bad for the price but seems to have intermittent issues with Panasonic tough-pads, need to troubleshoot a bit more; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: SLE 14.8V 40WH M5Y1k Battery for Dell Inspiron 3451 3551 5558 5758 M5Y1K Vostro 3458 3558 Inspiron 14 15 3000; Brand: SLE-TECH; Review: So far this has worked as advertised , was able to install and some of the issues I was having with the laptop were related to the original battery going out, this battery resolved all the issues, and the price also a great plus.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Grande Island Resort; City: Subic Bay Freeport Zone Bataan Province Central Luzon Region Luz; Review: I've been going to this place for quite some time, I like the beach, the sand and the rooms by the beach. They are in an island a few minutes from the waterfront pier. What I don't like is their treatment to the customer, sometimes they allow day trip if a bunch of you are going there but disallowed if only a few are boarding, even though you are already there. I tried to book an overnight stay on a Sunday (October 2010), and was told if I could move it to Saturday because they don't accept bookings on weekdays, but they have published rates on weekdays( which is lower than weekends ). That's probably the reason!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Isla Hayahay; City: Calape Bohol Island Bohol Province Visayas; Review: The resort is located in an island which is accessible by land transportation. It is a nice but small quiet place ideal for relaxation far away from any bars or restaurants. If you like seafoods like I do, well this is the place to stay cause they serve quite big portions of crustaceans. The staffs are nice and courteous, the owners are accomodating and friendly, though we experience a loud knock on our door (because we are running late on our guided tour). The rooms are nice, the beach frontage is quite small and the water recedes far away during low tides. It's a bit of a distance from the main attractions in Bohol, an hour away from the airport, an hour and a half from Alona beach, Panglao Island. I would have given this a perfect review if not for the things I mentioned above, but I would definitely give them a visit just for the hospitality and generosity of Ms Ara and Paul.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cebu Marine Beach Resort; City: Lapu Lapu Mactan Island Cebu Island Visayas; Review: This place has a nice but short beach frontage, the rooms are small, there's a pool and the restaurant serves quite delicious food. If you plan to swim on its beach, be sure it's high tide because the water becomes very shallow during low tides. Travelling through and from Cebu City is quite a hassle as it far away from shopping malls like Ayala and SM. Taxi usually charge a large amount to ferry you from the city to your resort as it is remotely located. We did some island hopping and snorkeling was great just a few minutes from the resort and there were lot's of fishes.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: East Ocean Adventure Suites Inc; City: Boracay Malay Aklan Province Panay Island Visayas; Review: Very nice staff and all so accomodating, the rooms are quite new and clean with a spacious bathroom. The view from my room is spectacular as it was overlooking the vast expanse of the sea. The hotel is located approximately ten minutes drive from the jetty and also about the same distance from the famous white beach and D'mall establishments. The roads leading to the hotel are quite narrow and I wouldn't recommend a full size car/van to pass thru. It is situated on top of a hill wherein there's a narrow and steep stairs to its own private beach where the water is pristine with lots of islets. It also has a nice pool with an infinite view of the sea. Definitely worth your time if you like the serenity and isolation away from the busy and crowded white beach!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Green Valley Baguio Hotel and Resort; City: Baguio Benguet Province Cordillera Region Luzon; Review: The hotel is situated on top of the mountain along Marcos Highway, it is about 15 minutes drive from the famous Session Road and Burnham Park. The rooms are quite old and not insulated from the corridor noise as you can hear footsteps a few meters away. It has a large swimming pool but is not very well maintained as there's no one using it (because of the very cold weather). It is always a few degrees cooler at the resort compared to the downtown area, and as a result every early morning and late afternoon you could expect a heavy cloud of fog covering the resort. The food is quite good and there's a billiard and several bowling lanes and also a badminton and basketball court for the sports enthusiast.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chalet Baguio; City: Baguio Benguet Province Cordillera Region Luzon; Review: This new hotel sits on a sloping land with a small frontage. It has 5 floors with 3 floors below ground level or basement. It is very near Kennon road and Camp John Hay. There is not much view from our room, neither is the front room facing the road. Our room is quite small, everything is new, the bathroom is clean and the fixtures are all nice, though we could use running hot water in the lavatory, the shower has its own heater but its somehow not enough for the cold weather. The staffs and hotel security are quite accommodating. One major improvement this hotel needs is more parking space, I spend a lot of time moving my car from one place to another so as not to block other parked cars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Horizon Hotel; City: Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu District West Coast Division Sabah; Review: We stayed at this hotel for 5 days, our room was at the 9th floor facing the sea and the spectacular sunset. The room is quite nice, clean and comfortable. All fixtures are quite new, the shower room is big enough to splurge around thou ours didn't have a bathtub. There is a flat screen lcd tv, air conditioning has an adjustable thermostat and wi-fi capability in the room goes on and off. The hotel is located about 15 minutes from the airport, 10 minutes from a bird sanctuary and about 30 minutes from the nearest zoo. Walking outside the hotel, you can find many small restaurants, bakeries, fast food chain and a supermarket. The seaport is a mere 10 minutes walk from the hotel, there are lots of seafoods to choose from and further you can find Jesselton Point, which is the starting point to exploring the different island beaches.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea Wind Boracay Island; City: Boracay Malay Aklan Province Panay Island Visayas; Review: The first thing you'll notice upon stepping out of the resort is the magnificent stretch of the finest sands and pristine waters of Boracay! The resort is located at the far end of Station 1, about 25 minutes tricycle ride from the jetty and about 10 minutes from D' mall. It is also a leisure walk of around 15 minutes by the beach from Stations 3 and 2 to the resort. It has a small swimming pool besides the dining area overlooking the beach, the main building is located near the main road, each with a veranda fronting the beach, though the view is partially obstructed by the cabanas/ cottages fronting the building and has a much better view of the sea. The rooms at the hotel are quite small and old but has a nice feeling of tranquility and cleanliness to it, staffs are nice, but the males are more helpful than the female staffs. Breakfast are quite redundant but tasteful and filling. There is a nice fish pond with koi's and pacu near the lobby area. I would definitely recommend this resort for couples tired of the loud nightlife at Station 2, but then again Boracay was famous not only for its fine beach but also it's invigorating nightlife!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taal Vista Hotel; City: Tagaytay Cavite Province Calabarzon Region Luzon; Review: I think i have stayed here for more than two times already, a lot have changed since the last time we went here. There is an ongoing construction of an amusement park besides the hotel, which should be noisy except for the insulated windows, which is very dirty because of the debris. Our room is quite big, with a walk in washroom separated by glass doors for the closet and bathroom. One thing missing from the closet is a bidet, which should be a standard for this kind of a hotel. Taal Vista offers an excellent view of the Taal Volcano with its lake and the surrounding inhabitants living and thriving from the lake. Just across is a casino and a fastfood chain, very near is the Mushroom Burger eatery and on the other sides are Leslie's, Josephine's and Starbucks. The hotel offers a large parking space for vistiors and guest, but you do have to validate your parking ticket everytime you want to go out, which is a hassle specially when your room is at the far side of the reception area, I hope they will issue a separate card for visitors and check in guest to avoid inconveniences. I would say their food was great, but the buffet charge was pricey for the selection of food they offer. A trip to Josephine or Leslie's would be a better option, and a snack at Mushroom Burger is a great choice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila; City: Manila Metro Manila Luzon; Review: The hotel is an absolute stunner, nestled along Manila Bay, with its sunset as the background, and the breeze of the sea as an added bonus. Though the bay itself is not suitable for swimming. Our room was quite big with a flat screen tv and overlooking the bay. Wifi is available in the common area, but it's not free in the room, you have to avail of some sort of a price plan. I would expect a bidet in the water closet, but there is none, shower water pressure also needs improvement, as hot water is not constant due to low pressure. Its complimentary breakfast is sumptous and features a full array of Filipino and international cuisine. There is a swimming pool with slides at the back of the hotel fronting Manila bay, a spa and a Pagcor casino. I would have given this hotel a 5 star review if not for the few creature comforts that I would expect from it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grande Island Resort; City: Subic Bay Freeport Zone Bataan Province Central Luzon Region Luz; Review: I have been to this resort many times, I mainly go fishing with my wife so their facilities and amenities are not an issue to us. But the time we went there, a storm was coming so we are forced to stay at the room, we are booked only for a night. On the first night the power went out, which is not an issue because they have generators, but apparently they were not working, useless, so we spent the night unsure and restless. The following morning with only a few hours of sleep and nothing to do because of the rain, we were expecting to be able to have the trip back home, but still the waves are unforgiving, so no ferry boats are allowed to transit. We have no choice but to stay the night again hoping there will be no power interruption. We are assured that early the next morning we will be able to ferry back. What surprised me is that they're charging us for the extra night stay even though we expressed to them that we don't want to stay anymore, but were forced to. So the following morning we're out in a hurry as we don't want to be charged another night. The place is nice, quiet, not much to do, but the food is good. I just hoped they build better relationship with their customers and be understanding of their situation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Bella + Canvas 7501 Women's Sponge Fleece Wideneck Sweatshirt; Brand: Bella; Review: I bought this for my son's girlfriend and she says it is very comfortable and soft to wear. Great sweater.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Multi Color Tribal Style Fringe Scarf - Different Colors Available; Brand: TrendsBlue; Review: I have had so many compliments on this scarf. It is very versatile with so many different shirts, sweaters, and blouses. I like it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Western Dual Revolver Pistol Gun Dangle Drop Earrings Fashion Jewelry; Brand: Soulbreezecollection; Review: This was a Christmas present for our son's girlfriend and she loves them. She is a very country-fied girl who raises horses and she loves them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jinique .925 Sterling Silver Claddagh Ring with Clear Color Cz Heart Stone Size 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 Comes with Box; Brand: Jinique; Review: Fits as expected. I love it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legendary Whitetails Men's Camo Outfitter Hoodie; Brand: Legendary Whitetails; Review: Good quality sweatshirt. My son loves it and it fits.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Metal Factory Sterling Silver 2MM High Polish Plain Dome Tarnish Resistant Comfort Fit Wedding Band Ring; Brand: Metal Factory; Review: I love this ring. It's not too big and it fits perfect on my thumb, which is where I wanted it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Signature Products Group 20023 Womens Buckmark Camo Sweatshirt Fushia - Large; Brand: Browning; Review: The size Large fit as expected. The delivery was very quick. Quality is very good too. I like it alot.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under Armour Men's Camo Alpine Adjustable Cap; Brand: ; Review: My son-in-law loves his hat. It fits his head too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pettigirl Girls Cosplay Dress Snowflakes Dress; Brand: Pettigirl; Review: My granddaughter loved her dress. She puts it on often and plays princess.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Very Volatile Women's Arienette Bootie; Brand: Very Volatile; Review: I bought these for a special occasion so I won't be wearing them everyday. I like the way they fit, I just need to get used to the 3" heel. They are very comfortable and will go with any outfit I choose to wear.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Amscan 255606.10 Velour Cowboy Hat, One Size, Black; Brand: Amscan; Review: I bought it for a one time use. It's alittle big, so I was unable to wear it. It doesn't even have a strings to keep it on your head. I'm glad it wasn't very expensive.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: PUMA Women's PowerTech Voltaic DipDye Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: The material of the shoe was unexpected. I like the tennis shoe over all. Puma is not the most comfortable shoe I have bought, I love the looks of their shoes!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PUMA Women's Cell Riaze SL Cross-Training Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Shoe fit how I expected. Comfortable. The material is weird. I think over time there will be a crease where my foot bends in the material. Love the way they look! I wouldn't pay $85 for these if I wasn't being reemburst from work.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PUMA Women's Cell Turin Running Shoe; Brand: ; Review: Love the looks and feel of these shoes. They run a little small. I bought my normal size, and they fit. It would feel better if they were a half size bigger. The leather doesn't let them breath as fast as a shoe with mesh.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Yidarton Womens Summer Casual Sleeveless Evening Party Beach Dress; Brand: Yidarton; Review: I put a danty belt under the breast when I wore this other than to the pool. Otherwise it is extremely free flowing and can make you look bigger. The straps are a good length, will fit most. Order a size or two sizes smaller.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shop4Ever Dirty Thirty Women's Racerback Sayings Tank Tops Slim FIT; Brand: Shop4Ever; Review: I'm very happy I decided to save a little money and get this tank. It was perfect. I wore a white tank under the purple dirty thirty.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Red Hanger Womens Bolero Shrug - Long Sleeves Open Cropped Cardigan; Brand: Red Hanger; Review: It was perfect! I ordered and wore the back one with a formal dress. It would also be cute dressed down. I haven't washed it yet. I paid under $20. It does not cover a lot of the arm pit area. I expected that due to the reviews.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Exotic Cutoffs, 10 lb. Box; Brand: Rockler; Review: these used to be nice box of cutoffs that hade some real useable pieces now they are box of verry small pieces that will make a few small inlays at best 2inch square and slivers of wood not the veriety i had hoped for; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Pilot Silver Metallic Permanent Paint Marker, Medium Point, Dozen Box (41800); Brand: Pilot; Review: all good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Glastar Glass Foiler; Brand: VGCE; Review: all good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Studio Pro 7/32-Inch Black Lined Copper Foil; Brand: StudioPRO; Review: all good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Strip and Circle Glass Cutter; Brand: Glastar; Review: all good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hawk Importers TM1701 Cloth Tape Measure; Brand: Hawk Importers; Review: all good; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Arts_Crafts_and_Sewing |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Sir Adam Hotel; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: This hotel is perfect for a weekend break, well thought through, so much to do and fantastically decorated throughout. The service was impeccable from everyone we met, and from the moment we arrived. The location is excellent with views back across Amsterdam (check out the Lookout and Madam restaurant /bar on the top floors). There is a great buzz about the place and if you like music, you have the choice of using the vinyl in your room or stream music from whatever device you have. If you get the chance, book and ask for a city view.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel La Palma; City: Stresa Lake Maggiore Piedmont; Review: So I booked this hotel as part of our grand tour of northern Italy for Silver wedding anniversary. It was an afterthought and only booked one night, and instantly regretted that I did not book for longer. Sara on reception really looked after us and we were fortunate to be upgraded to a suite with the best views across to Isola Bella. The sky bar is just fabulous which affords the most amazing panoramic views of Lake Maggiore . We were lucky in that the weather forecast had been grim leading up to our one day stay, but we were lucky to have enough sunshine to enjoy the roof terrace, get across to Isola Bella and enjoy the perfect location for storm watching from the sky bar. The only gripe I have is that we were not made aware of the construction work on the pool - poor show when spending so much money. That said, we will be back! Oh and if you get a chance , take the funicular up the mountain and the subsequent chair lift , the views are worth it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TownHouse Duomo Milano; City: Milan Lombardy; Review: If you are looking for a hotel with that wow factor , then this is the place to come to. Of course it’s not cheap, but the top hotels in Italy are always expensive. The views from the balcony are rather special and the location is just the best. If you only have a day in Milan , this is the perfect base. Use the Michelin star restaurant on the top floor for that special evening meal with views to the Duomo, have lunch on the terrace at the nearby department store (food hall with plenty of choice and views of the spires of the Duomo), and enjoy the “must do” tours of the Duomo roof walk, the visit inside and amble around the Galleria. All on your doorstop. Only issue I had was irritating delay in getting my car back from the concierge when we were due to leave, it took far too long. All in all though, special memories; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Relais La Suvera; City: Pievescola Tuscany; Review: Wow wow and wow again. We stayed in one of the suites in the Papal villa, expensive but worth every penny. Spend some time in the museum on the first floor, have a glass of wine on the terrace and look at those rolling Tuscan hills. I want to go back .... now!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residenza La Musa Amarcord; City: Florence Tuscany; Review: Loved this hotel, hidden away but well located for your trip to Florence. Staff were friendly and extremely helpful, our room was simply superb. This has been decorated with a sense of style but keeping in touch with the building’s history. You will not be disappointed unless you can only stay for one night!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OD Port Portals; City: Calvia Majorca Balearic Islands; Review: This is a hidden gem, perfect for business and social visits. A short 20 min taxi ride to the airport and closer to Palma, there was plenty of bars and restaurants in walking distance that we didn’t bother going to the capital. The hotel is well designed, pulling off that effortless Spanish stylish and contemporary feel. Rooms were all clean , and staff excellent throughout our 4 night stay. The real bonus is the fabulous Sky bar on the 8th floor with far reaching views and of the marina no more than a 15 min stroll away.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Tiara Yaktsa Cote d Azur; City: Theoule sur Mer French Riviera Cote d Azur Provence Alp; Review: This is a magnificent find, close enough to vibrant Cannes (about 20 min drive) for nightlife, shopping and sightseeing but tucked away so you can truly chill out. We stayed in a fantastic sea view junior suite and was right up there as one of the best rooms we have stayed in. Right from the initial welcome with a drink on the terrace to our departure, the service has been first class. The food is superb and at a level you would hope for in a Hotel of this quality. The views from the rooms are spectacular, check out the picture from the infinity pool. Sure it’s expensive (hunt around for deal - particularly off season as we did), but sometimes you have to say you’re worth it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Science: Ruining Everything Since 1543: A Collection of Science-Themed Comics; Author: Zach Weinersmith; Review: Very funny book. Perfect for the science geek in your life.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shades of People; Author: Visit Amazon's Shelley Rotner Page; Review: It's really important to me that, even out here in massively white suburbia, that my child grow up with diversity as part of his appreciated social norm. This book introduces that appreciation in a way that is age appropriate for toddlers. What isn't age appropriate, though, is the book's binding. My son really wants to flip the pages back and forth and point at all the features of every child's face (as toddlers do), and this binding just can't handle it. Reissue it on board book!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke; Author: Visit Amazon's Suze Orman Page; Review: This book saved my credit when I was in my early twenties. Now, in my mid-thirties, I recommend it to all of my college students. It gives practical advice, both on micro and macro levels, while setting attainable goals for long-time financial health.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Long Way Home (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8, Vol. 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Joss Whedon Page; Review: As someone who legitimately mourned the passing of Buffy as a TV series, I'm kind of embarrassed about how long it took me to explore its crossing over into another medium. This is great! The story beyond the Sunnydale hell mouth is the kind of imagination you expect from Joss Whedon. If you, like me, wondered what might have been had there been more seasons, this is an excellent way to live out that fantasy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Butterflies Note Cards (Stationery) 14 cards and 15 envelopes; Author: Visit Amazon's Peter Pauper Press Page; Review: Gorgeous design! The paper has a heavy weight. Suitable for the most formal of notes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Day The Crayons Quit; Author: Visit Amazon's Drew Daywalt Page; Review: This book is a fun read both for kids and the adults charged with reading to them. Our two year old loves the colors and the childlike drawings and handwriting--it has been enormously helpful in teaching him both his colors as stand-alone nouns, and the idea of color as an adjective describing other nouns. The sophistication of the humor (which is still accessible to children) is a nice break from some of his other books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: I Love You, Little Pumpkin! (Padded Cloth Covers with Lift-the-Flaps); Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Magsamen Page; Review: Adorable lift-the-flap book with great, vibrant pictures, a fun rhyme scheme, some texture fun, and even a mirror! My son loves to lift the flaps and look at the drawings of children and is always thrilled to get to the mirror at the end. The flaps are sturdy and do withstand some toddler abuse.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One, Two...Boo!; Author: Visit Amazon's Kristen L. Depken Page; Review: Very cute book with plenty of flaps to lift. Its emphasis (as you might be able to tell) is counting numbers 1-10. The flaps are fairly durable and most of them are designed with toddler dexterity in mind. Colors are bright and the monsters are not scary.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elmo's Monster Mash (Sesame Street); Author: Naomi Kleinberg; Review: Usually Sesame Street books are right on the nose in terms of being at a developmentally appropriate level, but this one is off. Children at the Elmo loving age want focused scenes and lots of pages to turn. This book is just a few very crowded spreads where all the characters of Sesame Street are pictured in a line across the spread with speech bubbles. The texture is inconsistently applied and only in very small areas (it will be one monster's nose on when spread, but a different monster's nose on the next spread). My son and I read it through once, but he hasn't shown any interest since.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Resume 101: A Student and Recent-Grad Guide to Crafting Resumes and Cover Letters that Land Jobs; Author: Visit Amazon's Quentin J. Schultze Page; Review: Several years ago, I read every resume book on the market. This is the one I chose for my college students. It does an excellent job of mentoring first time job seekers in how to translate their college classroom skills to that first job seeking resume.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Baby Loves Fall!: A Karen Katz Lift-the-Flap Book (Karen Katz Lift-The-Flap Books); Author: Visit Amazon's Karen Katz Page; Review: Another great Karen Katz Lift-the-Flap board book. My two-year old loves these. This one has a developmentally appropriate level of action in each spread, with vibrant colors and flaps that are easy for toddler hands but still durable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Press Here; Author: Visit Amazon's Herve Tullet Page; Review: Adorable book that helps ignite imagination! Great for learning colors and action verbs!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Five Little Pumpkins (Harper Growing Tree); Author: Visit Amazon's Dan Yaccarino Page; Review: This is a great counting book! It's not too scary for younger children, either. Excellent art with an excellent purpose!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Where's Woody? (Disney/Pixar Toy Story) (Pictureback(R)); Author: Visit Amazon's Kristen L. Depken Page; Review: My 2.5 year old son loves this book. It has all of his favorite toy story characters and plenty of study flaps to lift.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Klana Resort Seremban; City: Seremban Seremban District Negeri Sembilan; Review: we holidayed at the klana resort and not klana hotel at nila. these are very different two hotels. The hotel staff were friendly. The pool was huge but it unfortunately not well maintained. The tiles were slippery due to lack of cleaning and the water was greasy and did not smell of chlorine. The waddle pool had lots of leaves and had not be cleaned for days. However, it provided cheap food and the food was nice. the hotel breakfast buffet lacked in varieties and served limited types of goods. The toilet was leaking and the flush tank did not work. This hotel is good for budget holidays; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Everly Resort; City: Melaka Central Melaka District Melaka State; Review: We reserved a family suite as it was four of us. Our room toilet was worn out and we requested to change rooms, the manager was kind enough to show us to two different rooms. However we were not satisfied with the condition of any room but decided to choose one of the rooms as there wasn't much of a choice. The swimming pool was large, and so well and nicely maintained. I loved how we could sit inside the stool like chairs made inside the pool. We were staying in this hotel for a weekend and this hotel is quite famous for its team building seminars. One of these seminars was taking place the same day, and the participants jumped into the pool wearing their tshirts and track suits which were all sweaty and muddy from their activities. There were over 50 or so participants. this totally grossed me out. however we all loved the breakfast buffet, alot of varieties were served. the food quality was excellent. the hotel also provided leaflets of the attractions of Malacca. Another advantage of this hotel is that the beach is just behind the hotel so that it is very easily accessible. It was great value for money. I felt uncomfortable to sleep in this hotel as the sheets looked brown and the quilt was so old. i didn't enjoy staying over night here.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bangi Resort Hotel; City: Bandar Baru Bangi Hulu Langat District Selangor; Review: the pool was so great, the water was so clean and smelled of chlorine. this is the most cleanest swimming pool i have been in. there was also a jacuzzi which was very clean and had warm water and was so relaxing. the lunch buffet was excellent, served local and western food. there were amazing desserts and it all tasted so good. the room was excellent! i felt like i was holidaying in a resort in the Maldives. it was that good! our room had a balcony from which there was a small forest like place. so we kept it locked at all times for safety. the food was however pricey, they served a pumpkin or a mushroom soup for around 25 RM. which i think is quite high. anyway, the hotel is maintained well and is in great condition. " The only thing i didn't like about this hotel was that there was this huge cat walking around and drinking water from the swimming pool, it was getting on to the chairs and playing with the towels and key cards, however several staff walked past this and didn't take any action. i know that it is customary of Malaysians to like cats, but this is a five star hotel. this was the only disappointment for me and my friend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flamingo Hotel by the Beach Penang; City: Tanjung Bungah Penang Island Penang; Review: Penang is such a lovely place to visit! and specially this hotel. We booked it from agoda for three days with breakfast. the breakfast was amazing! it was just so good compared to a four star restaurant. i was so fond of the pool and the jacuzzi, there was a bar near the pool and we could enjoy drinks inside the pool. it was very relaxing. i also liked the deck near the swimming pool. which made it feel very beachy. there lots of palm trees and it felt so cozy. toilets were clean and the bedroom was tidy. however they had joined two single beds in our bedroom when we had requested for a king size bed. this was only the down turn of this holiday. there were alot of attractions nearby and we loved the night life here. There is a restaurant called Tarbush which serves excellent arab food if you are interested. overall this holiday was great and i would definitely consider coming back to this hotel!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cyberview Resort Spa; City: Cyberjaya Sepang District Selangor; Review: We checked in for a one day stay during a public holiday. the hotel was so lovely that i wanted to extend another two days. the pool area was relaxing. we also received free welcome drinks upon arrival. staff were friendly and prompt. we ordered in and the food was okay too. however there were cats roaming around the hotel. maybe due to its large vegetation. overall great stay. loved the room. the bed was so comfortable. i did not like the toilet as it was a bit small and for a five star resort did not include a bath tub. however the balcony was relaxing and huge. the pool area was the best. it had 3 different types of pools. an outside jacuzzi. it was a great stay. breakfast however did not carry many varieties but was not too bad. checking out was a hassle. the staff did not understand English and i was quite disappointed about it. overall great stay. loved the environment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Sakkas Women's Tie Dye Floral Sequin Sleeveless Blouse; Brand: ; Review: The color is as pictured. I have a couple different ones and I love the loose fit, looks great with skirts and jeans. So far the quality seems food to.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WallFlower Juniors High Rise Denim Shorts; Brand: ; Review: 6/27- Below is my first review when I bought the denim ones. I am updating because I bought these in red and while the style is the same the material and sizing are not. I bought size 9 and these are much smaller in red and less stretchy than the denim. Disappointed because they are super cute but too tight. Am going to have to return. These are fabulous. I own about 8 pair of their jeans too. I can't recommend them enough. The quality is great, they wash well and don't shrink (I only partially dry them though) I just ordered another pair of their shorts also.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Retro High Waist Vintage Bikini Set Top+bottom 3 Styles (BLACK POLKA TOP+BLACK BOTTOM, XL (US 10)); Brand: Ninimour; Review: I like this a lot, it fits good. I am a size 8 in women's and a 9 in juniors and 5'11. I got the large because I always buy a size up in bathing suits and it fits pretty good, the top is a tad bit small but I am a D cup. The quality is pretty much what I expected, this is not going to last for years as it's pretty thin but for the price that's ok. I wanted a retro suit and did not want to spend $70 dollars.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: WallFlower Juniors Belted High Waisted Shorts; Brand: ; Review: I bought my regular size and they are too small- wish I had read the reviews before purchasing! Am returning and buying one size up because they are really cute; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Teva Women's Original Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Just got mine and wore for the first time today. I LOVE them!! I do have skinny ankles so after reading other reviews I thought they would ok. Also, I typically wear a 9 1/2-10 but got the 9's and they are perfect. Soooo comfy!! I think if you have a very wide foot these might be a problem but a normal foot should be fine. I got the orange/purple and they are gorgeous. I will be getting more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Teva Women's Original Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Just got mine and wore for the first time today. I LOVE them!! I do have skinny ankles so after reading other reviews I thought they would ok. Also, I typically wear a 9 1/2-10 but got the 9's and they are perfect. Soooo comfy!! I think if you have a very wide foot these might be a problem but a normal foot should be fine. I got the orange/purple and they are gorgeous. I will be getting more.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Made By Johnny MBJ Womens Open Front Draped Knit Shawl Cardigan; Brand: ; Review: Nice quality, runs very small so returned it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ACEVOG Women Vintage Tea Dress Retro Sleeveless Boatneck Swing Dress with Belt; Brand: ACEVOG; Review: This fits perfect, nice quality. I bought a large, am 5'11" and have wide shoulders and wear a D cup.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Getting Real: Ten Truth Skills You Need to Live an Authentic Life; Author: Ph.D. Susan Campbell; Review: If you are open for reflection, learning about yourself and wanting to honor your authentic self this is a thought provoking book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Imperfect Pairings; Author: Visit Amazon's Jackie Townsend Page; Review: A little slow but an interesting perspectives on love and relationships - not a typical love story. Ending - disappointing.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dark Side of the Light Chasers : Reclaiming Your Power, Creativity, Brilliance and Dreams; Author: Visit Amazon's Debbie Ford Page; Review: I highly recommend The Dark Side of the Light Chasers. It has taken several months to read - stopping often to digest & incorporate the learning. I have benefited greatly from Deborah Ford's teaching.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An Order of Coffee and Tears; Author: Visit Amazon's Brian Spangler Page; Review: I enjoyed this story very much. The characters were rich and their lives the same. I especially liked the writing style and the way the author created a bit of intrigue.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Still Life with Bread Crumbs: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Anna Quindlen Page; Review: A little slow but well written.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Black Velvet Coat: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jill G. Hall Page; Review: Rich characters and a special story of love, courage and friendship. An inspiring message for anyone following going after their dream!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Buried Alive (The Buried Trilogy Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Tia Mason Page; Review: Had me from the very first page. Other than a few typos, it was a great read. I am looking forward to book 2.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indelible Love - Emily's Story (Indelible Love Series Book 1) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's D.W. Cee Page; Review: This was a truly amazing love story that had me hooked from the first page. I am thrilled to give this a 5 star rating. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read a nice, romantic, love story. This is not the type of story I usually read, but I thought I would give it a chance and I am so glad I did. I am looking forward to reading Jake's story. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indelible Love - Jake's Story (Indelible Love Series Book 2) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's D.W. Cee Page; Review: I rated Emily's story 5 stars. Maybe if I read Jake's first - he would've gotten 5. It is a truly amazing story no matter which one you read. I am looking forward to more books by this author. Thank you :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House of Justice: A Horror Short Story - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Vincent Bivona Page; Review: I really liked the story, but I wanted more! I understand that it was a short story, but again, I wanted more! I will definitely read more by this author.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gravity (Gravity Series #1) (The Gravity Series) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Abigail Boyd Page; Review: I would give this book a 3.5 if I could. There were a few typos that did not entirely take away from the story. I did get a little confused on the characters in two spots. The first was when the group was together at the haunted house and Ariel was talking about her 4 friends when only 3 were there and the other was at the dance when Ariel met the mom. They were talking and threw a name out there and I thought it was the missing girl and all of a sudden they were yelling a totally different name not even mentioned. I thought this was a really good story and I will read the next in this series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Luminosity (Gravity Series #3) (The Gravity Series) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Abigail Boyd Page; Review: I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Again there were quite a few typos, but nothing that really took away from the story. This is a great story and I am excited to see how it will end. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Emergency: Wife Lost and Found - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Carol Marinelli Page; Review: This book was good. Not my typical kind of story, but I did enjoy it. It was a great story and kept my interest. I would recommend this book and will read more by this author again. Nice job :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Two Worlds (The Bhesar Trilogy Book 1) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's George Ellis Page; Review: This was an amazing story. I truly enjoyed every page! It had me from the first page :). Can't wait to read book 2. The characters were fantastic as well as the story line. Great job George Ellis!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Frank N. Stein; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jennifer Martucci Page; Review: This was such a great story! I was hooked from the first page. I did get the entire series and it is well worth it!!! Thank you for an amazing story :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Failsafe: A post-apocalyptic thriller series (S.W. Tanpepper's GAMELAND Book 2) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Saul Tanpepper Page; Review: I will definitely be reading more from this author. Great story, great read! I enjoyed the entire series. Simply put: Fantastic!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Despicable Ex - Part 1 (The Ashly Roberts Saga) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sierra Rose Page; Review: I really enjoyed this book. There were few typos, nothing that took away from the story. I gave it a 4 star rating because the description of his hair and body were repeated a lot! I think the author could have used different variations of ways to describe his hair and how he looked in his shirts. This is a very good story and I do like to read grown up fairy tales :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Intuition (a bonus Intangible short story) eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jen Meyers Page; Review: This story started out great. You were introduced to the characters and immediately the action started. I will definitely read the next book to follow the story. I gave it 4 stars because I personally would have preferred a little more detail about their family. I am sure you have done that in the upcoming story. I realize you can only put so much in to a short story. I definitely enjoyed it. :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seasons of the Moon Series, Books 1-4; Brand: Visit Amazon's SM Reine Page; Review: This was a fantastic story. I enjoyed all of the characters and the story line. I gave it a 4 star rating because of the typographical errors. Usually I am able to read through them, but in a few spots it was the character that was mismatched. Other than that, I really enjoyed the story :) Thanks for the good read. I will read more by SM Reine and look forward to it!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cat, the Crow, and the Cauldron: A Halloween Anthology - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Joe DeRouen Page; Review: I enjoyed these stories very much. 4 stars because I wanted more! Each story could have easily continued to be something even greater.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fear the Dead; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jack Lewis Page; Review: Definitely a 5 star read. There were a few typos, but nothing too distracting. Great story line. It didn't read like your typical zombie apocalypse book. Really enjoyed it! Thank you Mr. Lewis:). I look forward to book 2.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Read or Not to Read - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Vincent Hobbes Page; Review: I gave this story 4 stars because it was not long enough!! I wanted more. I loved the concept of the story it is like nothing I have read before. This short story kept my attention from beginning to end. Wish it was longer. So many different ways this story could continue. Good job Mr. Hobbes!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Apple Bluetooth Wireless Mighty Mouse; Brand: Apple; Review: I purchased the mighty mouse and gave it a try for about 5 days now. The design of the mouse is very creative, however, it could use improvement. PROS : 1) You can't beat bluetooth, and the battery life on this mouse is excellent. 2) It looks slick! Apple has the right idea and a good concept, but it could use some major improvement. CONS : 1) When right clicking, it tends to stick or not work at times. 2) The tracking speed will need to be set to the highest level if you are running your video in high resolution, such as 1680x1050. Even at the highest setting, I found myself constantly picking up the mouse to reposition it on the mouse pad. I have tried both standard and "special" laser mouse pads with the same results. 3) If you have large hands, hang it up. After 4-5 days of using this mouse, I gave it a chance, but tonight I ran out to storage and dug out my old logitech wireless. In my opinion, the mighty mouse is too thin, and with large hands your mousing hand tends to start cramping up frequently. 4) The side buttons take quite a bit of pressure to activate - to the point that they feel useless. The side buttons should be sensitive enough where as the user shouldn't have to consciously think about using them. As it is, having to apply the pressure typically makes you look at the mouse, then at the screen, then at the mouse to see if something happened - you feel out of control. 5) After being back on my old logitech, for the last half hour, I think I'm going to part with the might mouse. I figure I could return it to Apple, but, I'll eat the shipping costs -- thus, it will likely be sold / auctioned off and let the buyer pay the shipping. OVERALL The mouse looks nice and battery life is great. The mouse constantly makes you feel out of control when you are trying to work -- stiff side buttons, having to pick up and place the mouse, the right click sticking and so on. For someone with large hands, or someone that is use to having precise control over a mouse (such as working with Photoshop) I don't think you are going to be comfortable at all with the mighty mouse. Honestly, I would recommend a good logitech or even (gulp) a microsoft mouse over this model of mighty mouse. Who knows, maybe Apple will come up with an even mighty'r mouse to address the before mentioned issues.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Microsoft M03-00090 Wireless Optical Mouse 5000 High Definition with Tilt Wheel Platinum Mac/Win PS2/USB English; Brand: Microsoft; Review: Ok, I know this must be sacrilege, but I bought the Microsoft 5000 to run on my Mac (gulp) that is running OS/X 10.4.8. For about 15 years I've been a Logitech guy, period. Anyways, I ordered a new mac mini with a mighty mouse, which after about 4 days, I sold on e-bay, it was just too small for my big hands. So, I dug out my old reliable Logitech wireless optical. After 4 days of the mighty mouse, my carpal tunnel was giving me trouble, but worse I found that my old logitech was also cramping my ring and pinky finger (maybe something to do with the new desk I have that changed the angle of my hand). The scroll wheel was getting loud and sticky as well (my old Logitech served me a good 2-3 years). Anyways, I live in a remote area and don't really have the opportunity to drive 2 hours round trip to a computer store such as Circuit City or Best Buy where I typically buy a mouse, after I have handled it. Well, I checked C. City online, and they had the same basic selection as my Local Wal-Mart, thus I scoured the reviews, here on Amazon about the 5000 and decided to run to my Local wally world and pick one up. Figured, if I didn't like it a return wouldn't be a hassle (and unlike CC and Best Buy, no restocking fees). Rest assured, I did take it and a logitech out of their boxes and tested before I made my decision. First, the good news, this morning my wrists and fingers are thanking me. PROS 1) The 5000 has a nice countoured design that fits snugly in an extra large hands with long fingers, a 1/4" longer length and it would be absolutly perfect fitting for the longer fingers. 2) The left and right buttons are very quiet and clicks with absolute ease. 3) I love the smooth, quiet scroll wheel. At first, the mouse did kind of jump a block at a time when scrolling web pages, but I made an adjustment in the software that resolved this into a fluid natural motion. To do this turn ON accelerated scrolling in the Intellimouse software program. 4) The mouse buttons are easily customized for Expose, Finder etc, using OS/X mouse preferences in conjunction with the Intellimouse software. 5) I really like the large (close to the rear) thumb button, I programmed this for expose (and programmed the click wheel for showing the desktop). 6) The contour on the right, snugly supports the ring finger - it is nice to finally have a mouse where all your fingers are on the mouse and the ring and pinky fingers are not touching the top of the mouse pad. There is not much friction on a laser, memory foam or standard rubber mouse pad (I tried all three). 7) A very good mouse for Mac OS/X users who have large hands since it does have software for OS/X (even though you will have to; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: StarTech.com 4-Port PCI 1394a FireWire Adapter Card with Digital Video Editing Kit (PCI1394_4); Brand: StarTech; Review: I recently installed this card on a system running Windows Vista Home Premium. Installing the card and included ulead version 10 software package takes less than 15 minutes. In General First, this is a great value for the price. The card, firewire cable and software is a great starter bundle if you need to transfer video to your computer. Second, the video editing software is very simple to use. Just connect the firewire cable to your camcorder and your ready to rock and roll. The on-screen controls let you view, fast forward, reverse, pause, play and pause your camcorder. Users simply scan through the video to find what they want to capture, then click on Capture Video. From there you move through your miniDV tape to the next section of video, click on Capture and subsequent clips are recorded and stored in a media library on your computer. Once you have a few clips captured, users can easily drag and drop the video clips onto a timeline, insert a handful of transitions, add titles, include background music and perform other basic editing tasks. After the user has finished adding the effects and other touches you can export the video to formats such as mp1, mp2, vcd and so forth. The program also has a Share Online feature that will export your project to a nicely compressed .wmv file that you can upload to youtube or insert into a web page or blog. Considerations Hey, for the price of a complete package, there is nothing much to complain about. However, I want to point out a few things. First, I recommend that if you are using a miniDV camera that you use the cameras video controls to locate what you want to capture then pause the camera. Next, click on the Capture Video button in the program and it will start from the paused location and record until you press Stop Capture. Using the software to control a miniDV camera can be done, but, it is easy to go forward or reverse too much while waiting on the tape. The only other issue that I have, again with the software, is that it doesn't let the user export to .FLV (Flash) or Quicktime formats. As a web developer I prefer the .FLV format since 99% of every personal computer has flash already installed. However, if your only concern is uploading video to youtube, remember, you can upload .wmv files to youtube and it will convert them to flash files when it places them online. The last three issues that I have are with the software and windows Vista. The software that came with the order included Ulead 10 SE. 1. When you run the program, Vista will "downgrade" your display settings (a software update should fix this). 2. I could never get the Auto Update to work. I suggest that after you install the software that you go to uleads support web site and download the updates. If your a novice computer user you may need help downloading and installing the updates from; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ultralast UL-BP511 Canon BP-511 Equivalent Digital Camera Battery; Brand: ULTRALAST; Review: This replacement battery is much better than a canon OEM battery. The day it arrived, I charged it over night, and used it on a commercial shoot. It ran strong and steady for hours on end and still had plenty of charge at the end of the day. I would highly recommend this product for any Canon user.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apple Wireless Keyboard Kit MB167LL/A; Brand: Apple; Review: First, this keyboard, although small, feels just like a full size keyboard. If your new to Apple products, you will love it. Only three exceptions that I noted, the placement of the arrow keys, if your a die hard computer user, it is nearly or just plain impossible to get use to. Second, the delete key, meaning the delete key that deletes a key to the right of your cursor is missing. So, if you get one, remember that you will need to press FN+delete to delete to the right of your cursor. The keys for expose, spaces, etc, have been mapped over the function keys. I really don't care for the press FN, then hunt for the key. If your a long-time mac (or Windows switcher) you may have trouble adjusting to the shortcomings that I noted. It is too bad that Apple doesn't make a full size keyboard, in this new metal design, that is wireless. For now, I returned this item and opted to stick with the old white, full size mac wireless keyboard.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Advanced Car Mount System for Apple iPod Video/Classic/NANO 4th Generation - 360 degrees rotating; Brand: Cellphone Accents; Review: I was really excited to get this in the mail today. I ordered it for my iPhone 3G and just spent about 45 minutes tinkering with this. PROS : 1. Once you get it adjusted to a good station the sound quality is pretty impressive when playing music. CONS : 1. This thing is really too heavy for an iPhone as it creates too much pull on the cigarette lighter. In turn, you will end up having to adjust it all the time if going down a bumpy road. 2. It does not automatically shut off when you turn off the ignition. 3. I spent over 30 minutes trying to get the hands free phone feature to work. The iPhone was on full bars and 4/5 times when I test called from my house line the iphone wouldn't even ring and go straight to voice mail. When it did answer, the music would turn down as advertised, but couldn't hear anything on either the iPhone or the land based phone. 4. Even without a skin on the iPhone, it is a pain in the butt to disconnect the bottom cable from the iPhone. In conclusion, this would make a great cradle and charger for an iPod, but, unless you have a lot of room in your vehicle (I have a small truck) there is really no place to store it when not in use. However, if your planning a long road trip, and it stays in place, this is a great gadget, again for an iPod. I would defiantly NOT recommend this for an iPhone and intend on returning mine for a simple fm transmitter (or just buy an ipod) for playing music and just using my iPhone as a hand held phone or with my bluetooth headset. Tip: If your getting static when playing music, make sure to turn up the volume on your iPod or iPhone. Also, tune your radio to the lowest frequency for best results.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dino-Lite Digital Microscope (USB2.0) 10x~200x Magnification; Brand: Dino-Lite; Review: Disregard all the old 2008 reviews on Amazon. This Dino-Lite will work with Windows 7, Vista, XP and OS/X. The drivers and application can be found at [...] Again, all of the reviews for this device are VERY old and Dino-Lite is owned by a different company that constantly update their drivers and software. This device is not a toy, rather, it is manufactured by the same company that manufactures microscopes and digital microscopic devices for doctors and hospitals. May, 12th, 2010; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Manhattan Products Digital Power Supply Tester; Brand: Manhattan; Review: I think that the other reviewers have done a great job already. I just wanted to throw in a couple notes. The manual (I should say mini-guide) that comes with the tester provides a reference table of voltages but doesn't really show you how to test the power supply. For example, it doesn't tell you that you will need to connect the motherboard power connector otherwise you will get an alarm. For those needing more instructions on how to use a power tester check out this page... Note: I've used this on several BESTEC power supplies, found in a lot of new dells, all the readings will show correctly, however, the PS will still be bad. The only way you can actually tell of it is the BESTEC is pop in a spare power supply and fire up the board. [...] Good luck, and happy computing!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cables Unlimited USB-2110 USB 2.0 to IDE and SATA Adapter Cable with Power; Brand: Cables Unlimied; Review: I'm a 22+ year veteran at building and repairing systems from Windows based pc's to macs and all flavors of laptops. I must say that this is an invaluable device to have in your toolkit. I originally purchased it to back up data off of laptop drives. However, a few months back I had a mac mini drive with the "tick of death" that would not boot (nor could I access the data) after trying the old freezer trick and various disk utilities. I attached the drive to another mac via this device and was able to copy the data files off without a hitch. Although I never could repair the tick of death at least the data was recovered. Tip: If you do repair work, but don't happen to have a mac, you can easily attach the drive and fire up a linux boot cd which will read the file system of the drive and imhop much faster than configuring the network card, etc, for data transfer. Everyone seems to complain about the manual, however, I found some tips posted on a site after a google search that a third party suggested (don't recall where, just google for it). Charging a bit extra for "data recovery" on one repair job will easily pay for this device. More importantly, if you can recover a set of family photos off of a clients dying drive -- their gratefulness is priceless.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PNY OPTIMA 512MB DDR 400 MHz PC3200 Desktop DIMM Memory Module MD0512SD1-400; Brand: PNY; Review: Ordered this for a client's XP machine to give it a performance boost. Nearly doubled the systems speed when running XP. Came in retail packaging. Overall a great product for the price because I have Amazon Prime which made for a better savings than Crucial this time around.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Roku 2 XD Streaming Player 1080p (Old Version); Brand: Roku; Review: Don't waste your time comparing other brands, just compare Roku Models. RCA, Sony, their all junk. Roku is the only company that gets their product right.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Assembly LCD Touch Screen for iPod Touch 4g; Brand: Generic; Review: I purchased this from, QUAD-G TECH, that was fulfilled by Amazon. These assemblies can come from different manufacturers so you may get a bad one from one company and a great one from another. The one I received from QUAD-G TECH worked flawlessly. It had great color contrast. I own a shop and repair at least a dozen+ a month along with other i* devices. In the past, I've ordered from a wholeseller where 4 in 10 would be DOA. After that experience, I order all of my screens via Amazon in the event that I ever get a defective part there are no return hassles. I typically order from TheOemPlanet, here on Amazon, and now adding QUAD-G TECH to my list of sellers. I suggest if you get a good screen, in your reviews write the name of the company it came from -- the same with the defective screen. Base on this buyers can choose which seller to purchase it from. Again, Amazon sellers get their products from different factories in China. Based on this, I'm rating the specific one that I got from QUAD-G TECH.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toshiba TS776425 Laptop DC Power Jack for Satellite C650, L505, L505D Series; Brand: Toshiba; Review: Worked flawlessly. Just wish every laptop manufacture would go with a plug in style adapter vs soldered in adapters. This was solder free and a piece of cake to install.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Laptop AC Adapter Charger for Dell PA-10 PA-1900-02D [Electronics]; Brand: SIB; Review: I order these as replacements for customers at my pc repair shop. So far, none have failed in 8 months. The only thing it lacks is a green power on led found on OEM adapters. These are produced in China, in high volume, it's not impossible that you might get one DOA (or anything else from china for that fact), but so far I've lucked out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Intocircuit AC Adapter Battery Charger For Asus K53e U46e U56e K52f X53u K53u K501 K50ij K53 X54l U50f K53sv K50i; Brand: Intocircuit; Review: A great product and inexpensive replacement vs OEM. Connector has a great fit and the unit doesn't seem to run hot like others I've purchased for various laptops.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Toshiba Pa3536U-1Brs Replacement Laptop/Notebook Battery; Brand: Shopforbattery; Review: Worked for a few months. After that, if the battery is installed it will not charge, simulate hardware failures (at first you would suspect your ram) and in my case sometimes will completely stop the laptop from powering on. After removing the battery the laptop has ran without issue for days on end. The problem with less-expensive batteries is finding out where to RMA them.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: MoKo ASUS MeMO Pad HD 7 ME173X Case; Brand: MoKo; Review: Nice finish. Feels good and durable in the hands. The folding stand is great when I need to look over electronics teardowns / videos while it sits on my workbench. Was expecting the HD 7 to auto power on / off when the case is opened and closed -- won't do it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: WIFI Bluetooth Signal Antenna Flex Cable Compatible With iPad 2 - All Repair Parts USA Seller; Brand: Guangzhou Weifeng Trade Co.,Ltd; Review: Worked fine. Had to bend the cable between the screw hole and antenna a bit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Teenitor New White iPad 2 Digitizer Touch Screen Front Glass Assembly; Brand: Ulike; Review: This is the one you want. It has black adhesive for a firm hold. Don't buy the ones with 3M adhesive.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PROMAXI US Replacement Flex Cable Wifi Antenna Parts for Apple iPad 2 2Gen; Brand: PROMAXI; Review: Worked as described.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TP-Link N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender (TL-WA850RE); Brand: TP-LINK; Review: Easy to setup, excellent range. Small footprint compared to a secondary (say ASUS) router in repeater mode. Actual range about 25-35' depending on interior.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mimi® Touchscreen Replacement for Apple iPad 2 Model A1395, A1396, A1397 Touch Screen + Digitizer + Home Button; Brand: MiMi; Review: Worked as described. Re-Enforce it by using red tape along the plastic bevel to prevent any lifting.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Replacement Screen for White iPad Mini Touch Screen Digitizer IC Chip Home Button and Flex Cable Assembly WiFi or Cellular; Brand: MiMi; Review: It's not unusual to get a defective part so I'm not going to hammer this with a one star (if I had ordered 2 or more and they had been defective, then yes). The one I ordered did have the copper vs aluminum around the inside glass. You will need Kapton tape during the installation across the bottom contacts and to wrap the ic (if you fail to do this you will get screen jumping) The left third of the digitizer stopped responding after about 2-3 days. Returned.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: AS Rock FX Socket AM3 Plus NVIDIA GeForce 7025 A V GbE Micro ATX Motherboard N68C-GS FX; Brand: ASRock; Review: An economical replacement board. Nice and roomy and the pwr/reset/,etc cables are easy to read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable - 9.8 Feet (3 Meters) Supports Ethernet, 3D, 4K and Audio Return; Brand: AmazonBasics; Review: Works Great! Don't pay high prices at big box stores. This is the cable you want. I use them on 23" LED displays on my computer and one on my LED television. Great product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TRENDnet N300 Wireless High Power Easy-N Range Stand Alone Wi-Fi Extender, TEW-736RE; Brand: TRENDnet; Review: This is a nice small range wifi extender/repeater. Plays well with Roku. With a straight shot inside expect to place it about 20' max from your main router - this will give you about a 40' radius. Not bad for the $20 range. For longer range routers, I use ASUS RT-N12's (around $35). You will want a computer to update the firmware and properly set it up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Touch Screen Digitizer for Apple iPad 2 Black - Includes Small Parts (A1395, A1397, A1396); Brand: Group Vertical; Review: I've ordered a few of these and they work well. They come pre-installed with "black" adhesive vs the cheap 3M. I've only had one that the adhesive seemed old, and without tact, unusual, but I sent it back. I did have to use a spudger tip to wiggle the front camera bracket into place. Overall, for the price, this is a good product. Even as an experienced technician I keep extra wifi antennas, mid-frames, and power cables on hand (there are two types of cables, older than 2011 and newer than 2011, so check your device EMC). I also suggest adding a bit of extra "red" tape to ensure the glass will set well, a bit of heat to speed curing, then clamp (or turn over the ipad on a flat surface with some books evenly spread) for 12-24 hours for a solid adhesion. It's going to be the best you can find somewhere like Amazon in a pinch if you don't have a high-end parts source.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Etre Jeune BO-N1557 Earbuds Headphones Bluetooth, Earphone Stereo Sound + Built-In Microphone + Volume Control, Yellow; Brand: Etre Jeune; Review: Even though the description says it doesn't work on Yosemite, I didn't have any issues. I've ran it on Mavericks, Yosemite and El Capitan on both Mac's and personal hackintosh systems. After getting lots of signal drops with El Capitan I ended up buying a TP-LINK TL-WN822N. Although not compact, the TP-LINK has a far superior signal, no drops and auto-reconnects to your wireless when El Capitan boots.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: RVOUSA_iPad 2 2nd Power On/Off Volume Control Flex Ribbon Cable (2012 Version); Brand: RVOUSA; Review: Worked like a charm. I've put a lot of these in from various manufacturers. This has more adhesive tack than what I've used before -- not perfect, but, way better. iPad 2 has two different cables depending on the model. There is a pre-2011 cable and this, 2011 and newer. Be sure to check your model number and order the correct one. I also suggest ordering at least 2, these are made in high production runs and not uncommon that one may be defective, and very delicate and easy to rip.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 12in LP4 to 2x SATA Power Y Cable Adapter - Molex to to Dual SATA Power Adapter Splitter; Brand: StarTech; Review: These are ok. Every set I buy though the molex pins tend to be loose. Tip: right out of the package add some hot craft glue to the bottom of the molex and cables to help hold them in place.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: StarTech.com MU6MM 6 feet 3.5mm Stereo Audio Cable - M/M; Brand: StarTech; Review: This have been very durable and have provided very high quality results. They don't feel cheap.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TP-Link TL-WN722N N150 High Gain USB Wireless WiFi network Adapter for PC; Brand: TP-LINK; Review: This is my second TP-Link Adapter (previously the N adapter). I've been running the N version for a good while without issues. Just installed the new AC1200 model today. *ALERT* for MAC and Hackintosh Users : Problems: 1. The driver on the CD DOES NOT WORK on El Capitan. 10.11.6 2. The installer on the CD will not let you choose the installation destination. 3. The old "Wireless Utility", if your using the N version will not work. Solution: 1. First download the latest drivers from TP-Link's website. 2. Next, you need to remove the old TP-Link "Wireless Utility" and shutdown- and unplug the old TP-Link (N). 3. Plug in the TP-Link AC1200. Start up the system. 4. Run the latest TP-Link installer that you download from the website. Note the "Wireless Utility" is no longer in the Applications folder. Instead, the wireless driver is in the top right of your Mac's screen (next to volume/date/time, etc. Hope this helps anyone having issues.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: LG Electronics 8x USB 2.0 Portable Slim DVDARW External Drive, Black (GP40NB40); Brand: LG; Review: I purchased this drive to fresh install Windows 7 on a Toshiba laptop. During the installation I kept getting a windows 7 0xc00000e9 error meaning that the drive was dipping power causing I/O errors. I tried all of the USB ports. In addition, if a laptop has a bad drive, you will have to pull the internal dvd drive out before you can boot with this drive. The drive works, however, it becomes flaky when you try to do a Windows OS installation. The manual suggests buying a Y adapter, but, that defeats the purpose of a single cable drive. Alternatively, I plugged in an AC powered USB adapter and attached plain-jane SATA DVD drive and Windows installed just fine. In the long run I would recommend purchasing an AC powered USB adapter/drive, or buying a usb drive that has 2 usb ports - and/or using a powered hub. Again, the drive works, but, you may end up buying a Y adapter if you want to install Windows. Item was returned the next day.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cable Matters 2-Pack, Gold Plated 3.5mm Stereo Audio Cable in Black 3 Feet; Brand: Cable Matters; Review: This have been very durable and have provided very high quality results. They don't feel cheap.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MMOBIEL Digitizer for iPad 2; Brand: MMOBIEL; Review: Works as described. I highly recommend using some "red tape" to re-enforce the screen adhesiveness, otherwise you will need to let it cure face down with a book on top (or clamps) for at least 72 hours.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: TP-Link Wireless High Gain USB Network Adapter; Brand: TP-LINK; Review: This is my second TP-Link Adapter (previously the N adapter). I've been running the N version for a good while without issues. Just installed the new AC1200 model today. *ALERT* for MAC and Hackintosh Users : Problems: 1. The driver on the CD DOES NOT WORK on El Capitan. 10.11.6 2. The installer on the CD will not let you choose the installation destination. 3. The old "Wireless Utility", if your using the N version will not work. Solution: 1. First download the latest drivers from TP-Link's website. 2. Next, you need to remove the old TP-Link "Wireless Utility" and shutdown- and unplug the old TP-Link (N). 3. Plug in the TP-Link AC1200. Start up the system. 4. Run the latest TP-Link installer that you download from the website. Note the "Wireless Utility" is no longer in the Applications folder. Instead, the wireless driver is in the top right of your Mac's screen (next to volume/date/time, etc. Hope this helps anyone having issues.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Generic white Touch Screen Digitizer Assembly for Ipad 2 -Includes Home Button ,Adhesive and Tools; Brand: Generic; Review: Works as described. I highly recommend using some "red tape" to re-enforce the screen adhesiveness, otherwise you will need to let it cure face down with a book on top (or clamps) for at least 72 hours. I have a ton of pro tools -- however, the suction cup that comes with this is really durable and less prone to melting from a heat gun. Handy for other projects.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ArctiClean 60ml Kit (includes 30ml ArctiClean 1 and 30ml ArctiClean 2); Brand: ArctiClean; Review: A must have for any computer repair shop. Makes it easy to clean cpu's and heatsink assemblies. Just wish they made industrial size bottles.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: New 15.6" Laptop LED LCD Screen with Glossy Finish and HD WXGA 1366 x 768 Resolution for Compaq Presario; Brand: Acer; Review: Crisp clear display. Takes about 10-15 minutes to unpack and install.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rankie Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable, Supports Ethernet, 3D, 4K and Audio Return, 6 Feet; Brand: Rankie; Review: Works well. Used it to connect a tablet with a mini hdmi port to a tv & projector standard hdmi port. Faster than wireless mirroring.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: MthsTec USB 3.0 Slim External DVD Burner/Writer CD Drive for Laptops and Desktops (Windows 10 Compatible) – White; Brand: MthsTec; Review: A must have if you need to reinstall Windows on systems without built in drives. Esp handy on Windows tablets that have a usb port - but, no recovery partition.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3-Axis Inertia Gyro Stabilizer w/Remote Control Holder Clip Grip Handle Stabilizer Gimbal Compatible with GoPro Hero 6 5 4; Brand: fantaseal; Review: Inexpensive, light and great quality. Ive been using it frequently with a GoPro. Although not as good as a gimble it isn't bulky and helps with stabilization. Its also possible to get shots at night when you brace against a tree, light pole or other sturdy object. On a side note: The first night I used it (last Saturday) I had my GoPro attached, and in my lap was playing back photos (in my car) while waiting on a burger at a Hardees drive through. As I was about to exit the parking lot I was surrounded at gunpoint by county deputies - yeah the real deal - around 15 showed up. The jackass working the drivethru called and reported A man at the drive thru with a gun LOADING bullets. Just beware the grip and a GoPro may cause delusions or hallucinations in those only familiar with firearms from television and/or crack heads.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fantaseal Ergonomic Action Camera Hand Grip Mount w/Smartphone Clip Compatible with GoPro Grip GoPro Holder for GoPro Hero 7 6; Brand: fantaseal; Review: Inexpensive, light and great quality. Ive been using it frequently with a GoPro. Although not as good as a gimble it isn't bulky and helps with stabilization. Its also possible to get shots at night when you brace against a tree, light pole or other sturdy object. On a side note: The first night I used it (last Saturday) I had my GoPro attached, and in my lap was playing back photos (in my car) while waiting on a burger at a Hardees drive through. As I was about to exit the parking lot I was surrounded at gunpoint by county deputies - yeah the real deal - around 15 showed up. The jackass working the drivethru called and reported A man at the drive thru with a gun LOADING bullets. Just beware the grip and a GoPro may cause delusions or hallucinations in those only familiar with firearms from television and/or crack heads.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Professional Quality 3.5-Inch Universal Hard Drive Mounting Bracket Adapter for 5.25-Inch Bay BRACKET with 8 Mounting screws; Brand: iMBAPrice; Review: Inexpensive and easy to install. Great for adding a shiny new SSD to a tired system. For the price grab a spare. These also tend to show up as Amazon Add-ons, so add them to your Save for Later cart if you're not ordering today.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Julius Studio 160LED Camera Light Kit, Including; Brand: Julius Studio; Review: These look exactly like the lights made by Neewer, but lack an AC connection. Ill probably return these and order a set made by Neewer or another brand that runs on both batteries and AC. A portable power pack and AC would last longer and be more economical in the long run. The little tripods seem to be built solid, but the housing is the average cheap China plastic. When shopping for lighting be sure to check the specs and ask questions - example one brand I saw stated no batteries required, but, also had no AC jack.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: I racconti dei Vedovi Neri; Author: Isaac Asimov; Genres: mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, fantasy, fiction; Review: Eccezionale! Fantastic! Geniale!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lord of the Rings: The Art of The Two Towers; Author: Gary Russell; Genres: paranormal, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: A panoramic view on the arts of the film... with scratch, designs and in-work suggestions.... Good book to read and view! :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Art of The Lord of the Rings; Author: Gary Russell; Genres: comics, paranormal, graphic, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: A panoramic view on the arts of the film... with scratch, designs and in-work suggestions.... Good book to read and view, like the others 2! :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lord of the Rings: The Art of The Fellowship of the Ring; Author: Gary Russell; Genres: paranormal, non-fiction, fantasy, fiction; Review: A panoramic view on the arts of the film... with scratch, designs and in-work suggestions.... Good book to read and view! :) Hobbit costumes WOW! :P; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart; Author: Randall Wallace; Genres: history, mystery, thriller, crime, paranormal, biography, historical fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, romance, fiction; Review: Remember this book... always a good book (Braveheart it's a good movie too :D); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cipì; Author: Mario Lodi; Genres: children, fiction; Review: Mi pare vagamente di averlo letto alle elementari, ricordo Cipi e che ci appassionava alquanto :); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | goodreads |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Boss - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Abigail Barnette Page; Review: Another author with another book that ends part way through the story. I want to know how it ends, but not enough to buy into the installment publishing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Their One and Only - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Trista Ann Michaels Page; Review: Story was pretty good. But the avalanche of errors was very distracting. There is almost one error for every page. Usually it's the wrong word being used. But there are also a couple of spelling errors and punctuation issues. The personalities of the twins kept getting switched around. Spell check is NOT enough. Even just a read through, before publishing, should have caught most of these. Very disappointed.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Reestrian Mates: The Complete Series (Sci-Fi Alien Romance) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Sue Mercury Page; Review: I liked the characters and setting of these stories. However, the storylines were too abrupt. Boy meets girl, they like what they see, now they are mated for life. That's it. No real conflict or resolution. There's no getting to know each other, just lust, quickly followed by a mating, which results in an instant HEA, because they now are in love forever. Just left me wanting an actual story.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taught to Serve - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jaye Peaches Page; Review: Not a bad story. I was entertained. Would have liked to be a little more invested in the characters. Didn't feel like the reader really got to know them. This is definitely a spanking themed book. Not many other BDSM aspects. However, they are mentioned in passing (such as nipple clamps and toys). The book seemed like a Victorian style spanking romance, but it was in a contemporary setting. If you like that kind of feel, you will probably enjoy this book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: DISCIPLINE (The Billionaire's Rules, Book One) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kelly Favor Page; Review: I'm only reading these pieces of a book because they are available on Kindle Unlimited. Otherwise, I would not pay money to buy them. At last count, I think they are about 14 pieces to this book. It's been, basically, broken into chapters. So word of warning, don't spend money on the first chapter. Find it as a complete "series" or don't bother. You'll end up spending way too much for the different pieces.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TROUBLE (The Billionaire's Rules, Book 9) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kelly Favor Page; Review: This is book 9 of a never ending series of pieces of one book. Each "book" is basically a chapter out of, what should be, one book. To make matters worse, the storyline is starting to drag out into a comedy of disasters. The embattled couple keeps hitting roadblock after roadblock. At this point, they are married. But between their own relationship issues and outside forces, they barely get to spend much time together. The author seems to think that the "conflict" portion of the story needs to keep being added to, without ever coming to the "resolution". At this point there are, at least, five "conflicts" happening simultaneously with no resolutions in sight.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: CHERISH (The Billionaire's Rules, Book 12) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kelly Favor Page; Review: So here in Book 12, we have the abrupt end to Ivy and Cullen's story. And then, we start a whole new story with Laine and Brandon. No break, no explanation. Just in the middle of the book, we completely switch gears. Now all of the sudden we're following the story of Ivy's cousin. Seriously bazaar.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: FREE (The Billionaire's Rules, Book 16) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Kelly Favor Page; Review: Books 12.5 thru 16 are Lanie and Brayden's story. This one was much better than the first 12.5 books for Ivy and Cullen. This one had a much more concise story arc. If it wasn't broken up into pieces, I would have given it 4 stars. Still not sure why the author decided to start their story in the middle of book 12. I may continue to read some of the authors work through Kindle Unlimited. However, I will never purchase her books unless they are offered as complete books, and not broken up into chapters that are each sold separately. (If you put all of books 1 through 12 together they'd be about as long as a Harlequin romance.); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Suzie and the Alien - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Lili Zander Page; Review: Not much of any emotional connection between the main characters. The sex scenes were pretty imaginative, but I missed the emotion.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: VIVO Grey 500 ft Bulk Cat5e Ethernet Cable/Wire UTP Pull Box 500ft Cat-5e (CABLE-V002); Brand: VIVO; Review: I've read about CCA cables and have seen mostly negative things about them. However, I've tested this alongside 1-25ft pure-copper CAT5E cables and haven't seen any differences in performance or resistance ratings. I have not tested PoE yet since I do not have any PoE equipment. Pros - Very affordable, great for low budgets or for teaching purposes. - Despite being CCA, I have not had any issues with this cable. (Longest pull I made so far is 25ft) Cons - The cardboard box is flimsy. The handle broke almost immediately. - The shade of the color stripes is very faint making it difficult to sort the wires.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mediasonic HW180STB HomeWorx HDTV Digital Converter Box with Media Player Function, Dolby Digital and HDMI Out (Old Version); Brand: Mediasonic; Review: Decent quality tuner with HDMI. I haven't had any major issues with this tuner though there have been some small ones. - Sometimes when I turn it on, after the loading screen is done, it will go to a plain green screen until I turn it off and on again. A minor inconvenience, though the startup time is kinda slow. - The tuner seems to run very hot, even when it's off/in standby. This is in a fairly cool basement (~70 degrees). - The AV cables are very bad quality. I immediately tossed them into my scrap wire box. For an occasional use tuner where you want/need HDMI, I would recommend this one. If you're going to use the tuner everyday and do not want any hassles, I'd recommend finding a higher quality one.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: GMYLE Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Case, (R) Folio Case 360 for Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 N8000; Brand: GMYLE; Review: I have this case for my iPad and it works pretty good. That's why I decided to buy the same case for my Note 10.1. I haven't been disappointed aside from one flaw. It does not work in the portrait orientation unlike my iPad. It will barely stand up on the two closest slats. If you touch anywhere above the support, the tablet will fall down. Otherwise this case is great. Good quality, good styling and good price. Note: I have the SCH-i925, the LTE model and it fits perfectly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Foscam C1 HD 720P WiFi Security IP Camera with iOS/Android App, Super Wide 115° Viewing; Brand: Foscam; Review: Pros: * Great value * Good picture quality * Compact design * Powered by USB Cons: * Web interface which requires installation of a proprietary plugin in order to use. It does NOT work on Chrome (Which is the most popular browser right now) and does not work on mobile browsers. * Broken password system. In the initial setup on the web interface, it blindly accepts any password you set regardless of whether or not it violates the password rules. Only later on will it cause issues (Not being able to login except through the web interface). This caused an hour of frustration until I finally figured out what went wrong. After changing the password to something "acceptable", the camera works great. However, it is still very frustrating to set a password because of the length rules (6-12 chars). * If you connect the camera to your mobile app and then reset the camera, you will be out of luck if you do not have a PC. The mobile app will error out saying "Cannot connect to cloud" after having entered the WiFi password to which the camera will connect. You will not be able to finish setting up the camera through your mobile device. Instead you will have to figure out the IP address to the camera and login through the web interface. * The listing says it includes a network cable. There was none included. * Broken English in some areas: IE, the voice notice for activating Push-Button WPS says "WPS Acti-Vih-Cated" instead of just "activated".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: ELP 1280720p 1.0 Megapixel Mini IP Camera,Mini Hidden Network Camera,Onvif; Brand: ELP; Review: Pros: * Good build quality * Removable cables (Requires removing the back cover, but that's just two screws away) * Good image quality * 12V Power supply included (The item listing is vague on whether or not this is included) * Removable lens * iSpy detected the camera right away. No hassle at all with configuring the URL. Cons * Not weather resistant (A rubber/silicone gasket between the back cover and frame would likely fix this) * Not fully ONVIF compliant. I was only able to change the timezone and network settings through ODM (I didn't use their included software). Attempting to change other settings results in an error. * Web interface uses a deprecated plugin that is unsupported on all modern browsers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Neewer 2.5mm Wide Angle 170 Degree Replaceable Camera Lens for Gopro Hero 2; Brand: Neewer; Review: Fits the ELP 720P Mini IP Camera perfectly. Definitely worth it if your camera is in a tight location and you want a bigger picture.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Etekcity Wireless Doorbell Operating at 1000-feet with Plug-in Receiver, Battery-Powered Receiver and Push Button, 52 Chimes, White (1-1); Brand: Etekcity; Review: Great range, loud tone however there are WAY TOO MANY doorbell tones. If you want just a normal doorbell tone (Not music), then only press the tone change button up to 4 times. After that, you'll have to press it 50 more times to get past the plethora of obnoxious musical tones. Unplugging it will not reset it, you'll start exactly where you left off.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dell Venue 8 7000 Android Tablet (16GB); Brand: Dell; Review: It took me several low end tablets to convince me to invest in a high end one. The Galaxy Tab 4, Note 10.1 and Kindle Fire HDX 7 are all nice tablets but they each have major downfalls which lead me to seek a replacement. I wanted good performance, good software and a good price. The Dell Venue meets all three criterion. Form: The Dell Venue has a very unique form factor and not necessarily for the better. The obviously designers sacrificed ergonomics for aesthetics. The thin bezels make it very awkward to hold, let alone with the lack of a "top" to the tablet. This also makes it very difficult to use any of the 4 cameras this tablet has. You'll constantly find that you're covering one as you're trying to orientate your grip in a way that is comfortable and able to reach the appropriate camera buttons. Despite these flaws, the overall experience of the tablet is very good. Display: I am a huge fan of the OLED display technology. That is one major reason why I chose the Dell over competitors such as the Nexus 9 and the Shield K1. Those two latter tablets have superior performance but I couldn't pass up an 8.4" OLED! These types of displays have beautiful (Though usually over-saturated) colors are very efficient and have unlimited contrast ratio. Cameras: They're passable, but don't expect to be impressing anyone with the image quality. The "Real Sense 3D" feature is laughable. The exposure adjustments seem very artificial and unconvincing. Though I do hope this technology matures. I would like to see this feature in phones in the future. The awkwardly placed front facing camera is just that, awkward. The quality is ok, for a tablet. Speakers: The front facing speakers provide very rich sound. It's an awesome departure from the tinny and weak sounding speakers of previous tablets I've used. However these speakers are hindered by the fact that they're both on the same side of the tablet, the bottom. Nearly all videos you watch are widescreen. This means you'll rotate the tablet to landscape and all of the sound will be coming from one side. Software: As of this review, the current version of Android is 5.1. It's quite a clean version of Android with little skinning and proprietary software by Dell. I do hope Dell will update it to 6.0. Performance: What I wanted in terms of performance was a tablet that can match the performance of my phone, a Galaxy Note 4. The Dell scores roughly 10% slower than my phone. A respectable gap when you consider that costs significantly less than my phone. Battery: The Venue packs a 21Wh (~5500mAh assuming its 3.8v) battery. Which is a good sized battery for this tablet. It also charges fairly quickly. So far I haven't had any issues with battery life. Other thoughts: The bottom of the tablet (Where you'll most likely be holding it) is where the mainboard of the tablet is located. This means its also the area that will warm up as; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: HP-Compaq Genuine 432320-001 146 GB 10000 RPM SAS 2.5 Inches Hot Plug Hard Drive. New Bulk Pack. In Stock.; Brand: HP; Review: I ordered two of these drives. After 2 months, they're still running strong.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BlueRigger Digital Optical Audio Toslink Cable (3 feet); Brand: BlueRigger; Review: Don't fall for the marketing hype of more expensive cables. This cable will perform exactly the same as the most expensive cable you can find. The data is transmitted in digital optical form, so cable quality means nothing. All that matters is that the data reaches its destination. As for this cable itself. I've been using for 4 months now without any issue.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: AudioQuest - NRG-X3 (6FT, 15A); Brand: AudioQuest; Review: I am in awe of the blatant disregard for common sense in this product. An exotic power cord will do absolutely nothing to improve the performance of your audio, video or computer equipment. Even if their claims of improving power "quality" were true, you would have to rewire your building with this cabling (Non-code of course) all the way up to the transformer. As long as your building is properly grounded, and your C13 cable is 14 gauge or bigger, there should be no issues. Invest your money in better equipment, not exotic power and digital cables.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Dash Cam, Z-Edge Dual Lens Car Camera, Car Video Recorder for Vehicles Front and Rear Dvr, 5.0 Inch; Brand: Z-EDGE; Review: There ZeroEdge Z2 leaves much to be desired in terms of video quality and user friendliness. Over all, it's a decent dash cam that does its job fairly well. However, there are many faults with it that lead me to only give it three stars. PROS: > If you know your car well and have had previous experience with running cables, installation is pretty easy. > The head unit looks pretty sleek and doesn't necessarily take up much room. > The mirror hasn't caused any issues with glare from headlights shining from behind during nighttime driving. > The cameras are quite good at picking up details in low light. > Includes 16GB Card and a 2-port USB car charger. > The big 5" screen is really nice, especially considering so many other cameras have tiny screens. > The rear camera is decent quality, definitely good for capturing video of tailgaters and other incidents behind you. > The dashcams built-in battery for the parking monitor is generously sized and appears to have a good lifetime. CONS > The button interface is rather unfriendly. All of the buttons have unlabeled functions which you have to remember, otherwise you won't be able to operate the dash cam. > The video quality is ok, but it's not as good as some of the other cameras of similar prices. In order to read a license plate that is further than ~10ft away, you have to take a photo, which isn't easy especially while driving. In order to take a photo, you have to 1) Wake the dashcam 2) Stop recording, 3) Change the mode to photo, 4) Press the OK/Record button to take photo, 5) Change mode back to video (Which requires two button presses since you have go past the preview option to get back to video recording). This of course means there will be a significant gap in the video of an incident you want to record. > The head unit can create significant FM radio interference when on. This affected my old car, a 2001 Impala however does not affect my new car, a 2014 Volt. > The backup camera is neat, but useless during the daytime since the LCD is not bright enough to be easily seen. > The SD Card slot is on the top, which makes removing and replacing it rather difficult. It would be better to have it on the left side that way you do not have to readjust your mirror each time you want to save some videos to your computer. > The rear cameras video feed cannot be flipped. If your only choice is to mount the camera upside down, you will be stuck with the image being upside down too. I drive a hatchback car and there was no way to mount the camera but upside down. (Of course, you can drill a hole through your car to mount it outside, but most people aren't willing to do that to expensive new cars. > The parking monitor does not work properly when you have always-on power; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spy Tec Mini USB Dash Cam 10 Foot Hardwire Kit with Mini USB for Dash Cam A119 A119S G1W G1WS; Brand: Spy Tec; Review: When I got my DDPai M6 Plus, I wanted to use its parking monitor feature, but the internal battery only lasts ~5 minutes. I needed a constant power supply and a hardwire kit was my only option. So far this kit is working great. It's in my daily driver car, so I haven't been able to test the battery drain protection, but I trust that it's functional. It fits perfectly in my 2014 Volt. There's a metal piece near the fuse box, that leads to ground, and the location of the fuse box makes for hiding the wires perfectly. The product image doesn't show it, but the ground wire has a fork terminal on it which made for easy installation!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Google Nexus 9 Case - Poetic Google Nexus 9 Case [Revolution Series] - [Heavy Duty] [Dual Layer] [Screen; Brand: Poetic; Review: The case fits the tablet fine, but the buttons are extremely difficult to press.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: BV-Tech 5 Port PoE+ Switch (4 PoE+ Ports | 1 Uplink Port) – 65W – 802.3af/at – POE-SW501; Brand: BV-Tech; Review: I'm using this to power two RLC-420 IP Cameras. So far no issues! I love the integrated power supply as I have this switch mounted onto my garage wall. That's one less thing to anchor down. The metal enclosure is also a plus as it adds durability. Thoughts: The LED indicators are not organized very intuitively.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reolink IP PoE Security Camera 4 Megapixels Super HD 2560x1440 Audio Support Dome Outdoor Indoor IR Night Vision Motion Detection; Brand: REOLINK; Review: I've setup and used several IP Cameras from Foscam, GW Security, ELP and a few others. I've never given any of their cameras 5-star reviews, usually due to headaches with setup or performance. However, the RLC-420 has so far earned my 5-star recommendation. Pros: * DHCP enabled by default, ONVIF detects it right away. You can plug in all of your cameras out of the box and not have address conflicts. * Doesn't require proprietary software to access the web interface. Uses flash instead of HTML5. but still much preferred over suspicious proprietary programs. * Great image and audio quality. * PoE enabled, option of 12v. * Fully compatible with iSpy. * Easy installation. Cons: * Cable bundle cannot be easily detached from the camera. I had to drill a 3/4" hole to fit the large ethernet receptacle through my walls. However this cable bundle is much more low profile than on other cameras I've used. * Viewing Angle could be better. 80 is ok but I would've went for 120 if it were available. Note 1: The ethernet receptacle on my two RLC-420's was much more low profile, and circular, unlike some of the ones pictured in reviews. Reolink must've improved their receptacles since those reviews! Note 2: I've connected my two RLC-420's to this PoE switch [url] .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Corsair Air Series AF120 Performance Edition Twin Pack Fan; Brand: Corsair; Review: These fans have made a small increase in cooling performance when compared to the stock fans on my 240mm water cooler. One complaint I have is that these a bit louder and have a loud rattle noise when they first spin up.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reolink RLC-410WS 4MP Super HD 2.4/5Ghz Dual Band Wi-Fi Wireless Security IP Camera, Fixed Bullet with 16GB Micro SD; Brand: REOLINK; Review: This is the third Reolink camera I've bought. As expected, it's a no-nonsense camera that is a breeze to setup and use. Pros: * Great image quality. * Easy setup. No proprietary software needed. Just plug it in, get the IP address and open up its internal webpage. (Note: It will acquire an IP from your DHCP server, unlike other cameras that use their own static addresses) * Good build quality except for the servos (As mentioned below). Cons: * The PTZ servos are very noisy. It'd be very obvious to anyone nearby that the camera is being moved due to the grinding noises. For my application, this isn't important since it's seldom moved. However, I have to subtract one star because of this flaw. I've used PTZ cameras from other brands that are significantly more quiet. (Note: These grinding noises are very evident in the audio recorded by the camera).; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Steelers vs. Chargers highlights | Week 6; Abstract: Watch the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Los Angeles Chargers highlights from Week 6 of the 2019 season.; Category: sports
Title: Airline's Act Of Kindness Saves Ocean City Teams' Disney Trip; Abstract: The Ocean City High School cross country teams arrived at Philadelphia International Airport. The contingent of 79 was set to board a Frontier Airlines flight Thursday to Orlando for the Disney Cross Country Classic.; Category: news
Title: Firemen totally nailed how to help this little girl stay calm after a car crash; Abstract: Two northern California firefighters nailed the best way to help keep a little girl calm after a car crash.; Category: news
Title: Hunters receive ominous warning as fall season gets underway; Abstract: Montana wildlife officials have cautioned hunters, as the fall pheasant season gets underway, that they should anticipate bear encounters.; Category: sports
Title: Golden Retrievers decide snow is amazing; Abstract: You either love winter weather or hate it. These Golden Retrievers adore it.; Category: video
Title: Megyn Kelly Claps Back After Being Told to 'Just Fade Away and Enjoy Large Pot of Money'; Abstract: Megyn Kelly Claps Back After Told to 'Enjoy Large Pot of Money'; Category: tv
Title: 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel review: The best full-size truck adds efficiency and capability; Abstract: The Ram 1500 is a solid full-size truck, and its new 3.0-liter diesel engine option only broadens its appeal.; Category: autos
Title: How Much Power Does the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Really Make? We Take it to the Dyno and Find Out; Abstract: A lot more, it turns out; Category: autos
Title: Megyn Kelly and Rose McGowan selfie sparks speculation: 'Brainstorming'; Abstract: The newswoman shared a photo of herself taking a selfie with McGowan on Friday. Kelly, who hasn't yet landed anywhere after abruptly leaving NBC last year, has been using her platform as of late to speak out against sexual harassment and non-disclosure agreements.; Category: entertainment
Title: Sinkhole Swallows Port Authority Bus On Busy Street In Downtown Pittsburgh; Abstract: A massive sinkhole opened up in downtown Pittsburgh during the Monday morning rush hour, swallowing the back half of a Port Authority bus and nearly a car as well.; Category: news
Title: Street-racing truck driver arrested after leading police on high-speed pursuit, Bellaire police say; Abstract: A man was arrested after authorities said he led police on a high-speed chase around the 610 Loop late Sunday night. Police said they tried to stop a truck that was street racing on the West Loop around 11:55 p.m. According to authorities, the truck had expired tags. The driver of the truck didn't stop, and instead, led police on a chase that lasted about 15 minutes and ended in a residential area off 288. During the chase, police said, the...; Category: news
Title: Review: The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax Diesel is Put to the Test; Abstract: Smooth and torquey: Silverado 1500 diesel returns after two decades; Category: autos
Title: Kylie Jenner Transforms Into Marilyn Monroe and Proves Diamonds Really Are a Girl's Best Friend; Abstract: Kylie Jenner has debuted yet another Halloween 2019 costume, a second one with a Madonna connection!; Category: tv
Title: Brady dresses up as 'Star Wars' stormtrooper in Instagram post; Abstract: The New England Patriots quarterback shared a photo on Instagram Thursday showing off his Halloween costume a stormtrooper.; Category: sports
Title: 12 Things U.S. Presidents Have to Pay for on Their Own; Abstract: Not everything comes for free with the (White) house. The post 12 Things U.S. Presidents Have to Pay for on Their Own appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Here Are the 2020 MotorTrend Car, Truck, and SUV of the Year Contenders and Finalists; Abstract: Plus: The ins and outs of Car, Truck, and SUV of the Year testing; Category: autos
Title: Ring bearing Marine shocks bride; Abstract: Unlike most brides, this day wasn't all about her. She shared her day with a Marine who finally came home.; Category: video
Title: Katie Holmes Talks About That Bra and Cardigan Moment; Abstract: Katie Holmes Talks About That Bra and Cardigan Moment; Category: lifestyle
Title: From cat names to fruit, here are 11 bizarre things celebrities have tried to trademark; Abstract: From Taylor Swift to Kylie Jenner, a lot of stars have tried to trademark things like commonly used terms, song lyrics, and signature catchphrases.; Category: entertainment
Title: Britney Spears' Abs Are on Full Display In Her Newest Workout Video; Abstract: Another week, another Britney Spears workout video and this time the pop star is combining two of her favorite routines.; Category: health
Title: Megyn Kelly Is Back to Work! Details on Her New Job; Abstract: The journalist returned to work less than a year after leaving NBC.; Category: tv
Title: Only Two Percent of the World's Population Have This Trait; Abstract: That's right according to the experts, only two percent of the world's population is lucky enough to have dazzling green eyes.; Category: health | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Dora's Sleepover (Ready-To-Read Dora the Explorer - Level 1) (Ready to Read: Level 1: Dora the Explorer); Author: Visit Amazon's Lara Bergen Page; Review: She is awesome. The story is predictable but that is what we love about Dora. Why do I have to type a minimum of words?; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Real Clever Solutions and Ideas: Tips and Tricks to Save You Time and Money; Author: Visit Amazon's Naya Lizardo Page; Review: Pretty decent tips and ideas. Some were really new to me, others, used a bunch of times and will again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cross Stitch; Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Gabaldon Page; Review: Loved this book so much. Felt like I was there in the countryside and castle and could feel that hunk of a man right next to me!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cross Stitch; Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Gabaldon Page; Review: Amazing book! I think I read it faster than the 1st one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drums of Autumn; Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Gabaldon Page; Review: Like the other books, I really enjoy these characters. I laughed out loud and cried tears of joy and pain.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drums of Autumn; Author: Visit Amazon's Diana Gabaldon Page; Review: Awesome; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Duofold Women's Brushed Back Bottom; Brand: Duofold; Review: Work fine. I am 5'9" and I have to order large to get some extra length but they are still a little short.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Teemzone Slim Money Clip Wallet and Credit Card Holder for Men RFID Blocking; Brand: teemzone; Review: Very good quality and looks classy. Fits in my purse easily.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Retreez Solid Matte Color Woven Microfiber Pre-tied Boy's Bow Tie; Brand: Retreez; Review: Worked perfectly for my son's wedding with my grandson wearing this. Nice quality.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: var aPageStart = (new Date()).getTime(); var ue_t0=ue_t0||+new Date(); window.ue_ihb = (window.ue_ihb || window.ueinit || 0) + 1; if (window.ue_ihb; Brand: ; Review: Fits great. I wear a size 8 and a medium works for me. I have this in 2 colors and love the feel of the fabric to sleep in!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coobie Seamless Scoopneck Bra; Brand: Coobie; Review: Not my favorite bra. Straps are thin and cut into my shoulders. Pads drift into other side when you wash them. Seems I always have to fix the pads and straps after each washing. It is comfortable besides the straps, but does nothing for your figure.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Seamless Bra- Removable Straps; Brand: Anemone; Review: Pretty funky product. The straps constantly come unclipped and the pads have to be fixed every time you wash the bra, they either come out or drift to the other side. They do nothing for your figure but hide your nipples. I always have strap marks on my shoulders from the tiny straps too. Not impressed with the product. More pain then gain!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Leg Avenue Womens Let it Snow Snowflake Tights; Brand: ; Review: Super fun for dress up around the holidays. They are comfortable.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Warner's Women's Elements of Bliss Wirefree Lift Bra; Brand: Warner's; Review: Super comfortable. Like the lift inside. At my age, 61, I can use all I can get and I am tired of wires. Happy to forget I am wearing it during the day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Warner's Women's No Pinching No Problems Lace Hipster Panty; Brand: Warner's; Review: Good quality and like the little lace at the top. It is bigger than most of my bikini underwear.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Warner's Women's Cloud 9 Wire-Free Contour Bra with Lift; Brand: Warner's; Review: Another winner. Fits well and has a nice lift at the bottom for my aging chest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Warner's Women's Cloud 9 Wire Free Lift Bra; Brand: Warner's; Review: I have many 34C bras from Warner's and they all fit well. This one is a bit tight across the back and no more hooks. I like the wider strapes and the front is soft and has nice coverage. The lift is a little smaller than others, so I do not get as much lift.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Iron Rose; Author: Visit Amazon's Marsha Canham Page; Review: I could not finish this book...it was more pirates of the Caribbean than a love story..more action ..less romance, did not feel the sexual tension..did not feel the chemistry between the main characters...was not bored..but found myself skipping the pages,wondering when the romance and the witty or funny remarks will begin, when will i feel the connection... don't mind if my heroin is not a virgin(not my fav) BUT she sleeps around and brags like a man..sigh...she was over aggressive...sigh...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Prince Kidnaps a Bride (Lost Princesses, Book 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Christina Dodd Page; Review: I only read this book beacuse it was the last of the lost princesses story... a book about a horny naive princes..I found myslef wondering , what kind of woman/princess has Fanatsies about a person she thinks is unattractive,broke,a coward and a total idiot!..Really am I to expect she fell in love with this person instead of the real deal!! oh she claims he wants her for her, but she has been living in a nunery who the heck was courting her????..yeah right...could not stand it!!! Then this supposedly stupid person convinces her to marry him, who is stupid!! i wanted to shake her!! sigh...i gave it one becuase the other characters in the book were very interesting and fight scenes were entertaining..; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Barefoot Princess (Lost Princesses, Book 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Christina Dodd Page; Review: funny and entertaining, My favorite of the three books. THe heroin was feisty and the hero was troubled, strong and handsome a match made in heaven. The only downside to this story was the hero's ease at dismissing her when he thought she would betray him for some stupid reason(mommy issues) and she actually blamed herself...sigh!! Her life was ten times rougher than his and he was the one with the family issues. all in all it was a great book!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Her Master and Commander; Author: Visit Amazon's Karen Hawkins Page; Review: after reading the prologue. I coulnt wait to read about his journey to reunite with his brother..But I found Tristan hardly mentioned his brother at all...which was a disappointment , becuase for me the back story was the most interesting part of the book. Karen did not give any details as to what he went through searching for his brother. But thank God for the butler..love his character!!! brotherly reunion story came late but i really enjoyed it(fighting scene was intense)!!!..Notice i am only going on about the back story...Thats becuase the back story, even the scenes with his father were the most enjoyable moment in the book...Did not feel the chemistry from these love birds..kept wanting for more scenes with his brother , whom i cant wait to read about!!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Darkness Awakened (Order of the Blade) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Stephanie Rowe Page; Review: loved it!!!very entertaining..My first time reading fantasy romance and i have to say this was a great start....I cant wait to read Gabriel story...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Seduced (Rogues of Scotland) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Donna Grant Page; Review: Good read; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: By Way of Deception : The Making and Unmaking of a Mossad Officer; Author: Visit Amazon's Victor Ostrovsky Page; Review: The U.S. considers itself a friend to Israel, but according to the Mossad, Israel is not always our best friend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trading With the Enemy: An Expose of the Nazi-American Money Plot, 1933-1949; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Higham Page; Review: This book relates information most people have no idea exists. Like FDR signing an Executive Order giving the okay for Standard Oil to continue selling its oil to Nazi Germany AFTER Pearl Harbor and we declared war on Germany. And lots more!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Humorous Cryptograms; Author: Helen Nash; Review: After the local daily newspaper dropped the cryptograms from their feature material, we tried these books. They keep our minds active. We Love them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Funnier Cryptograms; Author: Visit Amazon's Shawn Kennedy Page; Review: After the local daily newspaper dropped the cryptograms as a feature, we tried these books. They will keep our minds active. We love them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edgar Cayce: The Sleeping Prophet; Author: Visit Amazon's Jess Stearn Page; Review: This was a replacement for a book I purchased years ago that had gotten water-soaked. The book is great and Amazon fulfilled the order promptly when another supplier failed to perform.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic; Author: Mark Starr; Review: THIS BOOK, Hypothyroidism Type 2, should be a primary reference for every doctor and patient, regardless of specialty or physical problems. Dr. Mark Starr not only clearly explains how the thyroid controls virtually every aspect of bodily functions, but he points to facts that prove that when it isn't working right it can be the cause of many illnesses and disease that plague the public. Most doctors are treating numerous diseases that result from a hypothyroid condition and they know nothing about the thyroid. While reading his book it soon becomes obvious that Dr. Starr has probably done more research on hypothyroidism than any living being. After 76 years of outstanding good health (I only saw three doctors to get Viagra Rx) I went to a doctor with a tingle on the back and side of my skull. He asked to what I attributed my good health for all these years I replied, I avoid doctors and hospitals! Then my health started to go downhill rapidly. For the past year I have seen several Nephrologists, GPs, and a couple of homeopathic practitioners had numerous MRIs, Sonograms, X-rays, CTs. EKGs, etc.. . and blood tests at various labs. I finally concluded that half-the-time the doctors didn't know what they were talking about (and two MDs agreed). I purchased numerous books and spent hundreds of hours researching my symptoms on the Internet. It became somewhat obvious that I had some form of Hypothyroid problem. Then it was a problem to find someone who really knew about the thyroid. Searching the world via the web, I found a forum article on a UK website (LONDON) [url] about Dr. Starr who appeared to be really be informed (based on the research I had done). I was certain that this was the person I must see to correct my problems, even if I had to fly to London, England. Was I surprised when I found his address - it turned out his office was just 4 miles from my house in Phoenix, Arizona. And I only encountered one typographical error in the book in the Index; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Elizabeth The Queen; Author: Visit Amazon's Alison Weir Page; Review: Perfect; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan; Author: Visit Amazon's Doug Stanton Page; Review: Perfect; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A history of the English people; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul Johnson Page; Review: Perfect; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The History of Russia: Seventh Revised Edition (Meridian); Author: John T. Lawrence; Review: Perfect; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 1: Orthodox Christianity Volume I: The History and Canonical Structure of the Orthodox Church; Author: Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev; Review: Perfect; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: WikiLeaks: Inside Julian Assange's War on Secrecy; Author: Visit Amazon's David Leigh Page; Review: Perfect; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No hay silencio que no termine (Spanish Edition); Author: Ingrid Betancourt; Review: Perfect; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Mr. Coffee Single Serve 24 oz. Coffee Brewer, Black; Brand: Mr. Coffee; Review: Almost great. Don't like the 6 or 10 ounce settings. It should be for a mug of coffee, which generally runs from ten to twelve oz, possible more. Used my own coffee in the reusable filtering system, and it doesn't come out quite as good as with the premeasured packs.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: BLACK+DECKER Single Serve Coffeemaker, Black, CM618; Brand: BLACK+DECKER; Review: Makes delicious coffee in an extremely big cup...my favorite way.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Corelle Coordinates by Reston Lloyd Melamine Tidbit Serving Tray, Abundance; Brand: Corelle; Review: The tray was much larger than I thought it would be. I tried to look up size and could not find one. I wanted a tray to put the meat course on the table, so I ordered this one. I actually have the Romantic Rose pattern which has the same color scheme, on the flower and the stems, This pattern looks like the stems. It is more of a serving tray, however. I also thought it was made from the Corelle material, China-like. It is plastic, more like melamine. I do like it though.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Home-it step stool Super quality Folding Step Stool for kids step stool 11 Inches.; Brand: Home-it; Review: I own a mini van. Love having the height over traffic. Hate getting into the middle seats. This makes it much easier.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CRESNEL 50pcs Velvet Clothes Hangers - Slim Space Saving Design for Men and Women Dress Suit - Black; Brand: CRESNEL; Review: Love, love, love them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Sycamore Row (The Jake Brigance); Author: Visit Amazon's John Grisham Page; Review: It's been awhile since I have read a book I couldn't put down. This is a great read. If you like John Grisham's A Time to Kill, you will love this book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cottage on Juniper Ridge (Life in Icicle Falls); Author: Visit Amazon's Sheila Roberts Page; Review: A very easy read the characters were engaging and the town is charming. There is someone for each of us to relate to in this story of women who try to simplify their lives in order to make their lives better.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Plus One: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Jojo Moyes Page; Review: I'm not a review writer but this book touched me. Its about a single mom trying to make ends meet., She has a young daughter who is a math prodigy, a weird stepson, and a big old dog. It reminded me of Little miss sunshine,,,,much of it centered around her trying to get her daughter to an important test in Scotland so she could win a scholarship.... very character driven . Funny and sad..,.,.heartwarming and well written; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Fine Romance: Falling in Love With the English Countryside; Author: Visit Amazon's Susan Branch Page; Review: Beautiful book. I felt like I was walking along those country roads and having Pims in the Pubs! Would make a lovely gift.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Art of Whimsical Lettering; Author: Visit Amazon's Joanne Sharpe Page; Review: Excellent book. It has inspired me to make my own greeting cards and some birthday gift signs. Buy this book if you want guidance in fun lettering. Easy to understand and follow.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Allegra K Women's Long Sleeves Skull Stars Loose Tunic Shirt; Brand: Allegra K; Review: The fabric is itchy and it's not that big, but I like it. I wore it yesterday and it was fine once I got used to the fabric. It's not like a sweater tho.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lolita Charm Lolita Over Knee Socks; Brand: Lolita Charm; Review: The socks strech the first time you put them in, even when you're not anymore, which bothered me a little, but besides that, it's cute.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: T-Shirt - The Walking Dead - Warning All Are Infected, Medium, Black; Brand: Changes; Review: OMG YAAS PERFECT; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gotoole Women's Black Over the Knee Tights Thigh High Stocking; Brand: Sanwood; Review: Would totally buy them again. They lasted for a long time, and I got lots of compliments and questions about them..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ninimour- Sexy Retro Vintage Digital Print Skater Skirt (Adventure Time); Brand: Ninimour; Review: Like it. Great quality, good fabric.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ETOSELL Women Harajuku Style Cat Printed Sweater Long Sleeve Pullover Tracksuit; Brand: Etosell; Review: The sweater's picture is bad quality and it just seems as though I printed the picture on it. I could have done that. Not worth buying in my opinion.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Star Time GOLF WANG knitted hat autumn winter caps for men women outdoor cap; Brand: Time Star; Review: The only reason why I don't give it a five star rate is because the logo isn't as big and spread across as it shows in the pictures. Overall, I love it and I've gotten plenty of "CAN I BORROW IT" from other people who like odd future and in between.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PERSUN Women's Cute Short Sleeve T-Shirts Loose Summer Crop Top; Brand: PERSUN; Review: Its really cute in its overlook. I can tell it might be handmade by the strings connecting the words, which to me, it gives the shirt an unique look. I t fits good and does not show any belly-belly! However, it does not bother me. I really like it!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Anne Klein Women's 109416RGWT Swarovski Crystal-Accented Watch; Brand: ; Review: Bought this as a gift, and the recipient absolutely loves it. The watch is very attractive and well worth the price.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raines by Totes Black Auto Open/Close Umbrella; Brand: ; Review: Bought this to replace one that I had for 12 years and unintentionally left in my 15-year-old car when I traded it in. Love the fact that it opens and closes with the push of a button. Be careful when closing it though. It closes very fast, and if you hold it too close to you, you'll get splattered with the rain that has accumulated on the fabric!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bogs Women's Rue Gum Rubber Shoe; Brand: Bogs; Review: Best gardening and overall knocking-around shoe I've ever owned. Use these shoes for everything from gardening to walking the dog to taking out the garbage. In fact, I use them so often, they permanently reside at the back door. I've had them for almost two years, and aside from losing their luster, they're in perfect condition.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: G.H. Bass & Co. Men's Madawaska 1/4 Zip Long Sleeve Sweater Fleece; Brand: G.H. Bass & Co.; Review: Given as a Christmas gift and the recipient wore it for the rest of the day. It's a nicely-made top, but it hasn't been washed yet, so I can't comment on the durability.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anne Klein Women's 109416BKBK Swarovski Crystal Accented Gold-Tone Black Ceramic Watch; Brand: ; Review: Bought this as a Christmas gift for someone who has the same watch in white and likes it so much she wanted it in black. This is a very attractive watch. In fact, I'm thinking about buying one for myself!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marvel Little Boys' Spiderman Five-Pack of Briefs; Brand: ; Review: Really cute. A birthday gift for my nephew, and he loves them!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Volcom Women's Forever Sandal; Brand: ; Review: Most comfortable sandals I've ever owned. Wore them all day with no discomfort. Plan on buying in other colors.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daniel Green Women's Kira Slipper; Brand: Daniel Green; Review: Would have given this slipper five stars, but had to send them back. They run very small. Having said that, they are extremely attractive and appear to be well made.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fownes Women's CASHMERE Lined Metisse Lambskin Leather Gloves; Brand: Fownes Brothers; Review: Great, high-quality gloves. Very soft and comfortable. They look and feel like others that cost much more money. Gave them as a Christmas gift, and the recipient hasn't stopped raving about them. I have owned Fownes gloves over the years and have found them to a great produce.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clockwork Synergy Classic Nylon Nato watch straps bands; Brand: Clockwork Synergy; Review: Great watch band. Sturdy, attractive and inexpensive. Since receiving the first one, I have ordered three more. Makes wearing a watch fun! Connecting the band to the watch can appear confusing, but it's pretty easy. There's a video on YouTube that makes sense of the whole process.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BOBS from Skechers Women's Cozy Northern Lights Slipper; Brand: ; Review: Finally, slippers that come in half sizes! Very comfy. Would have given them five stars, except the memory foam collapses after having them on for a couple of minutes, causing the "fuzzy" lining to bunch up under the toes. The memory foam returns to its original position when the slippers are taken off, only to collapse again when put back on. Uncomfortable, but not enough to take them off! If you're in that half-size zone where ordering down is too small and up too large, this is the slipper for you.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Clothing_Shoes_and_Jewelry |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Montana Off the Beaten Path®, 8th: A Guide to Unique Places (Off the Beaten Path Series); Author: Michael McCoy; Review: Only small changes from an earlier edition, most was repetitive, but still an interesting guide to Montana's out of the way places; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Montana Atlas & Gazetteer (Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer); Author: Delorme; Review: Bought as a gift so didn't have a chance to use it extensively. Seemed to be a quality atlas at a better than average price; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Peterson First Guide to Rocks and Minerals; Author: Visit Amazon's Frederick H. Pough Page; Review: No two rocks hardly ever look the same, even if they're the same type. Information was very extensive, but I only wanted some general layman's information. Great reference for a geologist.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven Jay Schneider Page; Review: Limited movie reference compared to others. It's OK, just not the greatest.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Video Movie Guide 2000; Author: Mick Martin; Review: Good reference for older movies that you don't have a clue what their about or who's in them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms (National Audubon Society Field Guides); Author: National Audubon Society; Review: It's a fair guide, but nature has to many variables in mushrooms to identify any one type. You would need more pictures to identify some species. Better to look up the local expert, or buy them at the store.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Best Book of Fossils, Rocks, and Minerals; Author: Chris Perrault; Review: To many variables in rocks and minerals to judge any one type by one picture. Other than that it's a fair guide and better than no guide at all.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Guide Book of United States Paper Money 2nd Ed.; Author: Arthur Friedberg; Review: Very good guide to identification and value of paper money; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Handbook for the Amateur Lapidary; Author: James Harry Howard; Review: More extensive than what I wanted but satisfactory. I would have liked an abbreviated version.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: His Witness (A Dark Romance); Author: Visit Amazon's Vanessa Waltz Page; Review: Good Read; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: One Love (Gypsy Brothers Book 7) - Kindle edition; Author: Visit Amazon's Lili St Germain Page; Review: Absolutely love the Finally Book... Excellent Series; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Hope (Sweet Home Series) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's Tillie Cole Page; Review: Loved this book..Tillie did a great job....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Loved By You: BBW BWWM Romance (Found by You) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria H Smith Page; Review: Excellent Book...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Exposed (Free Falling) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Raven St. Pierre Page; Review: Love every minute of it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beautiful Entourage; Author: Visit Amazon's E. L. Todd Page; Review: Wow what an Amazing Story I loved Rhett an Aspen...Couldn't put this book down..Loved every minute of it....Looking forward to more from E L Todd; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gorgeous Consort (Beautiful Entourage) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's E. L. Todd Page; Review: Another great book by E L Todd.... Troy and Harper story was a rollercoaster ride I wanted to strangle Troy a few Times but he redeemed himself...Fabulous Read once again E L; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dark Escort (Beautiful Entourage) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's E. L. Todd Page; Review: I seriously didn't want this book to end...Loved Cato and Kat...Well done E L Todd; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seductive Guest (Beautiful Entourage) (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's E. L. Todd Page; Review: Final Book in this great series....Loved River and Meadow story...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Diamonds (All That Glitters) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's K.A. Linde Page; Review: Can't wait for Gold; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Found by You; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria H. Smith Page; Review: The List lovely Victoria has done it again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Game, Set, Match; Author: Visit Amazon's Nana Malone Page; Review: This is my first by Nana and it won't be my last; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Space Between (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria H. Smith Page; Review: ; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Incandescent: Knights Rebels MC (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's River Savage Page; Review: Loved; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gravity (Free Falling) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Raven St. Pierre Page; Review: Love; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kyland (Sign of Love); Author: Visit Amazon's Mia Sheridan Page; Review: Mia Sheridan always does a fabulous job..Her story always ropes you where everything around you is forgotten..Job well done; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Her Dirty Little Secrets; Author: Visit Amazon's Tanasia Thomas Page; Review: ; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Elements of Chemistry (Hypothesis); Author: Visit Amazon's Penny Reid Page; Review: Loved Martin and Kaitlyn; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Incandescent (Knights Rebels); Author: Visit Amazon's River Savage Page; Review: Loved; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dividing Line (The Space Between) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria H Smith Page; Review: Let me just say that ANYTHING Victoria writes i will be reading.. This series captured me from start to finish i LOVED Drake and Lacey story...If you haven't read this Series then you are surely missing out...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Souls Unfractured (Hades Hangmen) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Tillie Cole Page; Review: '''' Flame Whore; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fire Between High & Lo; Author: Brittainy C Cherry; Review: What a ride...Brittainy books always captivate you from start to finish... Logan an Alyssa story was Amazing made you feel as if you are a part of the story...Highly recommended Read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sugar Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria H Smith Page; Review: Victoria books always hold you from start to finish..I loved the chemistry between the characters made you feel apart of the story..Great Job; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Marco (The Men of Indecent Exposure) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Raven St. Pierre Page; Review: Favorite read so far for 2016....I LOVED Marco and Brynn story it captivated you from start to finish.. I love when you can relate to a story and be a part of it...Raven knows how to tell a story and she Never disappoints. Highly recommend this book you will NOT be disappointed.. 10 Stars ''; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love In the Red Zone (Connecticut Kings) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Love Belvin Page; Review: Love Belvin is my go to Author...Her books draw you in and make you feel apart of the story....This is another great read from Ms Belvin... Can't wait for the next installment; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bossman; Author: Visit Amazon's Vi Keeland Page; Review: VI is on the very few authors I don't hesitate to purchase a Book from...Her stories always captivate you make you fall in love with the Characters...Fun Read highly recommended you read this Ms Keeland never disappoints!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Moonshot; Author: Visit Amazon's Alessandra Torre Page; Review: I delayed reading this book I'm a huge fan of the Author not sure why I delayed but I regretted it!!! Wow... This Book was great from start to finish I love Chase an Ty story everything about this book captivated you from start to finish!! One of the best for 2016...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blood to Dust; Author: Visit Amazon's L.J. Shen Page; Review: I added LJ to my Favorite Authors List!!! After reading Sparrow I said how is she going to top Troy??? Oh she definitely Topped Troy an Sparrow.. Page turner nail biting jaw dropping OMG Read and I love every minute of it... Can't wait for her next book..Great Read; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Delivered: Angel & Kai (A Standalone in "The Free Falling Series") (Volume 5); Author: Visit Amazon's Raven St. Pierre Page; Review: Raven ALWAYS delivers.... If you haven't read any books from this Author start with The Free Falling Series you'll instantly be trapped in Ravens world and you wouldn't want to be released she's that Good; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Silent Waters (The Element); Author: Brittainy C Cherry; Review: There are no words to describe how Beautiful this book was... Added to my list of Favourite Books for 2016; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Overdose; Author: Visit Amazon's Raven St. Pierre Page; Review: This Book sucked me in Immediately...Hot steamy page turner..Zander is not your typical Male character from Raven...He's Cocky Arrogant an Confident handsome Devil in a suit and I love him....This story captivates you from start to finish and you won't be disappointed Great Book as always from Mrs. St. Pierre; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dirty (Raw Family) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Belle Aurora Page; Review: We've waited soo long for this Book... Slow build up intense wanna murder someone Read....Loved Julius in Raw was expecting more from him but nevertheless this was a good read...I truly hope the Author doesn't make us wait TWO YEARS for Twitch and Lexi's final Book!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. President; Author: Visit Amazon's Katy Evans Page; Review: What a beautiful written Book!!! Matt and Charlotte captivated you from start to finish...I cannot wait for Commander in Chief... Added to list of Favourite Read for 2016; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ladies Man (The Manwhore Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Katy Evans Page; Review: Words can't describe how I love Katy Evans books..This Book was so good that I didn't want it to end!!! Highly recommend this Book...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Player; Author: Visit Amazon's Claire Contreras Page; Review: I really didn't want this Book to end..I love Sport stories and Claire Contreras didn't disappoint..Warren an Camila story captivated you from start to finish and I couldn't put this Book down..You won't be disappointed; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wait For It; Author: Visit Amazon's Mariana Zapata Page; Review: Slow Burn Queen...Her books may be long but her stories are always fun to read...Diana had me cracking up most times and I just Loved Dallas... Great Read!!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gravity of Us (The Elements Series) (Volume 4); Author: Brittainy C Cherry; Review: I normally don't do reviews but when I do it's for a GREAT BOOK Elements Series was great to read but THIS book was the BEST Graham and Lucille story captivated you from start to finish Ms. Cherry keep writing don't ever STOP; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mack Daddy; Author: Visit Amazon's Penelope Ward Page; Review: Mack Daddy showed how great Penelope Ward really is as an Author.. I love 2nd chance romance and Penelope did a great job.. Mack And Frankie had all the feels.. You fell in love with their story... Highly recommend...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sovereign (Acquisition Series) (Volume 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Celia Aaron Page; Review: This was not your usual romance read...This Series was twisted dark like what the Fock Celia was thinking while writing but it kept you entertained from start to finish...If you don't like dark romance this Series is not for you!!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ghosted; Author: Visit Amazon's J.M. Darhower Page; Review: 1st from this Author won't be my last..This was a rollercoaster ride and I didn't want to come off... Words can't describe how much I enjoyed this story..Highly recommend this book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scandalous (Sinners of Saint) (Volume 4); Author: Visit Amazon's L.J. Shen Page; Review: It's hard to say goodbye to this Great Series... L.J. did a great job with this final installment.. Trent became my 2nd favourite Hothole Vicious still holds the number 1 spot..If you haven't read this Series you are surely missing out..; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Behind the Bars; Author: Brittainy C Cherry; Review: Brittainy always have a way with words her stories Captivate you from start to finish.. This page turner made you feel every emotion this couple dealt with..Highly recommend anything from Brittainy and this book didn't disappoint; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Look the Part; Author: Visit Amazon's Jewel E Ann Page; Review: This Book was EVERYTHING!!! My first from this Author and it won't be my last. There are no words to describe how great this book was...Kudos to this Author you've gain a new fan; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Honey Nut Cheerios Cereal, 21.6 Ounce (Pack of 2); Brand: Cheerios; Review: we always have honey nut cherrios in the house. great product for the entire famly; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts, Dry Roasted, Lightly Salted, 16 Ounce (Pack of 12); Brand: Planters; Review: have been a fan of these for 20 years. good price, yummy product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planters Peanuts, Honey Roasted & Salted, 52 Ounce Canister (Pack of 2); Brand: Planters; Review: have been a fan of these for 20 years. good price, yummy product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GoGo squeeZ Applesauce on the Go, Apple Cinnamon, 3.2 Ounce Portable BPA-Free Pouches, Gluten-Free, 48 Total Pouches; Brand: GoGo SqueeZ; Review: we love the mango, peach, strawberry, cinnamon, apple, banana and berry. grape is the only loser flavor so far and we buy A TON of go go squeeze; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Moms Organic Granola Bars, Cranberry, 8 Ounce; Brand: Two Moms in the Raw; Review: not like the same bar that I bought in whole food. this is like eating a rectangle of birdseed. 2 stars because it is super healthy.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cheerios Cereal; Brand: Cheerios; Review: always have these in our cabinet; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planters Salted Peanuts, 2 oz Single Serve Bags, (Pack of 144); Brand: Planters; Review: have been a fan of these for 20 years. good price, yummy product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Progresso Soup, Traditional, Homestyle Chicken Soup, 19 oz Cans (Pack of 6); Brand: Progresso; Review: the entire family loves this and subscribe and save is better than lugging more expensive version of the same thing from the grocery store; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Annie's Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, Berry Patch, 5 Pouches, 4 oz. Each (Pack of 4); Brand: Annie's Homegrown; Review: young boys that don't get much sugar are completely ADDICTED to these snacks; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Food Coloring AmeriColor Soft - Gel Paste Junior Kit, 8 Colors.75 Ounce Bottles; Brand: AmeriColor; Review: this color has completely changed my cake and frosting success. so much better than the store bought Mccormick thin watery stuff; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crystal Light Pure Drink Mix, Strawberry Kiwi, On The Go Packets, 7 Count (Pack of 6 Boxes); Brand: Crystal Light; Review: for now, stevia is the best low calorie sweetener, so i buy this. it's not any better than the other crystal light with artificial sweetener from a taste perspective, but haven't heard of lab rats getting cancer from stevia, so I will stick with it for now.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ROTEL Original Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, 28 Ounce, 12 Pack; Brand: Ro-Tel; Review: I use this in salsa, soup and lots of Mexican recipes; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Betty Crocker Super Moist Cake Mix, Vanilla, 15.25 oz. Box (Pack of 6); Brand: Betty Crocker; Review: great cake mix for cupcakes and I used food coloring for the theme; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Campbell's Condensed Soup, Tomato, 10.75 Ounce (Pack of 6); Brand: Campbell's; Review: great with a can of diced tomato mixed in and a grilled cheese sandwich; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Superman Caramel Crunch Cereal, 11.8 Ounce; Brand: Star Wars; Review: kids like the box but do not like the cereal. they love lucky charms but this taste was a miss; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Rosas Xocolate Boutique Hotel Spa; City: Merida Yucatan Peninsula; Review: A very beautiful hotel. 10 mins walk from the center of Merida, which is no problem as the city feels very safe. The staff we very nice and always helpful. The food in the restaurant is also very good. Our room was lovely with a hanging 4 poster style bed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Habita; City: Mexico City Central Mexico and Gulf Coast; Review: Very nice hotel if you like minimalist boutique. In a quiet, chic but slightly out of the way area if Mexico City which we were happy with. Our room was on the first floor and it was dry noisy. From the dustbin truck parking outside our window at 6am to a strange vibration in the floor (air on maybe) and a balcony door which didn't shut completely it wasn't very peaceful, but fine with ear plugs! Breakfast was great and the staff always nice and helpful. If you can, get a trusted taxi number you can call yourself as the hotel charges double. Also check your bill at the end as they had put on lots of mini bar it's that we hadn't used...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Jashita; City: Soliman Bay Yucatan Peninsula; Review: I'm reluctant to write a good review because this hotel is so fabulous I want to keep it a secret!! But that wouldn't be fair to the lovely staff and owners. The rooms were perfect, the food delicious and the beach amazing. The asian minimalist decor and style of the hotel are a long way from the 'backpacking style' of Tulum. I'll be back as soon as I can!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Healdsburg; City: Healdsburg Sonoma County California; Review: A really lovely, modern hotel right in the heart of Healdsburg. Our room was a nice size but the bathroom was huge! The pool is very nice. We took the bikes for the day and the concierge suggested a great cycling route around local wineries and have us some discount vouchers. We had a wonderful day. Healdsburg is beautiful and we ate very well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hansar Bangkok Hotel; City: Bangkok; Review: A great hotel in a very central location. Right next to sky train station. We stayed in a vertigo room which was huge! Everything is modern and high quality furnishings. The bathroom was massive and the bed so comfortable. Breakfast is nice. The pool is nice but not very big nor much seating. We would go back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lily Bloom Boutique Hotel; City: Tel Aviv Tel Aviv District; Review: Lily & Bloom is in a great location just off Rothchild. It's close to lots of great restaurants and bars. The décor in the hotel is modern and contemporary but homey and comfortable at the same time. The room wasn't very big, but it was beautifully decorated and the bed was very comfortable. We were given 404 which had a balcony which was very nice although the typical Tel Aviv rooftop view isn't what you would describe at pretty.... The breakfast was nice with a good choice of pastries, hot food and salad. I thought for the price the hotel was good value. I would stay here again next time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hostal de La Gavina; City: S Agaro Costa Brava Province of Girona Catalonia; Review: The setting of the hotel is beautiful. It's a very classic Spanish hotel and not the usual contemporary style I would go for. However it was very luxurious. The room was quite old with antique furniture but nicely done with a lovely plush bathroom. The breakfast was extensive with someone making eggs and a fabulous range of fruit etc. The pool has a lovely view on the bay. The staff were not overly helpful or friendly, knowing little about the sites in the local area including the Dali museum.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: A Beautiful Blue Death (Charles Lenox Mysteries); Author: Visit Amazon's Charles Finch Page; Review: I typically don't give 5 stars on a review. In order for this to happen, the writing must be clean, the research well done, and the story must take a hold of mr in such a way that I am completely transported into the world and lose all track of time. A Beautiful Blue Death did that for me. The character of Charles Lennox was well rounded as he searched endlessly for the perfect pair of boots and plotted trips he would knowingly never take. I loved his relationship with Graham the butler and the sibling rivalry with his brother - each wanting the life of the other. I recommended this book to my dad, a retired Advanced Placement history teacher, and he devoured the book. Never before in a story have I ever craved what the characters were eating. I look forward to enjoying tea and toast with Charles Lennox for years to come.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Light In The Window: An Inlet Beach Novella; Author: Visit Amazon's Heidi Hostetter Page; Review: The Inheritance is a story about three estranged sisters and their struggle to re-unite as a family while restoring a beach house they inherited. Maureen, the oldest, is looking for a place where her family can escape for vacation from the hectic restaurant world that they live in. Lydia, entrenched in debt, wants to sell the house to satisfy the creditors banging down her door. Tyra, the youngest, has a successful tech business and nomadic, looking for a place to settle down. Set on the Oregon coast, one of my favorite placed on earth, these three women battle the elements of a coastal Northwest spring and each other while restoring a stately three-story Victorian with a gabled roofline and wrap-around porch. To quote a line from The Man From Snowy River, One of lifes greatest injustices is that you cant choose your own relatives. Heidi Hostetter shows us the complicated and miraculous relationships that can only belong to sisters. She intertwines theses three women with quirky town-folk and I found myself feeling as though I was walking the streets of Inlet Beach (aka Cannon Beach?) alongside them. The characters still haunt me months after having read the book. Thank you Heidi for creating a wonderful world.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Inheritance; Author: Visit Amazon's Heidi Hostetter Page; Review: The Inheritance is a story about three estranged sisters and their struggle to re-unite as a family while restoring a beach house they inherited. Maureen, the oldest, is looking for a place where her family can escape for vacation from the hectic restaurant world that they live in. Lydia, entrenched in debt, wants to sell the house to satisfy the creditors banging down her door. Tyra, the youngest, has a successful tech business and nomadic, looking for a place to settle down. Set on the Oregon coast, one of my favorite placed on earth, these three women battle the elements of a coastal Northwest spring and each other while restoring a stately three-story Victorian with a gabled roofline and wrap-around porch. To quote a line from The Man From Snowy River, One of lifes greatest injustices is that you cant choose your own relatives. Heidi Hostetter shows us the complicated and miraculous relationships that can only belong to sisters. She intertwines theses three women with quirky town-folk and I found myself feeling as though I was walking the streets of Inlet Beach (aka Cannon Beach?) alongside them. The characters still haunt me months after having read the book. Thank you Heidi for creating a wonderful world.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lavender Fields (Eternal Journey); Author: Visit Amazon's Raegyn Perry Page; Review: It is safe to say I am not a reader of romantic fiction. Its not that I don't mind romance as a subplot in a Western or a Mystery or a Womens Fiction. I just don't necessarily gravitate towards that genre. That said, this book amazed me. The characters have stuck with me and I loved the honest look at racism in our culture. Reagan Perry did a wonderful job of linking two people together so thoroughly in a believable manner that you knew there was something shared by them in the past. A couple of great surprises throughout this novel kept me reading. Thoroughly enjoyable.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Beast Hunter: a Keltin Moore Adventure (The Adventures of Keltin Moore) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Lindsay Schopfer Page; Review: I am going to preface this preview by stating that I am not a steam-punk kind of girl, nor do I read Sci-Fi. I have read some fantasy, but overall mysteries and classic literature are my favorites. Therefore, having met Lindsay Schopfer at the Pacific Northwest Writers conference a few weeks ago, I admitted to him the same thing that I wrote above. After taking one of his classes on character motivation, I broke down and bought his book, if nothing more than I could study character motivation more thoroughly. I really enjoyed this story. Not having any clue of what these monsters and beasts look like, I was free to imagine some pretty horrifying stuff. The characters bounced off the page for me; and their outward motivations were entirely evident, and I found some inward motivations as well. I could feel the tension as the story progressed until the climactic battle; and I must admit that I read it so fast from excitement, that I had to go back and make sure I understood everything I had just read. Still not sure if I'm won over to Steam-punk, but I am won over to this series. Looking forward to the next! Thank you Lindsay and keep up the good work!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Things We Surrender: A Lowcountry Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Heidi Hostetter Page; Review: The Things We Surrender is a lovely story! I received an advance copy and am volunteering my review (as a matter of fact, I don't write many reviews at all). I don't get hung up on typos or missing words that are overlooked in the publishing of a story. Often times the author does not have control over the typesetting, etc... I love a story with strong characters that stick with me after I set the book down, and compel me to pick it up again. Strong characters that I can cheer for even when they are in conflict with one another. Hostetter did an amazing job weaving family history, setting, and characters together to absorb my being (at one point in reading, I started crying...while getting a pedicure). From the title of the story, to the picture on the cover, to the blurb, to the first word all the way to the last, I was enveloped like receiving a warm hug from a good friend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Comfort Inn Chula Vista San Diego South; City: Chula Vista California; Review: I stayed just before Comic Con had ended so San Diego is packed and available hotels are scarce. Being a member of many hotel clubs, ChoiceHotels as one of them, I booked Comfort Inn Chula Vista because it's closer to location of my business meetings, price was considerably lower than most hotels in downtown San Diego and surrounding area, free parking, free wi-fi, and free continental breakfast. I came in late, was received by a very nice hotel staff, and had a great night well rested sleep. I occupied the 4th floor and it was very quiet. It was a family hotel so I pool was crowded with kids, but I had a good use of the gym. Overall experience, GREAT! I will definitely stay in this hotel whenever I visit San Diego, whether for business or pleasure. Thank you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hilton Garden Inn Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport; City: Houston Texas; Review: My family stayed in this hotel overnight on Christmas and New Year's eves (overnight), in transit to a Mexican vacation, because it was pretty close to the airport. It was clean but nothing much to offer. Beds were not firm and quite uncomfortable. Maybe because of the holiday, but the hotel restaurant was closed despite having guests. The hotel location was far from restaurants, except for a diner across the street that offered a menu good enough to satisfy our hunger. In brief, that'll most likely be our last stay in this hotel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn San Antonio Downtown Alamo Plaza; City: San Antonio Texas; Review: I stayed for 4 days and 3 nights and was pre-checked in to a one-bedroom suite, with full kitchen, on the top (13th) floor. The room was spacious and tidy, and smells fresh. Thankfully, with coffee and coffee maker in the room, free wifi and hot breakfast every morning. The gym was also equipped with modern exercise equipment. Customer service was excellent. I came in early and because the room was not ready yet, they make it all possible to accommodate and not inconvenience me during the wait. The only negative about this hotel is it doesn't have a shuttle to the airport.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SpringHill Suites Houston Intercontinental Airport; City: Houston Texas; Review: Stayed 2 night 3 days, free shuttle to the airport/hotel, hotel lobby was marvelous including great customer service. Gym was equipped with modern machines (has outside pool but I never used it) and room was good, with upgraded furniture and basic coffee maker, ref and microwave. It smells fresh, too, and has wired/wireless internet connection. My only negative comment is the hotel is situated far from restaurants and the only food source is the bar, but with no room service. Has free hot breakfast everyday.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan; City: Manhattan Kansas; Review: I stayed for 3 nights on business trip. On arrival the room assigned was completely cleaned, but not fully refurbished. Clean room, with gym and pool, but as I entered the hotel, I can readily tell that it's an old hotel that requires upkeep. Carpeting is old and smelly, especially when I entered the room because the thermostat was set high. Cooling the room down takes awhile. Has no shuttle service, no 'free' hot breakfast, and located outside the town of Manhattan. Customer service was excellent, however; in the front office, maintenance, bar and restaurant.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TownePlace Suites Ann Arbor; City: Ann Arbor Michigan; Review: Room was fully equipped with kitchen appliances and great for extended stay. Outside grill, indoor pool, and gym are extra amenities that are great additions; the latter two I used a lot. Room was small but adequate for single person or two persons (had a king size bed). I stayed in the 3rd floor. Room was kept clean and tidy. Very quiet comfortable stay, and hotel is close to restaurants etc. Breakfast is complimentary. Overall, I had an excellent 3-day stay.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Los Angeles LAX El Segundo; City: El Segundo California; Review: I'm an Elite member, with preferences laid out in my profile for reasons that such requirements help my stay in hotels, outside of my home, comfortable and restful. When I arrived, my room was not ready; had to wait more than 30 minutes, only to be given a room that has none of my preferred requirements met (e.g.,high floor, non-feather pillow etc.), and a 2-bedroom suite instead of 1 with king-size bed. At least I have an option to move to another bedroom because the first bedroom I stayed was noisy, from the AC/heat air blower's noise. I gave it a 4-rating because the host/receptionist was very accommodating. If this hotel is too busy to accommodate my needs, then this will be my last stay in this hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Resort on Cocoa Beach; City: Cocoa Beach Brevard County Florida; Review: Florida and South Carolina are tossed up destinations for my family's winter (Christmas) vacation. Resort on Cocoa Beach (RCB) has been our favorite roosting place in Florida since our kids were only 10 years old (my twin boys are 22 now). We all love playing on the beach, wading and playing with the waves. RCB is on the Atlantic Ocean and an hour drive to Disney Theme Parks, Universal Studio etc. in Orlando. The 2, double-bed rooms are ideal, clean and with full kitchen appliances which was great because close by in Merrritt Island is a cheap market of fresh seafoods. The movie theater was a plus to kill time away from the sun. My family always come back to RCB as an almost everty other year pilgrimage. Love it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Port O Call Shipyard Plantation; City: Hilton Head South Carolina; Review: We stayed and spent last year's Christmas break in a very spacious, 2-bedroom unit; each bedroom has each own bathroom with jacuzzi tub. Clean and fully furnished kitchen that we felt is a must because the location is quite a drive from the closest restaurant. Nice heated pool to workout, and the property is minutes walk (across a street) to the beach. It appeared the place was deserted during our stay; not too many residents and, thus, nothing much to do but family bonding. Maybe we'll try coming back in the summer to experience more of what Hilton Head has to offer. Overall Port o'call is a decent, secured, quiet and comfortable place for family residence.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Albuquerque Airport; City: Albuquerque New Mexico; Review: I've always been a fan of Residence Inn, and this hotel is about what I expect to provide me a comfortable stay while on a business trip. It's situated close to the airport and as such very convenient for meeting business partners and quick getaway thereafter. Stayed for 3 nights and every evening provided mixers ... snacks and desserts to complete your day. Of course, there's always the hot breakfast served and shuttle to the airport (although I had rented a car for other reasons). The only complaint I have, and this is true in all Residence Inn hotels I've stayed all over the country, is the noisy A/C-heat (blower). I always stay in a 2-bdrm suite but only sleep in the bigger bedroom because i can't sleep from the noise in the smaller bedroom. Receptionist was cheerful and accomodating; however, room service appeared to miss cleaning up the kitchen.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Laredo Del Mar; City: Laredo Texas; Review: Pros: Good location, close to restaurant and mall, friendly staff, good late afternoon socials with drinks Cons: Average room, clean but old (bed was heavily used close to being uncomfortable, bathroom amenities lacking lotion, coffee was not re-supplied on the 3 days I stayed. I checked-in online early using Marriott apps in hope that I get a preferred room based on my profile; instead, I got a 2nd floor room that happened to have an above floor tenant with heavy feet. A/C is noisy. Bottomline: I would stay somewhere else when I come back to Laredo.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Coleman 2-Burner InstaStart PerfectFlow Propane Stove; Brand: Coleman; Review: My dad had some Coleman gear when I was a kid about 40 years ago, but I haven't gone camping in those intervening decades, so had no idea what had happened with the legendary Coleman name in all this time. As soon as I pulled this stove out of its carefully-packed box I could see that they still were building high-quality equipment. The stove sets up within a couple of minutes, and provides a very stable base. Stability is of paramount importance if you're going to use it in reality-based situations (instead of on the back porch) because nature is not flat nor smooth in most places. In a disaster or other emergency things are dark, confused and in a huge mess, one of the last things you need is for some of your dwindling food supply to topple over while the stove happily starts your shelter on fire. That will not happen with this Coleman stove on the ground. The two gas valves are large for precise flame control and have a silky feel to them. The "off" position cinches the valves down tight. The lid and side wind shields hook together and stay that way until you want them to come apart. The chrome grill comes off easily for cleaning. Propane for this stove is inexpensive and readily available at our local stores. You can disconnect a partially-used propane cylinder and use it again later. I got this one to add to our emergency gear for when the next power outage hits, wish I'd done it two outages ago.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: BLACKHAWK! 9006683 Mod-U-Lok Holster Platform with Screws black; Brand: BLACKHAWK!; Review: Pros: Tough as nails Detaches quickly Very adaptable to belt widths and weapon angles (cant). Cons: Can be a bit tough to unclip at first Don't come standard on all SERPA gear. Bottom Line: Put one on your SERPA and be happy! Blackhawk!'s Mod-U-Lok grips your belt firmly, matches perfectly with SERPA 3-screw mounting systems. This Quick Detach belt accessory is perfect for quickly swapping weapons from duty belts and civilian gun belts without having to remove the belt. Once you get the hang of it you can unclip these one-handed. Easier to use than the older Tek-Lok, there are holes for five different position mounting angles, and it's adjustable to 4 different belt widths. IMO this is a great upgrade to the belt loop or Paddle mounts which come with SERPA holsters. The material is every bit as tough as the SERPAS and I've never seen one break or rip loose. I became familiar with the Mod-U-Lok because Taser X-26 holsters ship with a Mod-U-Lok installed as the standard mount. Now I have Mod-U-Loks on my Glock G21sf and off-duty S&W 638. Best of all worlds, Blackhawk would ship all holsters with these included, but at least we are able to order the Mod-U-Lok as an upgrade.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Galco Pocket Protector Holster for S&W J Frame 640 Cent 2 1/8-Inch .357 (Natural, Ambi); Brand: Galco Gunleather; Review: For several years I have used a DeSantis Nemesis in-pocket holster. For about the first 6 months it was a pretty good holster, but after awhile the "sticky-ness" of the material wore off and the thin material started to form itself around my S&W .38 snubby. I got around this by using some foam inserts on each side of the hammer which would keep the Nemesis opening wider to increase the likelihood of a clean draw; but I never felt like it was going to be 100% reliable. When I was reading another review that mentioned that this Galco Pocket Protector had a metal strip at the top to keep the holster open, I thought, "ah-ha!" Somebody figured this problem out. Yes indeed, this little Galco works with my revolver and the hook built into the holster by the trigger guard really works! The outline outside the pants pocket is indistinct enough to mask what it really is. You can tell something is there but it doesn't look like a weapon. In fact, it is difficult to get the holster to come out of a jeans pocket, which is exactly what you want to happen. If you ever need to save your life in an emergency, the holster needs to release the gun and stay put in your pocket at a time when your motor skills will be degraded, and there will be no time to spare to fiddle around. After a week of using this Pocket Protector on a .38 revolver, I am very enthusiastic, it is starting out great. Time will tell, let's say a couple of years from now whether it's still performing like this- I'll try to update once we have some miles on it. I have several Galco off-duty holsters including a belt holster for a 1911 and one for my S&W .38, and a Miami Classic for a Glock G-21; I'd say this is typical Galco, professional-quality gear that lasts years. At this price it's a real bargain.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gulfstream Tropical AGU00528 Ista Max Mix Co2 Reactor for Aquarium, Medium; Brand: Gulfstream Tropical; Review: I have had this reactor for a couple of weeks now, and am not going to install it outside of my tank. Why not? No ad copy or review I saw seems to advise that this item goes in-line with the output of your filter system, presumably a canister system, since it won't plug into a back-of-tank waterfall type filter. The idea apparently is that, going inline from the output side of your canister filter, you place a pressurized hose over the Ista's non-barbed press-fit adapter, into the reactor, and then the CO2-infused output is from another non-barbed press-fit adapter and from there to the spray, or rain distribution-pipe that your canister normally feeds. And all of this can be outside the tank? I have a 700 GPH filter. Press-fit adapters. What if, I am wondering, one of these press-fittings pops off when no one's home, all the water is dumped on the floor; the fish maybe survive in a few inches of water. Welcome home! Pull up a raft! The only way in the world I will trust this thing is when it's installed inside the tank; in this way if/when the adapter blows off, or it leaks like a sieve, the water stays in the tank and only a little CO2 is wasted, instead of the carpet, furniture, bookcase, and so on. IF it stands the real-time pressure test then MAYBE it'll go inline under the tank. I have looked at this thing for days now, playing with the cone-shaped press-fittings and it seems that if you really press it on there it takes about five to ten pounds of force to get it to come off, maybe less. It's like, "you have to be kidding, here." The interior of the unit looks pretty spiffy, I assume it works as intended, but that they would create a product with hokey hard plastic press fit adapters (and if you don't use the adapters the fitting the hose goes onto is tapered the wrong way (as I said non-barbed) with the small end on the outside and increasing in diameter as it gets into the unit, and as such is just begging to blow off sooner or later. Even with a good quantity of aquarium silicone sealant I am doubtful that these parts would stay together. And another unaddressed question: what if the canister filter puts out more PSI in backpressure than your CO2 source produces at the desired rate? A possible answer is to use a small power head, something in the order of 150 GPH to cut out the canister filter loop entirely. I am leaning in this direction right now. If I get the thing plumbed for an in-the-tank installation using the 700 GPH return line I'll try to get back here and update this review as to how -and whether- it handles 500 to 700 GPH pressure. Too bad, it looks like they got the inside of the thing right, but the fittings are a gamble. UPDATE 7-31-2013 I wound up plumbing a feed off of the canister; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Maxpedition Gear Bohica Patch; Brand: Maxpedition; Review: This little Velcro-backed rubberized 'patch' is molded out of some kind of soft flexible material and is actually 3-D. I have it on a Maxpedition Versipack which is now called "The BOHICA Bag". The Velcro backing is sturdy and really hangs on tight.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 5.11 Cotton Tactical Short Sleeve Shirt; Brand: 5.11; Review: These 5.11 cotton tactical shirts are built like tanks. When you first get them it takes a few weeks/months (!) to soften the canvas up, and from then on, and for years to come, you'll have a strong, reliable uniform shirt that can put up with about anything. I've had other brand shirts blow out after a couple of months while the 5.11's go on year after year. If you are balking at the price, consider a different $45 shirt that lasts 2 months vs. one of these that can last 4 or more years. The math will tell the story. The Sage color is a muted green, looks great with Khaki or black, it is almost a grey in some lighting conditions. I won't rehash the features of these shirts, suffice to say that once you've gotten used to the cargo capacity of them, normal shirts will seem like pocketless T-shirts. As is usual for 5.11 shirts they are slightly more roomy than a regular "civilian" shirt but I go up a size when I need to accommodate Level II body armor.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Leupold PRW 1-in Low; Brand: Leupold; Review: Using these matte rings to mount a matte VX-1 2-7 33mm 1" Leupold scope on a Savage Mark II rifle. The screw-holes have nylon inserts (I think they call them "ny-lock" or some such term) at the bottom of the threads, so Loctite is not needed. As others have noted, they are solid, high-grade steel, and four heavy torx screws hold the rings together. A torx wrench is included, as are mounting instructions. More about mounting in just a second. The rings are such a good match that it looks like the scope tube and the rings are machined as one-piece, and finished at the same time, I mean they are exactly the same, and the rings just disappear instead of looking like something that was added later. How a weapon system looks is usually a low priority for me, but these things just radiate high-quality workmanship when used together. Now, about the mounting: Inside the rings' package is some artwork; at first, it appears to be a single card but is actually folded two-sided paper. Once you unfold the artwork, you'll find detailed mounting instructions. Those instructions show how to use two allen wrenches, inserted through the top ring's mounting holes to slightly spread the top ring open, while placing them over the scope maintube. It sounded crazy at first, but once you get the hang of it, the technique actually works and allows you to get the tops on without 'snapping' the rings and possibly damaging the finish. I used a little duct tape to make sure the wrenches were positioned properly (to not go too deep in order to clear the scope tube and to not fall out before applying pressure) -before spreading the ring-opening apart. There is a diagram in the instructions, which helps visualize the maneuver. I expect one set of these scope rings will last your lifetime and probably several more. If you are lucky enough to have an American-made Leupold scope then it deserves to be mounted on rings this good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tactical Solutions Tac Sol Rug Mk Series Hlstr High Blk; Brand: Tactical Solutions; Review: At first I thought this was going to be a washout. I tried to holster my Ruger 22/45 with Spectre-II suppressor attached and there was no way in the world it was going to fit. The model 22/45 I have is the threaded barrel with adjustable sights, model 10150. This means that the barrel is slightly smaller in diameter than some of the other variations, which have a barrel that is the same diameter as the receiver section (like the Pac-Lite for example). That means that if the 10150 is holstered without a suppressor, then the pistol can rock forward and back about 1/4" and rattle around a bit as it moves. The pistol is held securely but it does move slightly front-to-back. But with a suppressor in place the system is held firmly and does not move or make noise. Back to the suppressor fit. There is an earlier review here in which the reviewer states that their Spectre-II "fits great", and I was thinking, "In what universe is this happening, 'cause it's not happening here." So. I packaged it back up and prepared to get a return label in the morning. But after awhile, curiosity got the batter of me and I decided to just try loosening up the adjustment screws all the way out ,without them falling out of the anchors, and... what do you know, the Spectre-II actually did make it. It was snug, but not so much that it felt like it was damaging the finish. Got some blue Locktite in there and those screws will probably be secure before too long. They are backed out quite a bit but there is still solid engagement of the threads. The 6" Spectre does protrude about 4 inches below the holster, but this is the only 22/45 holster I know of that will accommodate an attached suppressor, so it's a good thing it works. As observed in an earlier review, there is no belt loop adjustment possible, and these openings are wide enough to accommodate a Blackhawk full-size police duty belt. Construction and materials-wise it feels rugged and I have to disagree with another reviewer, it feels as rugged as the Blackhawk Serpa holsters, and I have three of them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BLACKHAWK! Speed Clips (6-Pack #3); Brand: BLACKHAWK!; Review: This was just the thing to adapt the Maxpedition Barnacle to Duty belt use. The Barnacle is MOLLE only, so I needed a low-profile attachment system to allow a 2" duty belt and to keep the pouch secure. These are just flexible enough to allow the tabs to get under the MOLLE webbing but once there don't flex enough to let the gear go because you brush hard against a wall or roll over them on the ground. Very thoughtfully designed, with one lanyard hole in each end, and shipped in a package with a Zip-Lock type closure to store unused clips. One other thoughtful design feature is that the clips terminate at an angle to conform toward the item they're holding, and so avoid presenting a protruding edge for things to hang up on. High quality gear we've come to expect from Blackhawk! products.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Newbaum's Cloth Bar Tape; Brand: Newbaum's; Review: I think this is the same tape I used years ago, but this time it was not for a bike, it was for the steering wheel of a 2002 car, whose surface had become slick with years (and 250,000 miles) of wear. Not only was the steering wheel slick, it was made of hard material and was cold in the winter morning until the entire interior warmed up, making the early am commute even more uncomfortable. But the main concern was the slick surface which made gripping difficult and so compromising safety. The adhesive is very grippy, coating most of the inside layer of the woven fabric, leaving perhaps 1/64th " uncoated on the left and right. It really sticks o itself, so caution is advised to uncover only a few inches at a time when wrapping. I didn't realize I'd need two rolls for this automotive application, so the first roll made it about 60% around the circumference. With that in place, and a test drive later, I was sure I wanted to finish the job with this same Newbaum's, and the second roll came quickly thanks to A-zon's fast action. The flexibility of this tape is impressive, enabling sharp angles between steering wheel spokes without folding or puckering. It looks kind of Mad Max-ish (instead of Auto Parts Store aftermarket) but that's cool, I didn't need Hawaiian Hibiscus flowers all over my steering wheel. Now I have a comfortable, positive grip that doesn't freeze my hands and is a little softer than the material underneath, which was as pleasant as gripping the steering column before wrapping.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gore Bike Wear Men's Road Cycling Gore-Tex Gloves; Brand: Gore Bike Wear; Review: I wore these for four hours in pouring 40 degree rain the other day. It wasn't until the 3rd hour that my hands started to feel a bit chilly and a bit humid. I think that's really good performance! The thumbs are oddly over-long. As though the model were a tree-dwelling creature that is fond of bananas. The swoosh on the back is made of reflective material, which is a nice touch. I wish there were a built-in clip arrangement to hook the two together, but it's possible to use the Velcro fasteners to make-do for storage and on-pack carry. It's a small gripe. There are two little loops inside the hem of each glove; I haven't figured out what those are for yet. After going through to pair of really disappointing inexpensive gloves, it's a relief to finally end the quest for wearable gloves which are truly rainproof. These prove the truth to the advice, "buy once, cry once."; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with food recipes as follows:
Title: yummy crunchy apple pie; Review: A chef that competes asked me for the recipe. I used the pie crust with vinegar, too. The chef was impressed with the flackyness of the crust.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: kittencal s buttery cut out sugar cookies w icing that hardens; Review: This is the best sugar cookie recipe I've tried. And won't try another. Used it for Valentine's cookie cutters. Easily movable to baking sheet then to cooling rack. I would like a sweeter cookie but I wouldn't change up this recipe. Making for my wonderful Man's. Taking a huge platter size box full of these cookies and "whatever float's your boat" brownies to my college boy to share.... I think I will get lots of xoxox . Yep! I did get xoxoxo from my college man and friend. And watched other students salabate. I used a different creamy frosting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: soft coconut macaroons; Review: Oh yum! I'm afraid I'm going to gobble them all up! So good. I separated into batches and made one plain, one with craisins, and one with chocolate chips. Simply yum. Used small muffin cups. NEXT time I'm going to add an almond in the center and coat with hard shell chocolate. Better than Almond Joy's.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: kittencal s roasted brussels brussels sprouts; Review: I rEalLy love cooking! The best part of cooking is making it your own. I substituted sprinkle butter for the butter and garlic salt for garlic powder and salt. After putting the ingredients in the baking dish...I scattered cut in half garlic cloves, pine nuts and craisans (dried cranberries). I baked at 350 degrees F for only 20 minutes. Broiled till lightly toasted. My family likes heated and not too soft veggies. I placed all on a red heart shaped plate. Pretty with the cranberries and light colored cheese. Sprinkled parmesan cheese and toasted, again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: kittencal s technique for perfect easy peel hard boiled eggs; Review: Thank you VeRy mUch! :)); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | food |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: ANCO 31-Series 31-20 Wiper Blade -20", (Pack of 1); Brand: Anco; Review: "You get what you pay for" is an adage that applies to most things. These Anco blades are normally twice this price at retail stores and even on Ebay. For under $5 you cannot beat this deal. And the brand name blades are DIFFERENT. Don't waste your money on those cheapos.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Magic 850 Leather Cream Conditioner - 16 fl. oz.; Brand: Blue Magic; Review: This stuff is "gunky", in a good way. You apply it as a gel on the intended surfaces, and work it in to the material. It seems to treat the coverings better and longer than the spray stuff. The only complaint is that the residue stays on your hands for a while, even after attempting to wash off with soap and water. The cool side of that is that you can swipe folks' hands (you know: "gimme fives'") it's UNBELIEVABLE how fast your hand slides off the receiving person's! Enjoy this product.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Magic 800 Clear 16 Fluid Ounce 16OZ LTHR/Vinyl Cleaner; Brand: Blue Magic; Review: Bought this stuff originally to use on my car seats. They were a cheap vinyl material but someone recommended this instead of Armor All. The A.A. was causing me to slide off my car seat whenever I moved or if a traffic situation caused me to jerk in one direction or the other. I'd end up on the floor or on the console each time. This stuff gives you a bit of a shine (not as brilliant as A.A. but actually more "realistic") and keeps my "seat on the seat", so to speak. Tried this on the couches in my house after my houseguests were ending up on the floor (same reason: had used A.A. on the couches too), and my guests are now much happier and less offended after visits. Am looking forward to replacing AA with this on my shoes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Motorcraft FL-500S Original Version Oil Filter; Brand: Motorcraft; Review: What's not to love about this oil filter! Motorcraft makes some of the highest rated oil filters in the business (check the internet for oil filter comparisons), yet it's priced as cheaply as the Fram and other junk filters.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: TEKTON 5941 Digital Tire Gauge, 100 PSI; Brand: TEKTON; Review: What's not to love about this tire gauge! Lights up for easy placement on to your nozzle (great for those dark-night stops along a deserted stretch of road). EZ to read the digital readout in both standard and metric measurements (I inadvertently blew up my tire by relying on the metric measure, but was able to find a used one to replace it, although a bit smaller than the other three tires).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil 10W-30-5 Quart Jug; Brand: Pennzoil; Review: I've used Pennzoil (and Quaker State) lubrication for 50 years and those companies' products have never let me down. The sale Amazon had on these 5 qt containers coupled with the rebate from Pennzoil was a no-brainer purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Automotive |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Speed (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hollow Man (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Exit Wounds (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 3 (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: End of Days (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mission: Impossible (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Nutty Professor (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy Returns (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Fast and the Furious (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop II (1987); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cocktail (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries (Widescreen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Swordfish (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Behind Enemy Lines (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The General's Daughter (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Enemy of the State (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: XXX: Special Edition (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sweet Home Alabama (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spartan (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Saint (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Undercover Brother (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Hunted (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Jackal (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Being John Malkovich (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sum of All Fears (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Patriot Games (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Murder By Numbers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Entrapment (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Top Gun (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Net (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Broken Arrow (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Bride (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tomb Raider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Laws of Attraction (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Face/Off (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Airplane! (1980); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hellboy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Identity (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Punch-Drunk Love (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chicago (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mona Lisa Smile (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 13 Going on 30 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python's The Meaning of Life: Special Edition (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Professional (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Ghost and the Darkness (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Italian Job (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Apocalypse Now Redux (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Raising Helen (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scarface: 20th Anniversary Edition (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Body Shots (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Billy Madison (1995); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Usual Suspects (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Bride (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Untouchables (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stand by Me (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hoosiers (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Save the Last Dance (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crimson Tide (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Great Escape (1963); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shining (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Primal Fear (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Last of the Dogmen (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1972); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Spy Game (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: You Only Live Twice (1967); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Man Show Presents: Girls on Trampolines (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Dirty Dozen (1967); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raw (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clear and Present Danger (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Real Cancun (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Fugitive (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Prince and Me (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Last of the Mohicans (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Few Good Men (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Negotiator (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Full Metal Jacket (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secondhand Lions (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: S.W.A.T. (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Cinderella Story (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Starsky & Hutch (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Fish (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Phone Booth (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Bourne Supremacy (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ani DiFranco: Trust (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Momma's House (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In the Line of Fire (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Thomas Crown Affair (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Recruit (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Time to Kill (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: L.A. Confidential (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hamburger Hill (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tombstone (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Porn Theatre (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Eurotrip (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wake Up (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Collateral (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hunt for Red October (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunrise (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Seven (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Before Sunset (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Basic Instinct (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sniper School (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Phantom of the Opera: Special Edition (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Neverland (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sideways (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1974); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Garden State (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Road to Perdition (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Heat: Special Edition (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sneakers (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Paycheck (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Santa (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spanglish (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Catch Me If You Can (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Twelve (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Fockers (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: House of Flying Daggers (2004); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko: Director's Cut (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shall We Dance? (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chasing Amy (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Good Company (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Unbreakable (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Donnie Darko (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dogma (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Revolutions (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Major League (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Storm (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Training Day (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: U.S. Marshals (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Primer (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Serendipity (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Nicky (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Daredevil (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stargate (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: An Officer and a Gentleman (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Porky's (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Proof of Life (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Great Outdoors (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tommy Boy (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Young Guns (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Red Dawn (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Whole Nine Yards (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mad Max (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Knight's Tale (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friday (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Basic (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Weird Science (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Girl Next Door (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: We Were Soldiers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Windtalkers (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: U-571 (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Four Rooms (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek: First Contact (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mallrats (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blade 2 (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bring It On (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Abyss (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All the Real Girls (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: True Lies (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blue Streak (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heist (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Last of the Mohicans (1920); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Crow (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Raising Arizona (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 12 Monkeys (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Mail (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Analyze That (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: K-19: The Widowmaker (2002); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Blade Runner (1982); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Amigos (1986); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: She's All That (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black Sheep (1996); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cradle 2 the Grave (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde 2: Red (2003); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Ronin (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Harry (1972); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Days of Thunder (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bachelor Party (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Next Stop Wonderland (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Secretary (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: GoodFellas: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Real Genius (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977); Rating: 4.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: The Candidate's Wife - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Isabella Ashe Page; Review: This was a predictable little bodice ripper. Not one ounce of suspense even when it tried. Better proofreading would have made it less irritating. I did like the female main character's name, however.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Great Gatsby - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's F. Scott Fitzgerald Page; Review: Of course, like everyone, I read this in high school and enjoyed the story. Revisiting it now, in my advanced years, I am enjoying the delicious writing even more than the story itself. What a master Fitzgerald was at turning a phrase without sounding precious.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Weird Al Yankovic; Brand: Visit Amazon's Mara Altman Page; Review: This was like life having a casual chat with Al Yankovic. I like his work, so it was interesting to get a picture of him as a person. Nothing shocking or surprising. Just a nice little face to face. Very laid back, easy-going.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Your Baby's First Word Will Be DADA - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jimmy Fallon Page; Review: Cute, clever book. My 4 month old grandson is quite engrossed by it and seems to have favorite pages, judging by his reaction. A great early book for babies. And fun for Gramma to read aloud.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sense And Sensibility (Annotated; Brand: Visit Amazon's Jane Austen Page; Review: I've been reading Jane Austen lately (somehow it was not covered when I was in school and I had very little post-high school education. However, I felt that everyone should read at least one of her novels. After my first one, I understood the appeal and continue to explore her works.) As usual, Austen populates her tale with well drawn characters, and amusing, as well as heart-breaking, situations. This is one of the lengthier of her books, and it took a while to plow through it. I thought there was a little too much time spent on some of the events, and a couple were hardly necessary in moving the story along. It's as if she thought of some vignettes that she wanted to include in a novel and decided to toss them in here. But, overall, it was a very fun read, and did provide (as usual) insight into the motivations people have for their actions. If you love reading Austen, dive in. If not, try a different one.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: SmartyKat Chickadee Chirp Cat Toy with Bird Sounds; Brand: SmartyKat; Review: My four cats love these chirping birds. Keeps them occupied!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SmartyKat Catnip Cat Toys; Brand: SmartyKat; Review: They are already glommed up with kitty saliva! My cats love them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SmartyKat Electronic Motion Cat Toys; Brand: SmartyKat; Review: Pandemonium! Chaos! All four of them love this toy. Be careful with the arm with the orange plastic tip, one of my cats chewed it off.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Vitakraft Super Absorbant Cage Liners for Small Animals - 7 Pack; Brand: Vitakraft; Review: Bought a bunch of them because they work so well in my rabbit's cage!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Novartis Capstar Flea Tablets for Dogs and Cats; Brand: Novartis; Review: Gets rid of fleas FAST, but follow up with Revolution for long-term flea control.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ware Manufacturing Plastic Scatterless Lock-N-Litter Small Pet Pan- Colors May Vary; Brand: Ware Manufacturing; Review: Great bunny litterboxes. They can't pull and push it around and it's easy to put in their cage.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kaytee Hay n Food Bin Feeder with Quick Locks - 100506055; Brand: Kaytee; Review: These work great and hay doesn't scatter all over the place!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pet Bedding; Brand: Carefresh; Review: Helps with odor and with comfort for my rabbit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Carefresh Complete Pet Bedding ( Pack May Vary ); Brand: Carefresh; Review: Helps with odor and with comfort for my rabbit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Van Ness Small Litter Pan, Assorted Colors; Brand: Van Ness; Review: I use this for my large bunny Bo Bo - it holds his hay. It works well, and now there isn't hay all over the place.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: (3 Packages) VitaKraft Super Absorbent Cage Liners for Small Animals 7 Liners each (16"x28"); Brand: Vitakraft; Review: Works so well to keep my rabbit's cage clean.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: PetAg CatSure Meal Replacement; Brand: Pet Ag; Review: My elderly cat just wouldn't even try it. Poor old man. The younger cats drank it, though.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ethical Stonewe Animal Dish; Brand: Ethical; Review: Nice, big water bowls for my cats and rabbits!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kaytee Supreme Food For Rabbit; Brand: Kaytee; Review: Good pellets, but feed them sparingly. 80% of a rabbits diet should be timothy hay and greens.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tomlyn Nutri-Cal Cats; Brand: Tomlyn; Review: I wish my cats would eat it! They run when they see me coming at them with this in my hand.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Van Ness Large High Sides Cat Litter Pan, Assorted Colors; Brand: Van Ness; Review: I use two of these for my big ole Californian rabbit. He's HUGE!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kaytee Wafer Cut Hay; Brand: Kaytee; Review: My bunnies love this kind of timothy hay!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kaytee Kay-Kob Bedding and Litter; Brand: Kaytee; Review: It had little bugs in it. Had to throw the whole bag out.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grannick Bitter Apple Spray for Ferrets and small-animals 8oz; Brand: Grannick's; Review: Works well at keeping my bunny from chewing on my furniture.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kordon/Oasis (Novalek) SOA80850 Frosted All Weather Rabbit Water Bottle, 32-Ounce; Brand: Kordon; Review: Works well for my very large bunny, Bo Bo.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: LeapFrog LeapReader Learn to Read, Volume 2 (works with Tag); Brand: LeapFrog; Review: This is a great idea for hours of fun that provides a necessary learning experience of today's education requirements. Grand daughter has not put it down since receiving it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: LeapFrog TAG Reading System, compatible with the older style, Green; Brand: LeapFrog; Review: This reading system is a great idea. It provides successful, eduational learning experiences for young kids ready to learn independently.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster High Sweet 1600 Clawdeen Wolf Doll; Brand: Monster High; Review: Not sure what the background is about these dolls but granddaughters wanted them. Easy to change from normal doll to Clawdeen wolf. Looks just like pictures.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster High Sweet 1600 Draculaura Doll; Brand: Monster High; Review: Grandaughter loves the doll especially the hair. Easy to transform, has few small accessories to lose. Represented well by packaging.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monster High Sweet 1600 Frankie Stein Doll; Brand: Monster High; Review: Not sure what the background of this doll is but my granddaughters really wanted them. Easy to transform and not too many small parts.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: One Direction Singing Dolls Collection, Harry; Brand: One Direction; Review: I am not sure what the purpose of this doll is but my grand daughter enjoys playing with it periodically since receiving it. Can fore see that the use thrill will get old as it only plays one song.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ever After High First Chapter Raven Queen Doll; Brand: Ever After High; Review: Grand daughter has loved receiving her as a birthday gift. The local stores had the more expensive version with extra little accessories that get lose.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Ridgid R82007 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Pocket Drill Driver; Brand: Ridgid; Review: Generally this drill is a handy little drill for many jobs. It is small and very powerful for its size. I read many reviews before I purchased it, and was alarmed by all of the problems with the batteries. I thought - surely Ridgid would address these problems and my drill wouldn't be one with the problem. WRONG!! The batteries were defective right off the bat. I found the service center - which was wrong on the website and about twenty miles out of Salt Lake City. They took the whole drill in for two weeks and replaced the batteries. If you want to be without your new purchase for two weeks, go ahead and buy this. Any company that would ship out defective parts is not worthy of any future purchases from me. And, if you choose the Milwaukee drill - don't plan on anything different. I found that these drills are made by the same company. It seems that Ridgid (a company with a long standing reputation for making excellent tools) sold the name to another company that is making these tools - mostly in China. If you insist on buying these tools, spend the extra ten bucks and buy them from Home Depot. Then, when they go bad, you can get a replacement right away. Better yet, get something else. Buy the way - this is the second tool that I bought from Amazon (shipped from Amazon) in the last couple of months that had to have service work right away. I am suspecting that companies may be sending Amazon defective merchandise and letting the consumer deal with it. Both products should never have been let out from the factory.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: DEWALT DC411B 4-1/2-Inch 18-Volt Cordless Cut-Off Tool (Tool Only); Brand: DEWALT; Review: As with all of the DeWalt 18 volt line of tools - this grinder is very handy and easy to use. I have pretty much all of the tools and using one battery for everything is nice. This tool is not for everyone, as it is a specialty type tool. I don't think I will use it for hours on end, but for the quick jobs - it is great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Komelon SL2812 Self Lock 12-Foot Power Tape; Brand: Komelon; Review: these are my favorite tape measure and priced well; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ExpertPower 18v 1500mAh NiCd Battery for Dewalt DC9096 DW9095 DW9096 DW9098 DE9039 DE9095 DE9096 DE9098 DC9099 DC9098; Brand: ExpertPower; Review: These batteries work as good as the originals; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 18 Pound Strength N52 Neodymium Pocket Magnet Metal Tester Stud Finder; Brand: Highlandhawker; Review: great; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Sony MDRZX100 Headphones (Black); Brand: Sony; Review: Great Sounds for great price. I enjoyed using Sony head phones in the past and for the cost it was a great deal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sony MDRZX100 ZX Series Stereo Headphones (Blue); Brand: Sony; Review: Great Sounds for great price. I enjoyed using Sony head phones in the past and for the cost it was a great deal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Transcend USB 3.0 SDHC / SDXC / microSDHC / SDXC Card Reader, TS-RDF5K (Black); Brand: Transcend; Review: Did what I needed to and more. I love the size and convenience!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pepkoo Ipad 2/3/4 Case Plastic Kid Proof Extreme Duty Dual Protective Back Cover with Kickstand and Sticker for Ipad 4/3/2; Brand: pepkoo; Review: does the job for the price well worth it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Smatree® Li-Polymer Battery (2-Pack) and Rapid Dual Charger for GoPro Hero3, Hero3+; Brand: Smatree; Review: great batteries for the price and does great with my go pro 3+!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk Ultra 32GB UHS-I/Class 10 Micro SDHC Memory Card With Adapter - SDSDQUAN-032G-G4A; Brand: SanDisk; Review: Works great for my Go pro 3+ no complaints here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: NPCs (Spells, Swords, & Stealth Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's Drew Hayes Page; Review: After the first chapter things became a bit slow. A role playing gamer may like the first and last chapters. Otherwise it sounded a lot like a backstory to a quest in a role playing game while not delivering the story i kept expecting. I did wonder what utterly horrible thing must have happened due to the ending.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Uprooted eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Naomi Novik Page; Review: Overall I enjoyed the book but mainly the beginning and the ending. At times I felt there was too much repetition. Young lady saves the day, again just by wanting to, everyone pushing themselves to the limit, again, back to the tower again. It had its moments but a lot of times there would be pop up characters making too short appearances... oh here is the king, here is the prince, here is the priest dude.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Atlantis Gene: A Thriller (The Origin Mystery, Book 1) - Kindle edition; Brand: Visit Amazon's A.G. Riddle Page; Review: Having finished the book I would not recommend it to anyone. About the 3rd of the way through it became much less interesting. By the end it seemed to be repeating itself but with other people going over the same events. Occasionally important events seemed to contradict a previous event.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Red Rising; Brand: Visit Amazon's Pierce Brown Page; Review: the story picked up when the character got to the school. the character developments were the best part of the book. the whole segregation back story and the "disguise" seemed a bit far fetched. still an enjoyable book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legion eBook; Brand: Visit Amazon's Brandon Sanderson Page; Review: But I am not sure how this fits in with the other stories of Legion; the TV show Legion or the marvel comic stories of Legion.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Kindle_Store |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Allegro Cozumel; City: Cozumel Yucatan Peninsula; Review: The Allegro was nice, very clean and the staff was great. I will give you the pros and cons. Pros: Great, affordable rooms. Ask for a second floor room, they have the coolest thatched ceilings. Small resort so we made a ton of friends. We sat out on the beach some of the time and tipped the waiter excessively so we had many, many drinks-good service. Very clean resort! The staff leaves you alone and you can really relax if you want. Cons: Food left something to be desired at lunch. I think breakfast and dinner were good, but lunch was really bad. I recommend renting a car and going to the east side of the island. Cozumel is extremely safe and the highlight of our trip was going to the east side of the island. Do your research, Coconuts is the coolest rest. overlooking the ocean. Chen Rio is right before Coconuts and the food is to die for. We had another couple with and split a huge plate of seafood. So yummy, affordable and laid back! It was fun to look at the ocean, all the people on the beach and the cliffs. Chen Rio and Coconuts is a must see! It is just beautiful!!!!!!! The nightlife at Allegro is not that great, if existant at all. If you meet people, you will have fun hanging out by the pool, but don't expect to be entertained. I think you will become bored at the resort if you don't venture off and see more of this beautiful island. Allegro overall is clean, affordable, and in a great location with mediocre food. Have fun, vacations are what you make of them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La Mirage Condominiums; City: Port Aransas Texas; Review: We have been visiting Port Aransas for the last 5 years, 3 of which we stayed at La Mirage in different condos each time. We are going back this August as well. I do agree with some of the posts that the condos could be upgraded a bit, but the other amenities outweigh this small problem. The condos are not brand new! We LOVE the HUGE back balcony and the proximity to the beach. We have a great time with the kids grilling out while they play under the shade. The beach is also great and usually never crowded like the public beach area. We also make fires on the beach and catch crabs at night. Its a great trip that we look forward to every year. If you want a nice comfortable place to take the family, this is it. If you want top rated luxury and granite counter tops, try the Sandpiper. I also think La Mirage is very affordable - they offer buy 3 nights get the 4th free every time we stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Omni Austin Hotel Downtown; City: Austin Texas; Review: My husband and I stayed here June 16, 2014 and found the hotel to be very beautiful. The very nice lady, Melinda, at the front desk put us on the 17th floor with a balcony. The room is older and doesn't have some of the modern luxuries we have seen in newer Omni's such as the Dallas Omni (lights that come on when you walk, T.V. in the mirror, etc.), but overall our stay was really nice. We took a couple of glasses of wine to the rooftop pool and really enjoyed ourselves. We were the only ones up there and it was great! The hotel is also conveniently located to many attractions in Austin.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Skyway Inn Hotel; City: SeaTac Washington; Review: We booked this hotel through Expedia and when we pulled up at night it was really scary. We told the hotel that we weren't going to stay there. They refused to give us a refund and Expedia couldn't refund us either. It sucks to have to eat the money, but at least we survived the…; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: North Texas Jellystone Park; City: Burleson Texas; Review: We live in Burleson and have been to Yogi's several times. We love going there, especially with the kids. We have a 14 yr old and she likes to go play ga ga ball with her friends and the 8 yr old still enjoys the organized activities. It's a great park to bike ride in, go hiking, etc. It's a shame that it isn't more affordable for the locals and we would all go more often. It's hard to throw down $79/night for a tent or $89/night for the RV. The water park is nice too, overall a great park and if you are on vacation and not worried about the price...go, it's great (at least for families).; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Royal Solaris Los Cabos; City: San Jose del Cabo Los Cabos Baja California; Review: This was our first time to Cabo and if you are used to the Caribbean, you may be disappointed. The water is pretty, but not aquamarine blue nor can you swim in it due to the rip tide. Waves are very large and it’s cold! Some resorts closer to lovers beach (and the arch) have beaches that you can swim in. So here is my breakdown: This is a members hotel meaning that they 1. Have exclusive benefits for members like special restaurants and a members only bar that serves top shelf liquor 2. They want to entice you to buy into their membership I don’t want to dissuade anyone from going to the 90 minute seminar should they choose to do so. There are a lot of members who are happy with their membership. Spending $16,500 was not for us, but to each their own. Our friends are members so we went with them and had access to their membership perks. Rooms: We upgraded to oceanfront when we arrived bc we wanted to be on at least a 2nd floor. We were in 398 and the room was nice. It was a corner unit with a 800 sq foot patio that had a hot tub /bath on it. We slept with the doors open and listened to the beach at night. I recommend upgrading when you arrive so you can get a higher level room. I like that this resort offers bottle water everywhere (I tend to get sick in Mexico). They also serve modelo especial beer )which I also like). They stock your fridge everyday with can beers, waters, and some soft drinks. Staff I don’t care what anyone says, the staff here are amazing...they try very hard to keep you happy Tipping Bring some ones, they really do work hard and it’s common place to tip. Pools and beach You can’t see the ocean waves from the resort bc there is a 5’ wall to the waves. It’s just the way it is here. It didn’t really affect our trip since we didn’t go to the beach a ton. The pools are nice. People generally bring their beach towels out in the morning and reserve their chairs for the day and if you want one, you should do so as well. They have a party pool, an adult pool, and a nice area for kids with slides. Food Well...this is where this resort falls short. You are also not paying as much for this resort as you are for others. We stayed at sandals before and the food is 5 star (as are most cruise ships). If you are a foodie, you may want to pay more for a better quality resort. If you go to restaurants are generally satisfied you’ll be fine. Dinner and breakfast were ok to pretty good, lunch was...uh not usually great. Pizza was good. We only stayed 4 nights and did two excursions during our stay so we were off property most days for lunch. I honestly can’t imagine eating the same lunch for; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk; City: San Antonio Texas; Review: We really enjoyed the Drury. Great location, loved the free breakfast, and staff were really friendly. Kids (and husband) enjoyed the heated pool and spa on the 23rd floor. Great view of the city. This is not a 5 star hotel, but great value for the money.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Ramayana Store; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: This is a nice small store that doesnt have any signs or anything outside. you can notice that its indonesian because of the signs and products in the window. its a small red-ish brick building, they also have a wide variety of indonesian products such as sambal, abc and indomie. the owners are an older couple from surabaya and are always smiling. they do have a large selection of goods packed into a tight spot. it is run by a husband and wife eastern java. takes cash only.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Indonesia; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: They have a great new high class location in south philly closer to the indonesian community. its located on snyder, just off of passyunk. it has a huge purple awning, with a neon sign that displays its location. they have wayung puppets in the window and its decorated on the inside just as if you were in indonesia, and the staff wear batik clothing. It is a very beautiful building and the food is excellent. we have been here a few dozen times already, haha each time i go i try not only to practice my indonesian skills, but also my basa jawi, which isnt good at all, but oh well. it is smaller than their chinatown store, but they supply a lot of the smaller indo cafes with food, namely pendawa lima.my fav items are: soto madura & ayam goreng. they used to have the rijstafel at their old location in chinatown, however here at the new location they have removed it, but still the items are fairly priced. we had soto madura (a spicey soup- my favorite), pisang goreng (fried banana & ice cream) and ayam bakar (spicy baked chicken). The waiter is nice and can speak english perfectly. But its cool that i can practice indonesian if I want: "saya minta satu piring nasi putih, terimah kasih" one plate of white rice, please. Soto Madura soup is hard to describe, but if anyone reads this and is interested I'd highly suggest that you try it at least once. a sample of items: satay ayam madura, satay babi, satay kambing, satay kerang, sate udung, nasi goreng babi, nasi goreng mawut, nasi goren g ikan asin, nasi pecel, nasi urap ayam, nasi goreng jawa, nasi gudeg, ayam panggang kecap, ayam kare, ayam goreng kalasan, rendang sapi, steak daging, ayam asmi manis, bakmi, pangsit mie, lontong mie, tamie seafood, bihun kuah special, cap jay ayam, cah kangkunh bawang putih, udang pepes, cumi goreng tepung, udang saos inggris, udang balado, ikan masak kare, ikan asam masin, ikan goreng Indonesia Restaurant www.indonesiarestaurant.com has a list of food and some prices.... 1725 snyder ave, philadelphia pa 19145; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fan's Cafe; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: This place has a lot of great to-go indonesian foods such as nasi goreng, etc. right down the block fro indonesia restaurant. You can go in and order an item like nasi ayam goreng (rice w/ fried chicken), but it is primarily for catering, and it supplies food to other restaurants, churches and private parties. Their prices arent posted anywhere and there isnt anywhere to sit down, just a glass window where you place your order. the main purpose of this buisiness is to provide food for private parties, churches or other restaurants and shops that serve indo food. you can get something yourself, but its not true-ly a restaurant.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Moo Jin Jang; City: Upper Darby, PA; Review: Black Goat Soup. Bimbim bop. la kalbi. pagulki. that's all I have to say, the food was a little pricey, but it tasted excellent. It looked like a traditional korean home, with the waitress dressing in traditional clothes. I would really love to go back here. been here a few times while visiting friends in upper darby, and our friends had never tried korean. we liked it, i dont know about them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Banana Leaf; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I liked eating here, the malaysian is pretty decent, not too over priced. the food is of the highest quality. although the only thing I have a problem with is their posted hours, it says 10 am, but they have not opened until 10:30 or 11 am. staff is nice, service isnt too bad.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pho 75; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Yeah I agree this place is as simple as it gets, you select large or small and look at the ingredients, if you're not sure you can ask one of the staff to help you. All they have available is Pho (vietnamese soup) not even appetizers or rice dishes. A little sriracha goes a long way here. They have excellent hours and a good location.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bright Parking; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I agree with dave, its right in the heart of Chinatown. Really great people, they'll even park your car if you arent sure how to do it. Prices vary with events and so forth. Plus they have phonecards and an ATM right there on site.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Trocadero Theatre; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: IZ would agreet hat the troc is a killer palce for a show it really can get packed, plus you can get drunk... last show there was Cannible Corpse and ill tell you another thing.... for people who dont like to park, that alley behind the Troc has like 2 hidden parking spots... if you have s sub-compact you can fit it in really nice if you arent afraid to go up on a curb... i've done it a dozen times and never gotten a ticket.... just after i saw another guy do the same thing.....parking in a dark alley probably isnt the safest thing to do, but its not bad..... plus its hillarious to give a cd of cannible corpse to those annoying LOCALS who tell you they "i dont accept tips man" accept tips for what you stuck, you're trying to scam everyone.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tower Theater; City: Upper Darby, PA; Review: I went to the Tower Theatre when I was about 19 for the first time, now I have friends who live right down the street. It wasnt too bad, just a rock n roll concert, parking wasnt too bad actually, we were able to aprk on-street about a block and a half away.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wawa; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: This wawa needs public restrooms. they dont mind charging you 1.50 for a cup of burnt coffee, but then they dont have a bathroom? Burn in Hell wawa.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Valley Forge Service Plaza; City: Valley Forge, PA; Review: Please just admit it, you've been driving for an hour and a half and you need gas, but also you forgot to take money out of your bank account, how can you pay the parking without extra quarters? So you stop on that most desirable of places, the Valley Forge Service Plaza! They have a Nathan's, Burger King, Starbuck's, Uno, Sunoco Aplus and lots and lots of parking. The restrooms are usually clean or are being cleaned as you walk in. There is also a gift shop where you can buy postcards and maps and stuff. It never hurts to double check your directions you got from maps.google.com and then to just fill 'er up at the gas station, which recently has been almost the same price as everyone else or about 5 - 10 cents higher. They accept creditcards and have a PNC bank atm, and a big, loud TV that usually has the headline news on. Having going to Philly dozens of times, this is literally the last stop before you hit the parking lot aka the Schuykill Expressway & The Conshohocken. I've sat here for hours at a time during car accidents, downed trees, overturned tractor-trailers, etc. But at least I have a little peace of mind knowing that I'm all set as far as my vehicle goes.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hardena/Waroeng Surabaya Restaurant; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: This is a tiny house on the corner of hicks and moore. For only 6.00 you can get 3 items and a plate of white rice. lamb stew, sweet and sour fish, beef rendnag, just to name a few, alsdo.... nasi goreng, ikan pepes, bakmi goreng, rendaung, soto betawi, nasi cah kangkung, gado-gado, satay. they have a cooler of water and small styrofoam cups that you pour yourself. the people are pretty nice and the food is excellent, you can also get a large whole fish for only 7 dollars. also have es telor drinks which is like a pink coconut flavored drink with a cherry and lychee in it. pretty delicious if you ask me. They are all about the quality of the food, not the location. the location is very hard to find and doesnt have any parking to speak of besides on-street, and the place has a sign, but its easy to miss. It has three or four small tables where you basically rub up against other customers if youre not careful. It's a small corner store where they are very polite and sell excellent hot and spicy food. To correct any confusion created by the prior reviews this place is actually called Hardena, but the sign outside says "Waroeng Surabaya" which means surabaya cafe (like saying philly cafe) It was listed in a philadelphia food magazine in summer of 2005 and recently in a few other magazines too. and has kinda created a small buzz for being one of a handful of indonesian places to eat at (even though there are about a dozen other places - and almost no one else has reviewed any of them) it is a small yellow house right in the heart of the south philly indonesian community. It is listed in native magazines (kabar kilar) as Waroeng surabaya, and in my cellphone (ini orang bule, bisa basa jawi) as Waroeng Surabaya. the owners are from new york city and usually go up there to buy groceries and shop and visit relatives when they have that one day off, tuesday. only accepts cash and closed on tuesdays.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mayflower Bakery & Cafe; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I have been to this place a dozen times over the past few years. the food is decent, what my wife really likes is the bubble drinks. i personally think that tastes gross. the prices are fairly decent, especially for that part of the city. they have rolls and cakes that have hotdogs and pork and beef and corn in it. it's kind of gross if you didnt know that and you ate it. it ia basically a long rectangular building with the deli case on your left as you walk in and some small tables on your right, and in the back also, if you would like to sit down. this place does have a rest room you can just use, its behind the door to the kitchen on your right. which is kinda cool, you can just walk back and use it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Giant Food Stores; City: Royersford, PA; Review: This giant is pretty decent, lots of parking, cheap prices, it has just what i want to see. they have chinese, cheap bread and most importantly maxwell house coffee! just what i need in the morning, located just across the street from wawa off of 422.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ocean Harbor; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: We went to the Ocean Harbor for dim sum a few years back, it turned out to be pretty decent. Theres a few people pushing carts around and you basically keeps yellign what they have. I have never had any dim sum before so I was pretty excited. The dim sum quality was pretty nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Bazaar; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: The upstairs book store is totally awesome. They have a huge selection of books available, I could browse and browse for hours here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Geno's Steaks; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Seriously, what is the big deal, its alright, but i think i paid 7 dollars for a freaking sandwich i could have made at home with some onions & steak-ums. The place was decorated with all these photos of famous people and the building was painted bright orange. I also dont get the whole "speak english" thing, those guys had an accent that was so heavy I couldnt understand what they were saying. I swear these guys could star in the Godfather or the Sapranos. "Wit or WITOUT?" wait that's not proper English, I dont get it. bottom line: genos isnt all that great and throwing their hat into the ring in the immigration debate is stupid, they probably have illegals working in the back for christ sakes!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Nam Phuong; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Awesome vietnamese food, even better than in chinatown. I really like the food here, we've eaten here about 3 times over the years, the only big thing that turns me off is the food size. could be a little bit larger. its a large place and there are always people there. parking is cool, you dont have to worry about feeding the meter.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tasty Asia Restaurant; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: another indonesian restaurant that has south east asian flavored foods, great to enjoy. not many indonesian style foods, but they have some groceries, the boss is indo. free wireless internet access.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friendly Grocery; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Another new Indonesian store.... great place to practice your indonesian or just grab a bite to eat. has groceries, soda and other stuff like: coco juice, rice, sugar, cooking supplies. they also have a rack that has only sweets and pastries that are brought in from chinatown every day (they told me mayflower bakery) that's not bad, and only 10 cents more than chinatown, but without driving there. they also sell all kinds of phonecards, they are posted all over the wall of the place. they have a glass enclosure there too. it is okay, but still safety first.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 1st Oriental Supermarket; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I have to agree wit hthe prior review. Vietnam, china, korea, japan, laos, cambodia, philipines, thailand, indonesia, etc. it has it all. lots of fruit, vegetables, books, phonecards, soda, packaged noodels, sauces, sweets, rice, medicine, pots, pans, rice cookers. you name it its probably there. fresh fish, crabs, frogs (???) freshwater eel, salmon, roe, you name it, if its a type of fish they have it. want fresh anchovies, you got it. cash only.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bank of America Financial Center; City: Exton, PA; Review: this is located right off the turnpike and next to the red robin. I deposited money here for a friend who lives in California. Staff was fair and helpful. Most of the tellers were multi-ligual. drive through was pretty busy, but inside we were the only people there.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Asia Supermarket; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I have to agree with previous reviews. Asia Supermarket is downstairs, and there are two enterances, you cant get there if you're handicapped. this place has fresh fish, clams, lobsters, etc, but the cages are dirty and need cleaning. they have fruits and vegetables and so forth. rice cookers, pots, pans, chopsticks, bowls, brooms, a lot of things you could imagine. the bathroom at this supermarket is totally filthy, with no lock on the door. there also is a small viet restaurant in the corner that sells food. it has a large traditional medicine section. i tried it once, so-so. most of the cashiers speak only chinese or vietnamese.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: New Century Travel; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: We have dropped my wife's mother off here when they travel to NYC. it's significantly cheaper than greyhound, but can take longer than expected. its cheap and they cram as many people as possible on board. they dont have a bathroom at the office in philly.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Super Fresh; City: Havertown, PA; Review: This super Fresh is located in the Manoa Plaza on the West Chester Pike. Lots and lots of selections, fresh fruit, veggies, salads, pretty much whatever you could need. Gift cards, pet food, paper produ`ts, sugar, milk, bread, etc. We have been here several times while visiting friends in the area. It usually always is busy, and parking can be congested and nightmare-ish. One of the things that annoyed me is that they have a 'frequent shopper card' where you get discounts, well once their fruit was on sale, and we didnt have a card, we asked the cashier to just scan one (same as they did for a prior customer) and they didnt, when we looked at the bill, we asked that they cancel it and re-ring it, the lady refused. Needless to say I havent been back.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Parkway; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I stopped by the other day for some business in the city of brotherly love. I park my car and get the early bird special (8.00), the second cheapest in the area, after my usual, bright parking, wasnt open for some reason. The parking lot was clean, and could accommodate about 30 or so cars, with 2 spots reserved for PhillyCarShare. So I get out of my car and slide a crisp 20 dollar bill into the automatic pay box. I get my ticket / slip but no change. So I call the name listed on the machine, here he agrees to have an attendant come down and give me my change in a few hours. "Fine" I think. I went and handled my business and then had lunch, when I got back sure enough there was an attendant. When I told him my situation, once I showed him the receipt, he did in fact pay me my remaining 12 dollars... in GOLD DOLLARS!!!! HAHAHA I couldnt believe it, the only thing worse than not getting change is getting change in GOLD DOLLARS!!! DIE PARKWAY CORP, DIE!!!!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Philadelphia USCIS; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services: My wife and I arrived the other day for the 2nd to last leg of our long, winding journey. Today she was taking her citizenship exam. We had submitted her Form N-400, Application for Naturalization in Sept of 2007. Finally, In August of 2008 we received a letter from the USCIS directing us to go here and take the test. The test itself consists of 10 random verbal questions, about our nations government, supreme court, presidents, flag, constitution, history or anything else related to the USA. It seems easy, but there were tons of things I had to look up myself before hand. They sent us a book that questions and answers beforehand, and we had studied for months. When my wife finally took the test, we had been waiting over an hour in this small room, they just asked if she was still married, what her address was, did she have any other names, was she ever a communist, things like that, then gave her the test itself, she got all of them correct, if you get 4 wrong you fail. If you fail you have to appeal. This is our third visit in the past 6 years. First for fingerprinting, then for removing conditions on a permanent resident. The building itself is older, and usually always has a line around it. there are armed guards who check everything when you first go in, pat you down, scan you with a metal detector, and check your ID. They have elevators & stairs to go up or down. As of Sept 26th, 2008 my wife and I went back for her naturalization ceremony, it took place on the 6th floor. there were about 50 other people in the room also: chinese, indonesian, korean, serbian, armenian, jamaican, barbadian, venezualan, colombian, polish, nigerian, malian, angolan, etc. The Ceremony lasted about an hour and a half, they gave everyone little flags to wave, and there was a film, along with a greeting letter from he President, and at the end everyone had to take the oath of Allegiance. What a great day to become a citizen! some sample questions: A) Who Interprets the law? B) Who is the head of the executive ? C) What do the colors of the flag stand for? D) What are the original 13 colonies? E) What freedoms does the Bill of Rights guarantee? F) Who are the current justices of the Supreme Court? G) How many senators does each state have?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Singapore Chinese Vegetarian Restaurant; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Visited Singapore Kosher Vegetarian the other day, Im a first timer. We were in the area and needed some lunch, This wasnt our first choice, but my wife had said it had been years since she was there. So we decided to try it. When we first came in the waitress greeted us and sat us down with menus. A few minutes later she came back and took our orders. There was a lunch special for 7.50 Your choice of soup: wonton, shark fin or miso, white or brown rice and an entree. Entrees were all vegetarian, so we tried the following: (faux) General Tso's Chicken and (faux) Peking Spare Ribs. The soup arrived first, the miso was so-so, the shark fin tasted better. It had long translucent noodles and a thick hearty broth. A few minutes later the food came out. We thoroughly enjoyed it, pretty decent sized portions, great taste, and it wasnt overflowing with sauces. We ended up taking a to-go box, to be honest I was stuffed. Several other groups of people came, and there was a take out order. I thought the food wasnt bad at all. It said it was certified Kosher, and there were Hebrew documents hanging on the wall, along with pictures of famous philiadelphians, including Governor (then mayor) Ed Rendell.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Eastern State Penitentiary has a 12 dollar admission per person for the winter tours. Lots of old historic things inside, the design of this place is awesome. Al capone was incarcerated for about 8 months in When it was built the treatment for prisoners (extreme isolation) was considered a model for everyone else to follow. Winter tours have large areas blocked off or inaccessible.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anh Hong Pho & Cafe; City: Upper Darby, PA; Review: Pretty decent Vietnamese restaurant. They had a small area with all sorts of cakes, pastries & treats. Rice cake, sponge cake, etc. Located in the middle of the Korean section of Upper Darby Pa, Cafe Anh Hong was a nice dinner. Prices were fair, and the menu had a pretty large selection of items. Many of which I've never seen at a Viet Restaurant before. Peanut sauce is always delicious, we started off with both fried & clear spring rolls, then ordered pho & a steamed rice dish. Entrees ranged from 6.50 - 13.00 dollars. The waiter was very patient with us (our daughter was throwing utensils everywhere). Check it out if you're in the area. There is some metered parking in front of the restaurant.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Java Colonial Cafe; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Java Colonial Cafe is located inside the asian mall on Washington Ave in South Philadelphia. It's an Indonesian Cafe similar to Hardena / Waroeng Surabaya [url] Visited a while back and though the food was good, we ordered to-go: Nasi Padang (Rice & beef with coconut sauce- 6.50) and some Sop Buntut (Oxtail soup- 8.00) Service was pretty fast, we ordered from the menu and the food was ready shortly thereafter. It's A-OK in my book.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tokyo Hibachi & Sushi Buffet; City: Deptford, NJ; Review: Pretty decent japanese sushi buffet, Im giving it 4 stars, we attended a private birthday celebration there a few months back. The food was great, but the weekend price was a little on the high side (22.00) dollars if I remember correctly. The food was amazing, but I wasnt too happy to shelve out all the money!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Congo (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 4 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pay It Forward (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disclosure (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Vol. 4 (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: U.S. Marshals (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin: Platinum Edition (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Walk in the Clouds (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Braveheart (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Addicted to Love (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Season 1 (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 6 (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Season 2 (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Men and a Little Lady (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rain Man (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Paycheck (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angels in the Outfield (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping With the Enemy (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 4 (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 3 (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GoodFellas: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 3 (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 7 (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: The Fifth Year (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Season 4 (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deep Impact (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gone with the Wind: Collector's Edition (1939); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Adventures in Babysitting (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 4 (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Net (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beethoven's 2nd (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jury Duty (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 5 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CSI: Season 3 (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beethoven's 4th (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Good Will Hunting (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dragonfly (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Harbor (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Bride (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bone Collector (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Above the Law (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Father Hood (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 3 (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 1 (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Men and a Baby (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 5 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1972); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Schindler's List (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 1 (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Iron Eagle 3: Aces (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gladiator (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Enemy of the State (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sopranos: Season 2 (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Unlawful Entry (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 2 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Day After Tomorrow (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Season 3 (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 8 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Fugitive (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sex and the City: Season 6: Part 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Goonies (1985); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Contact (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Stepford Wives (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Without a Paddle (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Richis Beach Resort; City: Duong Dong Phu Quoc Island Kien Giang Province; Review: This was our first time in Phu Quoc. We took advantage of the free airport pick up. The driver was easy to find and the drive to the resort didn't take long. Check-in was quick, easy, and courteous. The room (Deluxe Triple) was big and comfortable with a big balcony. It was nice to see the sunset each night from the balcony. The shower (no bathtub) was very large, but the water pressure wasn’t great. The beds were very comfortable. The room AC worked well. With the exception of one night, the room was quiet for sleeping. The one night there was a problem, a Tet New Year’s party was occurring at the roadside restaurant on the other side of the wall of the resort, blasting karaoke at concert level volume! The resort management did try their best to get them to turn the volume down. The management even called the police when their direct attempts didn’t fully work. Eventually it stopped. The resort facilities are well kept. The garden around the resort is lush, but not overbearing. I barely saw any mosquitos the whole 6 days we were there. The pool is absolutely awesome. We spent most of the day in the pool. The swim up bar is nice touch. The resort's beach area is excellent, as well- plenty of chairs and sand. Never really noticed the smell other reviewers referenced. The only issue is that people get up early and claim chairs at both the pool and the beach by putting their towels on the chairs, so there were a couple of times we couldn't get a chair. It wasn't too big a deal for us, though, since we were swimming or playing in the sand most of the time. The breakfast each morning was very nice. Lots to choose from and they did change some items each day. We ate lunch and dinner at the resort, too, many days. Not a big menu, but the items available are very good. They should have fresh fish on the menu, considering its location, though! Overall, Richis is a fantastic resort. Even during Tet, everything still ran well. I will definitely stay here again the next time I’m in Phu Quoc.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Beach Cottages; City: San Diego California; Review: Having stayed at the Beach Cottages for many years and being from San Diego, I can truly say the Cottages are an awesome option when looking for a beach front place in San Diego (Pacific Beach specifically). It's right on the boardwalk. The main building hotel rooms are rather simple, but they are comfortable. There is no AC. Only fans, but it's San Diego, so AC really isn't needed, especially at night. Breakfast isn't provided, but there are plenty of places around the hotel that have yummy breakfast. The grounds of the hotel are well kept, and there is space for kids to run around and have fun. There is shuffleboard and ping pong available when the beach has taken its toll. Parking is available, and the management does well to ensure only guests park in the lot. Noise isn't really an issue when staying in the hotel rooms, but some of the road side cottages can get some noise at times. The price may seem high for the hotel, but for the location and beach access, you can't really complain. Highly recommended place to stay!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Roseland Centa Hotel; City: Ho Chi Minh City; Review: This was my second time staying here for a District 1 getaway. It's a great hotel in District 1. It has modern amenities and nice rooms. It's very clean and the staff are super nice and helpful. The breakfast is fantastic. The rooftop pool and bar is a bit small, but it does the trick for a quick dip and a pool-side drink. There are lots of restaurants, massage, coffee shops, and other places of enjoyment in the area (It's known as the Japanese area of HCMC). The best craft beer pub, Heart of Darkness, is only a few minutes walk away! I will definitely stay here again or recommend it to friends traveling to HCMC.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thai Kamala Beach Front; City: Kamala Kathu Phuket; Review: TKV is right on the beach, and every room has a balcony facing the beach. The room was quiet. Everything you need is a short walk away down the beach or the road. The staff was very nice. The room was simple, but we didn't need much more. The breakfast was sufficient even though is was the same thing everyday. We didn't eat there at night, but the hotel's restaurant (Mamma Mia) was packed every night. The hotel arranged a taxi both from and to the airport, which made that process much easier. 800 Baht from the airport; 700 Baht to the airport. I would stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Nikko Saigon; City: Ho Chi Minh City; Review: I live in the suburbs of HCMC. I like to go stay in the city sometimes to be closer to all D1 has to offer. This time, however, I wanted a place where I could chill, enjoy the hotel's amenities and room, and have everything in or just outside the hotel. This is a fantastic place for that. The rooms are superb. Getting a Club floor room is highly recommended, especially for the less crowded breakfast environment and the evening happy hour on the 23rd floor. The staff are great and facilities are fantastic. There is a small mall attached to the hotel, so if you want to go get some coffee or do a food court for lunch, it's right there. The main area of D1 isn't really within walking distance, but it's not far in a taxi if you're a tourist. Overall, I highly recommend this hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Sunline Kyoto Gion Shijo; City: Higashiyama Kyoto Kyoto Prefecture Kinki; Review: This was my first time to Kyoto, so I didn’t really have a sense of the best area to stay. I mainly chose this hotel because of the bigger than usual rooms (for Japan) it had. Not only did it have good-sized rooms, but the location ended up being fantastic. It’s located right next to Yasaka Shrine and is in the heart of Gion, which is the beautiful traditional area of Kyoto. The Shijo-Dori Street is just a block away and the Kiyomizu-dera, Kodai-Ji, and Chion-In temples are all walking distance. The staff at the hotel is fantastic. They were very helpful with recommendations and how to get around. The advertised twin beds are actually double beds, which was great! There is space around the room to move around. The only problems with the room are no dressers to unpack your bags into and no in-room safe/safety box. No closets either. The breakfast was very good, having a mix of Japanese and Western options. Bus stops are nearby, but subway stations are a 10 minute walk or so away. If you can live with out unpacking your bags and no safe box, I highly recommend the hotel!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vissai Saigon Hotel; City: Ho Chi Minh City; Review: I live in HCMC and was on the look out for a good airport hotel we could stay at for whenever we have a early morning flight. I noticed the Vissai on the way to the airport a couple times. It was on the side of the road going to the airport and looked to be good quality. This was our first time staying here. Check in was quick. The room was nice and clean and quiet. Since our flight was so early, we couldn’t avail the breakfast. I didn’t really check out other parts of the facility. Check out was quick, and the airport was a 5 minute ride (or less) away! Great airport hotel! We will definitely stay here again if needed for an early flight.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Norfolk Mansion Saigon; City: Ho Chi Minh City; Review: I live in suburban HCMC and like to do getaways to D1 at times. This was my first time staying at Norfolk Mansion. It's in a great area of HCMC & D1 (the Japanese area), which has tons of restaurants, spas, and bars around. If you like craft beer, the best craft beer pub, Heart of Darkness, is only 100m down the road. Check in and check out were quick and easy. The facilities at Norfolk are fantastic. The room was big, clean, and comfortable. It was quiet, too. No complaints. The breakfast was yummy. Not only are there the buffet items, but there is a small menu from which you can order pho, eggs, and a couple of other items. The swimming pool is great (big enough to do laps) and the gym is very well-stocked with a variety of machine and free weight equipment. The sauna/steambath/jacuzzi area is one of the nicest I've seen in a hotel like this. The hotel doesn't have a busy feel in any of the facilities, also, which was nice. There is a little market on the corner of the hotel. It's easy to miss if you don't walk that way (right out of the front doors). Overall, it was a great stay at Norfolk. I'll be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hyatt Regency Austin; City: Austin Texas; Review: I stayed here for a conference that was also at the hotel. All around, the venue and hotel conditions were great. Nice amenities and surroundings. The staff was very nice and helpful. The room was very comfortable. Breakfast was fantastic each morning. The hotel is right next to Bat Bridge is walking distance into downtown. Rainey St. is about a 15 minute walk. 6th St. could be walked to, but an Uber is only $6-$7. I would highly recommend this hotel!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Chancellor at Orchard; City: Singapore; Review: Hotel Chancellor is a nice and well located hotel. Orchard Road and its shopping treats are right around the corner and the Dhoby Ghaut MRT stop is a short walk away. Check-in was quick and easy. The room was a bit small, but was sufficient for our sleeping needs (we were out most of the day). Breakfast was average- nothing remarkable, but provided enough to get our day going. Lots of big tour groups were staying at the hotel during our time there. The only issues that caused were an incredibly crowded lobby at times and some waiting for an elevator. Our room was quiet and not affected by those groups. Overall, it was a good stay. I would stay there again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: Miso On Meramec; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: My boyfriend and I went here on Sunday night for the first time. It has a trendy atmosphere that is probably best with first dates and get together with those "sophisticated" girlfriends from bigger cities but not much else was impressive to us. The sushi was pricy and just okay. It took more than an hour for the food to be ready, which was more than we have ever waited at a sushi place. The place was not even packed! It was also impossible to see the tiny menu items using candle light....I understand they are trying to be romantic/trendy but they need to have a little bit of lighting over the tables, or use bigger font on the menus! Because when I have to crank my neck to look at what I'm ordering, I don't feel romantic or trendy. Overall: too much foo foo....will not return.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Joy Luck Buffet; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: If you are looking for a nice comprehensive Chinese buffet, I would recommend Emperor's Palace in Chesterfield Valley over Joy Luck. If you are looking for a cheap Chinese buffet, then this place is decent enough. But really, the attraction here is the Chinese menu, not the buffet. As a Chinese person who has eaten at all the Chinese restaurants in town, I recommend this place over all else. As far as I know it is the only place that offers Chinese style hotpot, which is similar to Fondue at places like the Melting Pot but with a bigger variety of ingredients and unlimited amount of vegetables and meat. The pot itself is placed on a gas burner and divided into "spicy" and "nonspicy" sections which will already have pre-made soup base inside when the pot is placed on your table. The waiter will initially bring you dishes of lamb, pork, beef, mushrooms, tofu, glass noodles, shrimp, squid, imitation crab, cabbage, two types of sauces (some sort of sesame sauce and garlic oil which is pungent and gives you horrible breath for days after-wards - I swear. I can't get it out of my system after 10+ times of teeth brushing) and a bowl of cilantro. Once your pot is boiling you can drop whatever you want from the plates into it and wait a few minutes for them to get fully cooked before you fish them out with these special spoon made of wires. When you run out of soup or any of the ingredients, you could request more. It is delicious (esp on winter nights) and $17 dollars per person after tax. Other than hot pot, their regular items off the Chinese menu are also delicious. They are known for their spicy flavors, which is a signature of Sezchuan dishes (These are fairly authentic Sezchuan cuisines, not your takeout places bearing Sezchuan in its names) Highly recommended for asians looking for authentic Chinese dining and for non-asians who are feeling adventurous :P; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Basil Spice Thai Cuisine; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We had a less than mediocre dining experience at Basil Spice last Saturday. We ordered a Thai Iced Coffee that tasted like it had 20 bags of sugar. We got appetizers: satay and spring rolls, which were decent (hence the two star rating). But the dinner was bland and tasteless. We ordered a beef stirfry and two curry chicken dishes (Don't remember the names). The friendly server asked for our spiciness preference. Two of us said spicy and the dishes came out with no spice at all. In addition to the mediocre dishes, the portions were not big enough to justify the price. This place is definitely one of the worst Thai restaurants in St. Louis IMO. I am surprised it even got more than two stars from the rest of the reviewers here.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Drunken Fish - Central West End; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Apparently they completely changed their happy hour policy four days ago and instead of being upfront about it and telling their customers of the change they decided to be sneaky and put the tiny new menu on a clip and next to their new years advertisement. The waitress carried on without mentioning a word of the change to us until the bill came in the end, at which point she ran her mouth about how people were complaining too much and not paying enough tips and it wasn't fair to the waitresses and waiters. I have no problem with restaurants changing their pricing/menu every once in a while but what they are doing is bad business. Not to mention the fact that their food is just mediocre and not worth the regular price (oh and the new "happy hour" has no half off anything and the only items even on the menu are the unimpressive filler rolls. Also, the martinis=gone). Mediocre food can bring a business down, but not faster than questionable practices. Your happy hour was the only reason 90% of the people I know even go there in the first place. Customers are not suckers. If you think you are too established to fail, you should think again. This is definitely going to be the last time i take my business there.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Sweetie Pie's Soul Food; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I couldn't agree with Alex more. After reading all the glowing reviews of this place I decided to give it a shot. I had the baked cod while my boyfriend had the fried chicken. We each had two sides. I simply couldn't see the appeal? Don't get me wrong here I love soul food, both at restaurants and fast food joints, but everything we had were mediocre. The chicken was too dry and not really spiced. There was nothing special with the fried cod (I have gotten tastier cod at Long John Silvers! And that was for under four bucks!) We each paid more than $11 for a meal with sweet tea and walked away feeling like we could have enjoyed Lee's chicken from around the corner more. This was definitely an anti-climatic experience; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: King & I Thai; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This was just okay. I've heard such raves about this place before stopping by for dinner last night. We had the papaya salad, Pad Spicy with beef and Spicy Noodle with chicken. The papaya salad had a fishy flavor. All of our meat were overcooked and dry. On top of that, during our meal, the lights dimmed and the birthday song came on six times! I understand they wanted to create a unique dining experience for the birthday boys and girls but jeeez was that annoying! Overall, the best Thai food in STL is still at Thai Nivas and Manee Thai IMO.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Manee Thai Restaurant; City: Ballwin, MO; Review: I truly believe this is one of the better Thai restaurants in town. However, one thing that really irks me about Manee Thai is their mandatory tip. I have dined here multiple times and every time we have a party of four or more a 20% tip is sneakily added to our bills. I understand that restaurants often charge gratuity to a large party, but so few places actually do 20% or start the tip at a table of four. I myself usually tip 20% unless the service is really poor. If a place has a lower mandatory percentage I will normally add a few dollars to compliment it, but for them to start at 20% is a sign of bad business practice. Tipping is a courtesy not an obligation to be enforced by a restaurant.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Adriana’s On The Hill; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: Yum! I have heard so much about this place and finally stopped by for a quick brunch on Saturday. I had the most basic sandwich on the menu recommended by Adriana's herself (I heard someone say Have a good weekend Adriana while eating). It was drenched in this salad-dressing like oil that tasted heavenly with fresh salami slices. I will certainly return whenever I find myself in the neighborhood during its limited operation hours.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mai Lee; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I LOVE Vietnamese food. I order it everywhere I go, from Santa Cruz to Detroit, from Philly to Oahu, Hawaii, and from as north as Milwaukee to as south as Huntington, Alabama. I have to say that Mai Lee has the best pho anywhere! You can't go wrong ordering anything from their Pho section. The soup is always hot and the broth is delicious! If you live in St. Louis and haven't tried this place you don't know what you are missing :P; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Truc Lam; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I am ashamed that I have never heard of this place until now! I must have driven past it a hundred times before without noticing it. Last night in blistering cold, seven friends gathered for dinner at this tiny restaurant. A few of us had pho's and others had rice dishes. The spring rolls with pork and shrimp were delicious! These actually tasted better than the ones at Mai Lee, which I consider to be the gold standard. My # 9 Combination beef pho was also very satisfying! It came in a huge bowl with mouth-watering broth and very fresh beef (very often I find the beef at pho places to be of questionable freshness and taste). The boyfriend also enjoyed his chicken pho, which I tried and thought the chicken had excellent flavors. Other friends ordered rice dishes and were less impressed. To conclude, this is an excellent place for pho and you probably should stick with the soups.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blueberry Hill Restaurant & Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Maybe it is just me, but the food quality here has steadily gone down in the past two years. I still adore the place for its casual excitable atmosphere, eating under the supervision of creepy half man half goat mannequins and next to the wall of Simpsons characters and the photobooth that guards a long hallway of framed pictures. But the last time I ate here my rueben was barely chewable and made me spend the rest of my friday night in the bathroom. Not to mention two buds, a regular burger with a small side of chips somehow added up to more than 20 dollars...eh. I am going to have to think twice before setting my foot here again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Korea House; City: Creve Coeur, MO; Review: I was here with a number of friends. The food was pretty tasty. But it brought to mind the one comment I always want to make about Korean restaurants. Why do the dishes seem so over-priced? Say, you get a spicy tofu soup. I'm not Korean so I don't know the name. It's pretty standard Korean fare. You can order it with meat or seafood. What you get is about half a box or tube (if that) of the standard supermarket silken tofu (let's say $1.5), one whole shrimp, one piece (or two if you are really lucky) of another type of sea creature (let's just say it's $1.5 for this two(or three) pieces of seafood), and soft kimchee in beef broth ($1). This is not considering the economies of scale. I'm sure they buy tofu, kimchee, and broth at much cheaper prices and cook the soup in large quantities each day. I have made this exact soup at home for two servings in less than half an hour for less than 4 dollars. But at any Korean restaurant, somehow, for pretty much the same thing, you are charged $9.95. Granted you do consume some banchan, but the margin on Korean food just seems ridiculous to me.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mai Lee; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Oh Mai Lee...I love you but you let us down last night. I used to live about five minutes of walk away from the old Mai Lee. I visited there probably once a week. It had always been fantastic! Last night me and three others visited the new location and it was just a terrible experience from start to finish. First of all, we were very impressed with the decorations and the new bar area, very modern and clean-looking. We narrowly escaped the Saturday evening mad rush and got a table right away. The waiter was very friendly and took our orders. Three of us got Phos and one got a rice dish with beef and cabbage. Then the troubles started: It took more than half an hour to get our Pho's, which is more than I have ever waited for at Mai Lee, but no big deal they were busy I understand. But after our three Phos arrived it took another 25 minutes before our friend got his rice dish. Just as a general rule, restaurants should never prepare part of the order and take it out that much earlier than the rest of the order. We were unhappy but again, they were busy we understand. Midway through our phos while our friend watched on waiting for his meal still, we had used up the limes and all the lettuce when we found a dead insect on top of our last piece of lettuce....um EWww?!! I didn't get a closer look to see what it was but it was black and disgusting. We flagged a waitstaff down. He just said oh and took away our dish. By now our meal is partially ruined, even though we loved our phos as usual, our friend was still waiting for his meal and we never got an apology or a new plate of lettuce, sprouts, and limes back. Finally, the waiter came around and dropped off the rice dish, which was not what our friend had ordered. When asked about the mistake, the waiter claims my friend had said the wrong number, which is a no no for any restaurant. A reasonable customer is NEVER wrong, especially when we did order the correct dish. We also informed our waiter that we never got another plate of garnish. Five minutes later he came back with the SAME PLATE that we had returned to the kitchen. We knew this because the plate was missing limes and lettuce. I think after the waitstaff took our insect-infested plate away, all he did was throw away our used limes and the one piece of lettuce on the bottom of the bug, and instead of discarding the entire plate, he put it back in the area with other garnishes to be served out. That is so disgusting....now I start thinking I bet they re-cycle whatever garnishes that don't get used up from other people's meals. By then we just wanted to finish our meals and get the f@ck out. The rice dish that my friend had ordered was disgusting. It; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Neveria La Vallesana; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: Last night I drove 30 minutes in the rain and in the dark to Neveria La Vallesana for a $7.5 shrimp torta. I have only been here when accompanied by my boyfriend, during the day. It is, like Stephanie said, shady, especially at night, surrounded by blocks and blocks of boarded up houses with no lights and gaping broken windows. But alas, there is very little I won't do for food from this place. My first trip here was in 2009, when I got the shrimp torta, even though everyone says they have amazing everything, burritos, tacos, I have not been able to deviate from the tortas which are smoky and flavorful, as good as tortas get. I have since then discovered several other places with authentic flavors around where i live on the other side of town (like Durango off Page Blvd). Unfortunately, none of these places can whip out a torta like Neveria La Vallesana. There is something in the special sauce....I'm starting to think it's crack...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Thai Kitchen; City: Maryland Heights, MO; Review: Oh Thai Kitchen, my favorite Thai restaurant in STL! I began my journey here with the Spicy Eggplant (with sliced beef instead the ground beef that is listed on the menu) and have not been able to deviate from it very often. The portion is HUGE. I eat an enormous amount of food but with this dish I always have enough for two meals. Of the few times that I have gone outside of my eggplant "box", I have tried the Pad Thai Noodle (with flat noodles, ground chicken, shrimp, squid, and black mushrooms....yum) and the curry dishes. All delicious with big portions. Appetizer-wise, try the Crying Tiger. The meat is juicy, tender and flavorful.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: First Watch; City: Creve Coeur, MO; Review: As a first timer to this place, I loved it! I have passed it a hundred times before without feeling the desire to go in. The store front is rather generic and un-inviting...and the name instantly brings to my mind Weight Watchers, fad diets, supplement store, or some sort of dog day care (I think the word Watch really throws me off...). I had the Chickichanga, which was delish! The eggs were creamy and perfectly cooked. The avocado and spicy chicken make an excellent combination of flavors. The ingredients tasted fresh, and the portions were perfect (unlike the burrito plates from Tex Mex places that give me a giant food coma for the rest of the afternoon). I also liked that it came with fruits, not to mention the price is reasonable. I will have to go back soon! P.S. I made the mistake of looking up the nutrition facts on their website (yuck!) 1 plate of Chickichanga: Calories 1047 Calories from fat 666 % Daily Value* Total Fat 74 g 114% Saturated Fat 34 g 170% Cholesterol 601 mg 200% Sodium 1311 mg 55% Total Carbohydrate 45 g 8% Dietary Fiber 6 g 24% Alright.....I guess i'm done for the day when it comes to food :(; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Porter's Fried Chicken; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: As a hardcore fast-food fried chicken lover, I was not entirely impressed with this place. It makes no sense to come here when I could be getting the Spicy style three piece chicken combo + two side and a drink from Lee's for about the same price...especially since I could get that at pretty much every other street corner. Also, I was unimpressed with the batter-fried shrimp. I honestly could taste nothing but the fried dough.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taqueria Durango; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Wow! First one to review this place?! Let me start by saying that I LOVE Mexican food. I have it everywhere I go. I look for both authentic joints and tex mex restaurants that smother everything with cheese....America-style. This small restaurant is imo the second best authentic Mexican restaurant in STL. (The # 1 is still Neveria La Vallesana on Cherokee Street...nothing beats their tortas...) It is located in a small strip mall. The signage is poor. The only thing noticeable by drivers passing by on Page Blvd. is a small yellow wooden sign that says "Authentic Mexican Restaurant" with a red arrow underneath it. The restaurant probably had about ten-fifteen tables crammed in. There are plenty of parking spots in the strip mall parking lot. While we were there, several people came in to grab take outs. It looked like a place for locals in the know. They have all your authentic Mexican stables, + some interesting platter options on the weekends -- Beef Tripe Soup anyone? (we didn't order it but the table next to us did. The bowls were huge! It also came with cilantro and onion bits...looked hearty and alot like pho) We ordered two beef tongue tacos, one marinated pork taco, and two tortas. The beef tongue cubes were very tender and the marinated pork was full of flavors. I was not a huge fan of my breaded steak tortas (but then again, it was prob poor ordering on my part... who gets breaded anything at a Mexican restaurant?). The marinated pork tortas on the other hand was delicious and had a little kick to it. It also came loaded with avocado and was creamy and tasty. I am giving it four stars because we have only been there once and can't say how consistent the good flavors are. But I have picky taste buds and they were very impressed with what we had. I will definitely return in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SOL; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I've been twice, both times on Saturday evenings. What really sets this place apart from most of the other loung-ey places in st. Louis is the crowd. There were alot of good looking people both nights I was there...and most of them were laidback and unpretentious. Some worn all out clubbing outfits while others were in jeans and flannel shirts. The set up is interesting and definitely unique compared to anything else in the city. If you like to dance and listen to local DJs this place is well worth a visit. However, what makes me give it three stars is the turnout. I have been disappointed by the # of people here both nights (it may have been weather related as both times I was there it was cold and rainy outside). I will have to go back another time when the nights get a little warmer and perhaps I will revise my rating then.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: India Palace; City: Bridgeton, MO; Review: The first time I was here, I parked my car next to that decrepit hotel (a bit) next door and worried for a second that I would die from food poisoning here. Then I had the food and died from food heaven. India Palace is hands down my favorite Indian restaurant in St. Louis, far surpassing anything else including the over-rated (imo) House of India. Go at lunch during the week. Lunch buffets are reasonably priced and there is always a large variety of entrees. If you like looking at airport runways, the view is superb! Even if you don't, there is something magical about eating at the top of a tall building. You feel like you could take flight from your table after your meal (and not go back to work afterwards). Ok maybe that was just me.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Salume Beddu; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Thanks to Ale and her (his?) sole review of this strangely named shop, we decided to stop by last weekend to get some cured meat. To our disappointment the salami wasn't ready (no!!) but we left with three packages of salsiccia and half a pound of prosciutto, which we sampled and were instantly in love with. At $24 a pound the prosciutto is a real steal in comparison to the small packets that you buy from Schnucks and Dierbergs. The shop is small and lovely. They also sell bread, olive oil and other similar items in the front area. We actually drove past the place the first time due to the lack of noticeable signs. Its name was printed on a medium sized white canvass that hung from the bottom of the roof. It was in a cursive font and hardly visible from the road. There were no other signs/open indications. I recall the shop spaces to its left in the small strip mall were empty. If you blink once you would definitely miss the place so take your GPS!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pi Pizzeria - Central West End; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I had pizza here three times before I decide to write this review. I must admit that I am one of the few people in the St. Louis area who just doesn't understand the superstar appeal. I like the decorations and set ups of both locations. But when it comes to food I just don't think their 16 inch pizza is worth $23. I like the oatmeal crust. I think that's a fab and delicious idea, but there is nothing special about the rest of the pizza. The other major problem I have with this place is the crowd. Shortly after Obama's visit, every St. Louisan I know claims this as their personal favorite pizza place. Of the times I have been here, the restaurant was extremely busy and hectic, which led to extreme wait times (an hour and half for two small pizzas? really?) and unpleasant dining experiences (somehow there is always a mom and her brats dining at a table near me and somehow the brats are always screaming on the top of their lungs at nothing and the moms do nothing to silence their rude and obnoxious children. I have to resist the urge to personally remind the doting parents that their screaming child is not being cutesy and needs to be disciplined....STAT). Meh.....Pi, I don't get it.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mojo Tapas; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I met up with some girlfriends here. I didn't order any dessert tapas but I tried four different types that were ordered by my friends, all were delicious! The real star of the evening was the Lemon Basil Mojito! Possibly the best mojito I have ever had outside of Miami! The place wasn't too busy at 11 pm on a Friday. The crowd was young and laid back. Right when we were about to leave a DJ showed up and played an 80's music video mix that was Awesome!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kevin's Hair Salon; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: I have had my share of strange haircuts in Philly Chinatown....there was the time when I couldn't tell what the hairdresser did after he worked on my head for an hour, then there was the time when I endured two hours just to walk away with what I call a bowl cut/showerhead hybrid. I think I have finally found my main man. Kevin was quick, professional, and obviously knew his stuff. I have extremely fine hair that doesn't have much shape or volume. I had wanted some short bangs. Kevin paid attention to me while still following his instincts and added some much needed volume to my crown. I paid for the wash/cut/blowdry for long hair package, which was $20 before tips. The wash came with a scalp massage, which was around 12 minutes, possibly the longest of all the salons in Chinatown. I second Alison's opinion that if you have Asian hair and plan to get a cut in Philly Chinatown, Kevin is your man.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lola; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Disclaimer: This review applies to one drink! I stopped by Lola for the 2010 RFT Music Showcase. It was happening! There was an awesome neo soul band (is that the genre?) playing and there was a large mixed crowd on their feet and hands reacting to each note. I ordered one of the specialty drinks that had the Jeremiah Sweet Tea Vodka and wasn't too impressed with what I got. It didn't taste all that different from Mike's Hard Lemonade. Perhaps it was an off night....I will have to go back and try again, with maybe food the second time.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pepper Lounge; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I was here last night for a friend's birthday party. It was 11:40 PM on a Friday night and the place was DEAD! The only people there were in our party and somehow it still took forever to just get pass the guest list. I like the red and green motifs in the backroom and the place probably would have been Ok if there were more people, but we ended up leaving after 30-40 minutes to somewhere with a bigger crowd. All in all, since it was free to get in I have no complaints but I'm never going back there if I have to pay and there were no events.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: El Borracho; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I have never before heard of this place (is this where Nectar used to be?). Last night while waiting for a friend to meet up at the Pepper Lounge we decided to pop in and grab a drink. 4 Stars for Decor and Crowd - Bevy of dressy chicks and laid back young dudes on a Friday late night. Deco is dark and gothic. I liked the Mexican-themed murals and red lights (reminded me alot of Venice Cafe in Benton Park, which is one of the most interestingly decorated bars in STL imo). It would have been nice if there were more people. 4 Stars for service and 3 stars for drinks: The bartender was chirpy and attentive. She brought us a basket of chips right when we sat down by the bar and fixed me a frozen avocado mango margarita. The margarita was not to sweet (which is a huge plus) however I suspect she put a little too much ice and too little mango flavoring in the mix. Since Avocado doesn't have a strong flavor (as a drink) the margarita tasted a bit flavorless. I wish the place was a bit more packed. But for our first visit, I give it 3.5 stars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harry's Restaurant & Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I have been here once before for a business lunch. I noticed they have a large wooden deck but haven't gone back since until last night. Apparently Harry's on a Friday night = packed patio! We had given up on the sparsely populated Pepper Lounge and made our way down to Harry's. It was around 1 AM. For some reason there was a $6 cover for everyone. WTF? Sure there was a DJ spinning....um...mp3s on his mac but that didn't justify for the cover. I'm pretty sure they just noticed that there were alot of people out (a couple of wedding parties were also lined up at the door when we were trying to get in) and decided to raise the cover. The place was filled to the brim with a mixed crowd. It didn't look very college aged but then again 17 years olds look like they are 22 these days so what do I know. There were two bars and two sets of bathrooms that well accommodated the thirsty crowd. Despite the humidity (even at 1 in the morning!) people were on their feet. However the DJ was TERRIBLE! He spun the same top 40 shit over and over again. At some point I realized I heard the same song three times in my two and half hours there. Nothing pisses me off more than an incompetent DJ. Sure there are songs that people like more than others and it's tempting to play those multiple times but come on! You can definitely find enough good dance tunes to fill out one night. Meh.... Also, I noticed there is a VIP section with table service. Except they are just wooden benches at the edge of the patio overlooking the magnificent....highway ramp onto I-40. Why in the world would you get table service at Harry's when there is a ton of room inside? Who cares if you look hot sitting there when everyone else is dancing? Oh the idiocracy of it all. All in all, four stars for the lively crowd and atmosphere and three stars for the music and cover = 3.5 for my first time at Harry's.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Halo Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: How can you not love the halo bar on a weekend midnight after a concert (Ok maybe not the smoking which really pisses me off because it makes my clothes smell like they have just taken a smoke bath even days after my visit). There are no covers. The DJs don't normally spin the top 40 crap you hear at other places which is refreshing. There is always an interesting crowd of young hipsters bobbing to the music. All in all, this is one of my favorite places in STL to people-watch and dance when I'm tipsy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Citygarden; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I must have driven by it a million times before without realizing it existed. What a lovely use of space, beautifully designed, filled with whimsical animal sculptures, cool water fountains for frolicking kids (and your feet), interesting media panels and vegetable/flower patches. It is a bit small but nonetheless a smartly designed area that is easy to walk through and has plenty to see. Did I mention the view is fantastic as well? I am a fan of this little urban oasis and second the idea that all out of towners wanting to take in the sights of downtown st. Louis should make a pit stop here for at least 30 minutes! BTW I just read Andy D.'s review below. Looking at that list of category of people who may enjoy the park I can't help but thinking isn't this the biggest proof that this is the perfect city park, that it appeals to such a diverse crowd of people, which was exactly what I saw when I was here. :); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Blue Ocean; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: We were here on a Tuesday night, finally trying the all-you-can-eat option after we have considered it many times before. We had the Level 2 and tried pretty much all the nonvegeterian rolls and nigiris (not a huge fan of vegeterian sushi). Overall it was decent. Rolls were small and had alot of rice. But then again we fully expected that. Nigiris were good but the albacore nigiri were super dry. What gives? I wasn't a big fan of the cheeseburger roll. The flavors were interesting but it fell apart before I even attempt to pick it up with my chopsticks. A couple of things that really irked me: 1. Music: We munched on our mediocre sushi while listening to apple bottom jeans and candyshop. I get the restaurant trying for a hip hop vibe but candyshop? really? This is so not 2003 last time I checked. Not only were the music selections dated, the music player seems to stop working every ten seconds. Very un-cool. My advice? If you can't find something unique (could even be instrumental) to play, skip the ghettofabulous songs altogether and let us eat in peace please! 2. Perhaps the restaurant can't really improve here but what is with the bold faced "we reserve the right to charge for un-consumed orders"? The disclaimer was followed by a detailed description of charges by type of leftovers. I sure hope the restaurant had a reason to put that on there, because it was the first thing I noticed on the all-you-can-eat menu. Not cool. Actually I felt insulted just reading it. I don't see many buffets with that warning anymore these days, so why should an all you can eat place still use it? An understandable but questionable practice that hardly seems justified unless the restaurant has had a problem with people ordering an exaggerated amount of food. The bottom line~~~ The all-you-can-eat will fill you up, but not in a pleasing way. Sure you could definitely order $25 worth of sushi using Level 2, but I remember the bf and I getting a ton of quality specialty rolls from Nippon Tei to fill ourselves up for just about the same costs. Do give this place a shot, but you shouldn't get the all-you-can-eat. Their regular menu seems to be fairly decently priced, but I'm pretty sure the portions are small similar to the all you can eat options. In comparison with the rolls, the regular priced nigiri are pretty pricey, at $3-6 per pair. They definitely weren't $6 per pair special IMO.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant; City: Saint Ann, MO; Review: Having been here twice, I must say the place is pretty ho-hum. The interior is dated. It seems like the only service man in the restaurant is the owner (I assume?), an older Korean man who was jovial and love-able. I wish I could say the same about the food. There were eight of us the second time we were there. Everyone ordered different items off the menu. I had the BBQ beef, which was $17 for a plate of heavily marinated loose meat pieces of questionable freshness (for some reason the meat were almost black - not very appetizing-looking). There was nothing particularly wrong with the beef but the value is pretty low for such a lackluster small plate of food. I remember at Hangook Kwan the meat slices were larger and fresher for about the same cost. While no one in our party were particularly disappointed with their meals, no one thought the flavors were spectacular either. The banchan was adequate but not as fresh and varied as the ones offered by Hangook. Overall, I was disappointed by the experience. I have been to Hangook Kwan a couple of times and thought the meals were way over-priced. I was hoping Seoul Garden could change my mind about Korean food, but alas it only made my impression more negative.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thai Kitchen; City: Maryland Heights, MO; Review: Just want to say since my last review I had tried more appetizer items: ALL were amazing! The Thai beef jerky was chewy and juicy at the same time. The chicken satay was the best I ever had at a thai restaurant, every piece was tender and flavorful. Yum! I love you Thai Kitchen!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Broadway Oyster Bar; City: St Louis, MO; Review: UPDATE: I am changing my review to a much-deserved 5 stars. I have been to New Orleans several times, most recently last week. Let me tell you, the food here easily out-shines some of the most acclaimed Cajun joints in NOLA that we had hit up on our most recent trip. This is a GREAT Cajun restaurant. I have been here no fewer than a dozen times over the past years and have never been disappointed. As a matter of fact, I am craving it now! The day after my New Orleans trip ended. That tells you something about how tasty their entrees are compared with the "real things" in NOLA. What I consistently get here that I love: Crawfish bucket, raw oysters on half shells, Jambalaya, Crawfish Etoufee (possibly the best etoufee I ever had). I don't love the Gumbo and frankly if you go to any restaurant in NOLA, they do not excel in all Cajun dishes either. I also have never tried the po boy and do not plan to...You can get deep-fried seafood crap anywhere, so why waste the stomach room when you can get much better tastier stuff here? I am turned off by how expensive it is to eat on the patio when they have a band. But you know what, you do pay for the atmosphere, and the prices are reasonable for Cajun fares. Lastly, I realize preference for any type of food, especially heavily-spiced cuisines such as Cajun, varies greatly from person to person. While some may not like what they serve here, any out-of-towner reviewer who bashes the taste level of an entire city just because they had a bad experience at a restaurant is just a dick. So five stars. There, to counter the dicks reviewing this place. ____________________________________________________ Broadway Oyster Bar is one of my favorite restaurants in St. Louis. I need to qualify this because imo they are very good at a couple of dishes, and those are what you should stick with. The broiled crawfish and raw oysters are fantastic and cheaper than other places with "fresh" seafood in town (you'll end up paying 2X at places like Demun Oyster Bar). Note I say "raw" and raw only because I've had the spicy shooter and the fried oysters before and didn't think much of them. In fact I have never gotten any other type of oysters other than raw oysters here since my first visit some three years ago. I also have a lot respect for them because they do not try to come up with "exotic" dipping for oysters. All they give you are horse-radish, lemon, and cocktail sauce, and that's all you'll need for oysters. Something else I won't order here are foo-foo drinks, which I normally love. It's just not a foo-foo drink kind of place. You get the beer on tap to wash down your boiled crawfish. You'll enjoy it way more than any other combination. I find the gumbo a bit iffy....it almost tastes a bit medicinal. But the Jambalaya is some of the; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bandana's Bar-B Q; City: Creve Coeur, MO; Review: First of all, I love Bandana's. It is no Pappy's but the pulled pork platter is usually perfectly fatty and pretty good. Unfortunately, multiple things went wrong on our first visit to this particular location. Everyone had a Schlafly Pale Ale. A few gulps into our drinks we realized our beers seemed a bit of stale...we started inspecting the label for expiration dates, and apparently all three beers were manufactured in December 2009 (one was manufactured on December 3rd!). While some beers taste better with time, most, like the Pale Ale, do not. We were also a bit puzzled by the dated stock considering the restaurant opened in December 2009. My hunch is they still haven't sold all the Pale Ales that they purchased when the business first opened. Yikes! We ordered a chicken nachos appetizer. It was decent until my last bite, which was particularly saucy and thick. I tasted something chewy and had to spit it out only to find out it was a rather large piece of Saran Wrap-ish plastic....um eww? And then onto the main entrees....most of us had the pork and beef platter. The meat were uncharacteristically dry. I have had Bandana's pork and beef platters at two other locations no less than 30 times in the past 4 years (it helped that I used to work three minutes away from one of them). Never before have I tasted such dryness. The restaurant's reaction to our complaints were in general positive. The manager apologized at end of the meal and took off the appetizer and all three beers off the check. However, overall service was lacking. The waitress only stopped by our table twice during the entire meal, once to drop off the check and once to apologize for the Saran wrap after she heard it from the person we complained to. In general, she seemed to be a bit in over her head. It took a while for us to get water initially and the check/to-go boxes in the end. The restaurant didn't seem very busy at all (maybe 8 tables at most and 2 servers). I guess maybe they had alot of takeout orders? [Shrug] OVerall, the experience wasn't positive. It seemed like management cared, which was good, but they just didn't seem to have all their ducks in a row. Considering my previous much better experiences at other Bandana locations, I will probably not return.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gokul Snacks & Sweets; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I confess....I'm not a vegetarian, not even a closet vegetarian. While I thought the buffet was good, I felt like something was missing.....namely meat (but i can't judge a vegan restaurant on that now can I). Hence, this review is more targeted at the sweets Gokul sells by the box at the table inside the entrance. I can't exactly keep my hands off the Mango Burfi!!! You get about eight chunks of them in a plastic container. (I think they sell by pound and by half pound) It was so rich and delicious! If you like mango flavors and sweets in a solid form, you have got to buy a box and try it out yourself.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tigin Irish Pub; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I love Tigin! Best Guinness in town, with the perfect pour every time! I can't tell you how many other places mess up/don't care about doing it right. We come here often on summer weekend nights when free outdoor concerts are taking place at the levee. They have all your Irish stables. And frankly I don't know why you wouldn't order off their specialty menu. After all, they are an Irish restaurant. The corned beef dinner is meaty and juicy; the bangers and mash is imo the best in town. These sausages always surprise me! You bite into them and realize they are actually quite moist, not your run of the mill American Irish restaurant offering. Food is not cheap, but imo they are very reasonable considering the qualtiy and portion (we never get sandwiches so not sure about the size of those). The restaurant is well kept, and I love the large patio at front. It's perfect for people-watching and chatting with a loud group of friends.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mandarin House Restaurant; City: University City, MO; Review: Mandarin House has the best dim sums in St. Louis imo. We get dim sums about twice a month on sundays. We get a large group of hungover friends to sit around a lovely round table at one of three places, Lulu's, Wonton King, and Mandarin House. We have done the rotation for quite some time (1+ year) and in conclusion, Mandarin House has the greatest variety and the best value. Why? Because at Mandarin House you can get home-made soy milk, clams, perfectly steamed shanghai-style meat buns with delicious broth inside (drool), and a bunch of other dishes that the other two places don't offer (the sliced Chinese roast beef and bbq pork are sooo tender). After stuffing ourselves silly for two hours, we end up only paying about $15 a person or less after tips. Another plus is that Mandarin House is HUGE! Come here at noon on weekends and you will see every single table occupied. There are two benefits to this: 1. It's the only restaurant in St. Louis that resembles anything like my estranged homeland, where food culture is a vibrant part of life and every meal is the equivalent of a "power lunch". It is often the more the merrier and the rowdier the merrier. 2. Due to the high traffic, there will be more carts milling around with more items so if you miss something another cart's coming back in no time. Service can be a crapshoot but most of the times our water glasses are filled immediately and constantly. They keep the tea coming all meal long (For non-asians, when your tea runs out, keep the teapot lid open all the way so the staffs can spot them from afar and get you refills). Just a heads up though....their weekend dim sums end at 2:30 PM. While you definitely can stay past that time (they never kicked us out :P) there will be fewer and fewer carts near that time. The best time to show up is 11:30 AM (if you can get up early, which has been a constant problem for us...) P. S. I noticed one reviewer commented on the sugar that came with the tea. This is the Chrysanthemum tea, which is traditionally served with rock sugar. am actually delighted that they do this...feels like a small slice of the old country.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Schlafly Tap Room; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I love the Tap Room's oyster/mussel fest weekends! A group of us had dinner today. While the beers were delicious as usual (I had the Spiced Belgium, Blueberry Cider, and tried the Grand Cru), the meals were very blah (could have been an off night?) The roasted lamb sandwich was dry and the lamb burger just meh...nothing special. Both lacked flavors/sauce. On the flip side, the house-made pickled vegetables were insanely salty! I understand pickles are always gonna be salty. I order pickled vegetables from restaurants often but this was almost inedible. In the past we had the one pound mussels in the traditional buttery sauce. Today we tried the mussels in chili verde, which wasn't as...natural. The flavors were a bit overpowering for my taste. Service was also irksome tonight. The waitress was a bit aloof at beginning of our meals and didn't get our orders for quite some time. When she dropped off the check at end of the night, we realized a 21% tip has been added to the total bill. I suppose this is reasonable as we were a party of 7, but truthfully I never quite understood this practice....i mean, they will split your checks for you if you mark the initials of each card next to the items... so why the automatic tip? And why 21%? So few places have appended such a large (imo this is large for an automatic amount) tip to a group check. I personally will tip more if a restaurant only mandates 15% or 18%, but when they go higher than that I start wondering....especially given the quality of service earlier in the night, I just don't think it was appropriate. [End rant] One other thing that everyone should know about the Tap Room... The Google map placement for the Schlafly Tap Room is incorrect. It's pointing at the Schlafly Bottleworks, which is in Maplewood. The Tap Room is downtown. I can't tell you how many times a friend's iphone Google Map takes him/her to the wrong place. I sent Google Map a message and who knows with any luck it may finally get corrected. in the mean time, beware so you don't show up and wonder where everyone is. :); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cicero's; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I've been to Cicero's numerous times in the past four years. It is conveniently located and has a large beer selection/menu. The kitchen closes late (12:30 AM on sat), which is a huge plus when I'm looking for non-fast food at a weekend midnight. Service can be a crapshoot but most of the times they are prompt to get you the check and box. Unfortunately I don't really have anything good to say about the food. I've had alot of wraps, pizzas, and sandwiches. They are just....meh. I don't even want to get into the wraps.....who thought that hot foamy cheese inside a wrap was a good idea? No matter what kind of meat/seafood I get in the wrap, I can't taste it at all because everything is overpowered by the cheese. Not to mention the texture of foamy cheese is simply unappetizing. At the end of the day (literally), I am not picky with midnight snacks. But I personally don't see any reason to have meals here during regular eating hours.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Muny; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Lovely lovely space! Must check out at least once if you are in the area and it isn't swelteringly hot. I've never been to the Muny before. We went last night for some free seats, more out of curiosity than trying to save a few bucks (which we spent on concession anyway :P). I overheard the workers say the turnout (for the free seats) was much better than previous couple of shows. We showed up at 6:30. The free seats gate opens at 7 (show starts at 8:15). There were two huge lines by both sides of the rear entrance already. However, by the time everyone sat down around showtime, there were still plenty of seats left (including some seats in the first free seat row). A couple of things to note: FANS - They have these two large fans that generate wind on two sides of the stadium. They sit on poles inside the C section. These were loud! Lucky for us, the night cooled down quite a bit after 8 and they shut off the fans during the show. I'm pretty sure if it had been a warmer night and they kept the fan on, we would have heard nothing in our section. CONCESSION - absolutely avoid! I get that these are priced comparable to other outdoor events. Unfortunately the quality is Terrible! They don't have jalapenos for the $4.25 box of nachos, which were absolutely stale. Don't even get me started on the hot dogs. They tasted like they had been heated a million times. The boy manning the counter didn't give me any condiments for them either (prob my fault for not realizing it until I rushed back to my seats). FREE SEATS SPACE - just note that you are segregated from the rest of the stadium. You don't have access to the restrooms and concessions on both sides of the stadium, as those are inside the enclosed space and cater to the other sections. However, during intersession, they let us use the restroom inside the stadium because the one behind the free seats section does not have the capacity to accommodate the long line. Overall, the experience was great! I felt a certain magic in the air while sitting amongst a 10,000+ captivated and attentive audience. (Unfortunately, there was another event/car/party close by in the park that blasted their music, which was pretty audible throughout the stadium and really interfered with the show). I saw people from all walks of life. This is one of the few rare events in the city that brings the community together. I will definitely return when another great show comes to the Muny. Although, next time I'll prob get seats in the A or B section so I can see the faces of the actors/actresses :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Yi Palace - Wilmington; City: Wilmington, DE; Review: This maybe the best Chinese restaurant in the area but our first visit turned out to be a very mediocre experience. We ordered two "authentic" Chinese dishes and two American Chinese dish. We couldn't really find the pork in our sweet and sour Pork dish. It was all dough dough dough. I couldn't believe this was $16. I am Chinese and have travelled extensively throughout the continental US and have eaten both authentic and Americanized Chinese food everywhere I go. I couldn't honestly remember a time when I paid more than $14 bucks for a plate of mediocre sweet and sour pork... Chinese food is cheap for a reason, it's honestly not hard to make and I find it insulting that they had the nerve to charge $$ for a dish without any character like this. Same with the Sizzling Beef, $17? Really? The Chinese dishes were slightly better, the spicy chicken and tofu was well cooked (hence the three star). But overall, the flavor and the price did not match up for me. We heard good things about this place and drove 30 minutes to check it out but we won't be making that trip again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Han Dynasty; City: Royersford, PA; Review: I am quite amazed by the five star rating up here. I am Chinese and have been to this restaurant no less than 7-8 times. While the food is fairly authentic, the one thing that has always annoyed me was how incredibly salty everything was 50% of the times that I have been here. On these days, all I could taste was salt and the people (I went with different groups) in my groups agreed. I find it distasteful that instead of admitting that the chef may have heavy handed the salt portion (I suspect he or the alternate chef is a smoker), the waitress/hostess always suggests that we have "light" tastes and that the next time we go we need to let them know ahead of time. Um....excuse us for having "irregular" tastebuds but there is nothing wrong with my salt evaluation, especially considering half the times the dishes are fine and not overly salty. I have travelled extensively for work throughout the continental US and have lost count of the Chinese restaurants that I have visited. I KNOW when there is too much salt in the dishes, and this happens very rarely. I find it insulting that a restaurant consistently points out to me that my tastebuds are unusual and that i need to request low sodium upfront. I have never had to do that at any other places and am not about to start.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Neveria La Vallesana; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: Say it isn't so! I bit into my slightly more expensive shrimp torta today and found.....cheese, but no avocado. La Vallesana may have gotten a modern face lift but the shrimp torta is just not the same :( And somehow this reminded me so much of Mai Lee, how it went from a tiny restaurant famous for its phos and quick efficient service to its now gorgeous space in brentwood with watered down taste. Sigh. Must all restaurants sacrifice taste in expansion???; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hunan Star; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Wow! Worst Chinese delivery I have ever gotten.. period! I ordered the shrimp in chili sauce for lunch, with the hot and sour soup, and white rice instead of fried rice. I only got the fried rice and no soup! To add insult to injury, the shrimp was simply disgusting. It was overcooked beyond edibleness.. hard and chewy! I like to give restaurants the benefit of a doubt but this was so sub-par that I will not order from here ever again. Thanks Hunan Star for ruining my workday lunch! One of the few bright spots of the day that I look forward to....; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Mango; City: Shrewsbury, MO; Review: Six of us came here for dinner last night. Everyone ordered an entree. I had the grilled beef loin (medium rare) with shrimp. The shrimp was very overcooked and the beef turned out to be medium at best (mostly medium well). The other entrees were also just ok. In the words of a friend "nothing to write home about". Service on the other hand was great. Our server was attentive and brought out a free dessert at end of the night with a candle on it. Very nice touch. The restaurant was fairly busy on a Saturday night. I plan to return for lunch on some other day and hopefully this night was more of a fluke than the norm.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Petra Cafe & Hookah Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: One of the coolest places to hang out in STL. I love the decorations/paintings inside this place. On summer evenings, the patio is usually full of cheery crowds. Last time we were here, someone blew smoke bubbles (cool opaque bubbles. I wish I know how he did it!). After midnight, a drunk dude tried to break dance on the little raised "stage" out front. Freaking hilarious; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mama Pho; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I am amused by the quite varied reviews up here....sounds like consistency is not the strong suit here. My rating is related to a first visit, take it for what it's worth. I get pho and spring rolls on a regular basis. This place is quite far from where I live hence it took a few years for me to make it down here for dinner. I had the P1, the beef combination pho. It was excellent, on-par with Truc Lam and more savory than Mai Lee's. Both these places put out better phos than any other Vietnamese restaurants in town imo. One thing I didn't like was the amount of fat. It seemed to be out of proportion with the other contents. I got a giant piece of fat every other bite. The accompaniment is not the freshest (there were some quite yellow greenery on our plate). Not sure why they didn't just throw those out. We didn't need a big plate of them anyway. The spring rolls were good, and the iced coffee was STRONG! Service was quick and very friendly. Waiter brought me more condensed milk after I mentioned the coffee was strong. The interior was clean-looking and efficient. I will definitely return for pho again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mandarin; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Mandarin is a solid three star lounge to me. The place is tiny. There is no dance floor, and the bar tenders are surly. I like the open roof but that's about the only part of the place that I don't mind standing/sitting/socializing in. The inside becomes beyond cramped on busy weekend nights that there would be no room to stand or move around, let along dance. I really don't understand why people get table service here....all you see are the backsides of people standing against your tables. Is that such a good view? I must not be cool enough to enjoy it :[ Eh....; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bar Louie; City: St Louis, MO; Review: Bar Louie is actually one of my better liked places to hang out in St. Louis. The music is never too loud (imo). There are ample sitting rooms. I had some of the best bar foods here. The place is guaranteed to be packed on weekends with a wide range of people from the I'm-not-here-to-impress-anyone to the everyone-looks-at-me variety, which makes for great people-watching. Come on a weekend night with a bunch of friends, sit at the bar to get faster service, grab a few beers and some fries, lower your expectations and talk trash about the chick with the bad tan on the other side of the bar. You will have a good time ;); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Absolutli Goosed; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: pumpkin pie martini and spiked cider are delicious! The other patrons are unassuming and the vibe is laid back. I am sold ! Baby hit me one more time! Even the boys admitted they liked the drinks and thats saying a lot; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mai Lee; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: After being unpleasantly surprised by a shrunken pho bowl tonight, I couldn't help but wonder, is it only going to be a matter of time before they start charging for the garnish? Damn it Mai Lee! What's going on? Pho is just not pho without the signature deep bowl. If you are gonna shrink the bowls, at least offer two size options with different prices. I've been eating at Mai Lee since 1998. While my recent experiences have been disappointing, I will continue to eat here, mostly due to lack of a better option west of Kingshighway....I do think the recent over-emphasis on profit and slack on quality have opened a window of opportunity for potential small Vietnamese restaurant owners out there to bring some much needed competition to this part of town.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mojo Tapas; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: 7.15. 2012 Update: Still enjoyed the red sangria but wasn't happy about being kicked out at 1 AM. The door clearly said open until 1:30 AM but the place was empty and we were the only people still there. We had just bought a couple of drinks when they told us they were shutting down...not cool. :\ I understand that if business is slow, there is no point in staying around, but if business is consistently slow on weekends, then maybe they need to change their "operating hours" to til 1 AM or 12:30 PM. What happened?! I came back after an awesome first experience and ordered the lemon basil mojito again. This time it was made by a different bartender and was done in all the wrong ways! It was way too sweet, the basil was tortured, and the bartender muddled it on top of ice, which is a no no. I was very disappointed. I had thought that I found a good place for quality Mojitos but it seems not everyone working here knows how to make it proper.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pho Grand Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I never understood the fascination with this place. I have been here many times before. While the flavor and service have always been consistent, I can't say the food is consistently superb. The most recent time we were here we both had the combination beef pho, which was just mediocre to me. At any Vietnamese restaurant, broth is what makes or breaks the pho. The pho broth is made by simmering a large number of ingredients and unique spices for a long period of time. Of all the times I have gotten pho at Pho Grant, I have been disappointed by the potency of the broth. Perhaps it is the personal preference of the chef/restaurant owner to keep it light, but I find the pho to be too "young". On the positive side, they do make a more serious effort to bring fresh garnish and the service has been consistently attentive. I give Pho Grant a 3.5 stars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boogaloo; City: Maplewood, MO; Review: How cute is this place?!!! I loved the decorations (the mirrors, the paintings, the lighting, and yes the swings). They are tasteful and fun. Bravo on picking a fab interior decorator. We were here yesterday for a Yelp bar crawl. The bartender made us strong drinks quick; the food had highs and lows: the crawfish cakes were delicious! The shrimp in the Shrimp with Sweet Potato Biscuits were great but can't say the same about the biscuits. As a matter of fact, almost none of us can figure out what exactly it was after taking a few bites. It was crusty on the outside and tasteless on the inside....overall, I am glad that I finally made it here after reading reviews about them for ages. This is a place I can see myself coming back to with a group of friends and just hang out by the bar swings and grab a few drinks.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dressel's Public House; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I have a soft spot for Dressel's. Four years ago when I first arrived in STL, I had a huge chicken pot pie from this place. It was so delicious that I had to eat the entire dish which was way too big for one meal. I had a nauseating stomach for the rest of the night and had not returned to Dressel's ever since. I guess it wasn't Dressel's fault.... Last night I went back here for the first time since then. We had a couple of beers (whiskey) at the bar while gossiping about the couple sitting across from us who were obviously on a first/blind date. They have a fantastic list of draft beers and wines. This cozy place is an excellent spot for people who enjoy a few non-Bud alcoholic beverages and a break from all the faux-hip and top 40 musak playing at other drinking places.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mai Lee; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Oh jeeez....yes this is about my 5th updated review of this place. After my last visit, during which I found out they shrunk their bowls for my favorite pho on the menu, I returned a few days ago to find that the big bowls were back! Not sure what happened there....maybe they were testing the water, and maybe they just ran out of big bowls for that evening. Don't know. But I thought I should update my review to not mislead anyone. Moral of all the updates is: There are three great places for pho in this town and Mai Lee is still one of them, despite all their occasional dismal service. However, pho is about the only thing I would get here as the Chinese menu tastes not that much better than Chinese takeout from around the street corner, imho.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stratton's Cafe; City: Clayton, MO; Review: I used to work in the office high-rise next to it. This place became a regular lunch spot for most of my coworkers. Its order process and interior decorations closely resemble a Panera. They have a variety of hot and cold sandwiches as well as ice cream. But the sandwiches are mediocre at best and quite expensive for being mediocre. The best things about their menu are the gelato and the corn chips! As crazy as it sounds, these chips always became my favorite part of any meal I got here. Since I changed employer last year I have not gone back, and I don't miss it one bit. But I know business will always be good here due to its convenient location. If you are from out of town and look for a lunch place, I would go somewhere with tastier food (or at least cheaper prices). Stratton's Cafe is nothing special.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: HuHot Mongolian Grill; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Yes, the meat and seafood are mostly/half frozen (But do you really want to see "fresh" ingredients in the carts? Do you trust how long they've been in that state sitting in the cart? I would rather see them frozen than guessing at the answers to these questions.) For lunch, they had a decent amount of ingredients to choose from. Everything, from the seafood, meat, to the vegetables, looked fresh today (no bean sprouts or edamame. Looks like they may have been making improvements since previous yelpers' visits earlier this year). However I was slightly disappointed that they did not have shrimp. The price for lunch buffet was very reasonable, at $7.99 a person. I liked their wide variety of sauces and enjoyed mixing and matching for my two plates of ingredients. Overall, good experience, quick meal, service was decent as well. I will return in the near future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Banh Mi So 1; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We stopped by on a weekday night. The place was surprisingly full. Everyone ordered different items. I was not impressed with mine. I started with the beef skewer which were three thin slices of meat served on top of lettuce leaves. The meat was dry and chewy. Now that I think about it It was so unmemorable that i dont remember for sure if it was pork or beef. We also expected meat on a stick...call us crazy. For entrees we tried the meatball banh mi, which was the highlight of my meal. We ordered it w double meat but still this thing was puny! The waiter said it is more than enough meat for one person but I really question that. I also don't know how anyone can get just regular size and be remotely full. It was also very toasted, meaning you will scratch the top of you mouth if you don't watch it. We also tried the pho and the beef stew, both were just ok. The soup wasn't too flavorful and the beef stew only had slightly thicker meat than the pho, not chunky enough to be called a stew IMO. Our friends liked their meals more than us. They didnot order soups. One ordered an item off the menu that claims to be king size but it just wasn't. There is no way. Ice coffee was excellent. Service was competent but slow. We did notice on the menu that they request larger parties to call ahead as it's a small restaurant. I guess we'll know for next time. And the last thing that was surprising was the bill. It came to 40 bucks for two. I don't recall a single time in the past when having basic soups at a hole in wall Vietnamese restaurant had costed this much. Overall, pretty disappointing experience.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Shaved Duck; City: St Louis, MO; Review: We have been wanting to come for ages and were finally here for our new years eve meal. They don't take reservations but the wait wasn't too long. We ordered a number of appetizers/entrees/drinks. Here is a break down of what we had: Chili Sampler - The most spicy chili is by far my favorite. They give you a glass of milk with it, but as a spicy-food veteran, I didn't need the milk at all. My second favorite chili is the creamy duck one. The other two varieties were just ok. Duck Confit - I could have gone without this. You get a decently sized duck leg. While the meat was tender, there really wasn't much else to say about this dish. St. Louis Ribs - Yum! Blackened on the outside. These were tender, well seasoned, and surprisingly non-greasy. Portions were generous. Pork Loin wrapped in bacon - Again, well seasoned without being greasy. I liked the fruit pieces on top of the meat. The apple slices were very refreshing. We also tried the coco stout and the strawberry cider (which had an interesting flavor). Service was good. The restaurant was busy but our waitress was very sweet and attentive. Thanks Shaved Duck for a nice NYE meal. We will return :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: McGurk's; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: 3.5 Stars for NYE (no food) First, the good. In general, we had a great time here last night. The place was packed to the brim. There was a country/blues/folk band inside the bar where older people were, and a top 40 DJ on the outside patio. A third crowd was hanging by the fireplace in the courtyard. This atmosphere was lively. What knocked one star off for me was the Champagne girl. I get that it's NYE and there were drunk people everywhere and she would probably rather be at other places getting drunk than servicing rowdy crowds in a packed bar, but good lord! The girl was literally barking at everyone who took plastic cups from her tray. I think she was supposed to give those out to people in the reserved seating first and then hand the rest out to others, but jeeez, did you really have to be that mean? That definitely put a damper on the midnight toast for all of us. In retrospect, it probably is the restaurant's fault for being stingy on the number of cups they pass out, that they waited until 5 minutes before midnight to do a ceremonious run of the champagne tray.....not cool. We are not talking about premium champagne here. Would it kill the restaurant to open a few more bottles of low shelf champagne for its patrons? Another thing that irked me was that we had asked ahead of time what was going on for NYE and was told that there is no cover to enter and that there will be complimentary champagne at midnight. Apparently no cover turned to cover and complimentary champagne turned into a miserably small number of cups. I get that it's a business and they are out to make $$ but very uncool when businesses don't keep their words. Even though I had fun here last night (mostly thanks to the cheery crowd), I will not coming back next year. There are alot of places to be at NYE and I'd rather not get barked at for cheap champagne next year.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Panda Palace; City: Manchester, MO; Review: Go to Panda Palace, get anything you can't find at a Panda Express, and the chance is you'll like it. We came here for the first time a few weeks back. We found the place by accident (there was a Office Depot close by that we visited one time). It was pretty empty when we stopped by on a Wednesday night, only two other tables of Asian diners. We ordered a number of things: the meat buns (I believe it was in the appetizer section), the beef eggplant (eggplant was excellent!), and the Mao Style Red Meat (fried pork belly cubes glazed in sugar), which was as close to mom's cooking as I have ever tasted at a Chinese restaurant in the US. The restaurant was clean; the waitress was very friendly, but oh the service was terrible....somehow the waitress stopped by at all the wrong times and none of the right times. It's amazing how this happened. Luckily we loved the food enough to forgive the bad service. While I'm talking about Authentic Chinese food in this town, let me be off-topic a little and summarize what I believe to be the best authentic Chinese dishes at local restaurants. You'll realize pretty much all of these places have fairly low overall ratings, but it's not because of the authentic dishes. Lulu's - Fried shrimp balls on the appetizer menu (so light and tender) Joy Luck Buffet - Chinese Hot Pot in the winter months (Chinese Fondue, with unlimited meat and vegetables, $18 a person) + Sichuan style dishes (spicy) on the Chinese menu. Mandarin House - Dim Sum on the weekends Wei Hong - Chinese bakery Steak and Rice - Taiwanese beef noodle soup + beef brisket pot Check these out when you get a chance. Enjoy!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Six Row Brewing Company; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: A great place to chill with some low key friends! A bunch of us came here a few months back, having found it on Yelp. It is basically a big rectangular room next to some fermentation tanks inside a glass chamber. You open the door and walk right into the middle of the room. There is a long strip of a bar in front of you. The room doesn't have a ton of decorations/distractions, just large sturdy tables and chairs and little candles...it all seemed so serene and pristine. The atmosphere was college on this particular night, lots of student-aged guys. Not sure if that was the usual crowd. We went when the food menu hasn't been implemented (which was a bummer. We bought a couple of bags of chips to go with our beers). We ordered a plethora of drinks. I liked the honey Weizen (prob cause i'm a girl and we like sweeter things). The boys claimed the beers were a little watery and the flavors not as developed as the Schlaflys. I'm not a beer connosseuir so I wouldn't know all the subtleties, but I applaud their efforts so far. Is there room for improvement? Probably. Overall, a good experience. We will visit again, perhaps with some cards, and trying the food menu next time. I think this place could benefit alot from providing board games for its patrons.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pour House; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: 2.5 Stars - Tolerable but Meh overall. Service: what service? After 9 the waiter stopped going around checking on the patrons at the tables. It would have been nice if he told us that on the last go around. The place filled up nicely = business is good. It would have been nice if they had another person on staff. But the crowd is, like others have said before, douche central, both the collegiate type and your frat boys for life variety. Highlights of the night included a couple of guys wearing top to bottom giant puma logo-ed outfits and three young guys gyrating in a not so sexy sexual manner to the beats of lady gaga type music, standing in a circle. Yes they were heterosexual, and yes, they looked completely sober. And then there is the music. WTF? So it's a sports bar that thinks it's the Sugar Lounge? The juke box is waaaay too loud. All night I heard just awful top 40 crap music with less variety than what the local hit radio stations play, from Kesha to Justin Timberlake, circa early 2000. Please! Do not play Cry Me a River at a sports bar. I may just puke. We came for the giant jenga, which isn't truly "giant". It looked like everyone who played that night spent ages hugging/humping the stack to stabilize it. If it falls, it falls. What's the point of Jenga if you are gonna steady it every turn? It just wasn't fun for us. If you don't mind the music and the crowd, it may be ok. Bring friends and don't expect to get service.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Sushi Ai; City: Maryland Heights, MO; Review: I am impressed. I have never been this impressed about any all you can eat, or Kaiten style sushi restaurants. I don't know how anyone can call $17.99 dinner buffet (on the weekends too) expensive. That is a hell of a price for all you can eat sushi. We were a large group and everyone got the all you can eat option. We had an insane amount of food, and everything was surprisingly decent. Highlights are: Appetizer: - The grilled squid had a nice smoky flavor, and was perfectly sized as a small appetizer. - The chicken skewers were tender and again had a nice smoky flavor (too much sauce on top tho. I had to spoon the teriyaki off the meat). - Edamame. Amazingly sushi restaurants do not always make these right. Most are either too raw or too salty. But these were perfectly cooked and not over salted. I didn't have the vegetable temperas but they looked good and fresh fried. Sashimi (they call them sushi): I had the mackarel, the red snapper, the tuna, and the eel. The rice was moist and the fish tasted fresh. Rolls: The volcano roll was everyone's favorite (they put siracha sauce on top, which is a nice touch). I also tried the Spider, the Rainbow, and the fried Philly rolls. These are regular sized, fat rolls. From what I saw other friends have gotten, they do not cheat on the size of the rolls at all. These are all regular sized, and not overly filled with rice. I remember a while back when we tried the all you can eat menu at Blue Ocean Sushi in the Loop. All the rolls were tiny, and loaded with rice. Service: The food kept on coming, very quickly too, which was great as everyone was starving when we sat down. The wait staffs were polite, kept our cups filled, and took away empty plates very quickly to make room for more plates. Overall, I was very impressed with the quality and service. There was a good variety of choices (the menu is pretty big). They may not have the most inventive rolls, but when it comes to all you can eat sushi, this is just about as good as I have ever had. I travel for work quite a bit, and always get sushi when I'm out of town (esp when I'm on the coasts). I have been to quite a few all you can eat or kaiten-style sushi places that are well loved by locals, and guess what? I didn't think they were that much fresher or had more variety than what I had at Sushi Ai....especially considering I paid less than $20 before tip. What a deal! P. S. I wish they had seaweed salad....def should add that to the dinner menu.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Iron Barley's High Hog Ridge; City: High Ridge, MO; Review: I have very mixed feelings about this place after our collective first visit last night. First of all, like many others, we have heard of this place for ages from fellow food lovers, and because it is pretty far from us, we didn't get a chance to try it until last night. Here are everything we ordered and what I thought of them: Appetizers: Special Sausage Platter - It came on a sizzling pan and had what appears to be slices of two different types of sausage links. Unfortunately the spicy and strangely sweet tomato sauce that the sausages sat in were so thick and overpowering that I had no idea what I was eating (and to think I LOVE spicy food...). I think this was 9 bucks....I could have gone without it. Clams in cream sauce - This was very good, especially the broth. I would recommend this to a group as the portion was big and everyone got a bunch to try. Entrees: I had the Zarzuela, which is essentially a seafood cioppino (yay!). I give Iron Barley props for not cheapening this dish by throwing tasteless tomato sauce all over the plate/bowl, which I've seen at so many other places. But I do have to warn anyone who is thinking of getting this: it is VERY fishy! How fishy? Fishy as to the next day when I take my tiny amount of leftovers (keep in mind the leftovers is cold and sitting in a styrofoam box inside a plastic bag) to the office my coworkers immediately recognized the fishy smell (and the bag was sitting on the floor of my cube! It wasn't even in a public place) I had to eat it in an office farther away to not kill my coworkers with the stench. I don't mind the fishy smell myself but this is something to keep in mind. The others had everything from grilled chicken, prime rib, to the pork chops and the seafood pasta. Everything I tried was decent, but nothing to write home about, and one thing really irked me: For a place that looks more like a hole in the wall joint than a fine dining establishment, it sure charges a handsome amount for everything on the menu. I like dives and fine dining equally, and i understand why I have to pay $20+ a plate at a place that has mood lightings and white table cloths (hell, they have to spend extra $ to wash their table cloths right?) but at Iron Barley? Not so sure I understand the pricing, other than that people will pay anything to eat here. As a matter of fact, the whole $2 for bread, $2 for splitting checks, and I'm guessing they didn't always accept credit cards, just turned me off, especially when costs of appetizers are shooting to the $10s and entrees to the $20+. Overall, I liked the food, for the most part. Service was great. Nothing to complain there. I also enjoyed the Milk Stout (Yum!!) But in my opinion, everything abotu this; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Asiana Garden; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I come to Asiana for one dish, and haven't found the need the order anything else. The dish I get is the Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup. It is $5.99 for a big bowl of greens, chunky beefs, and thin egg noodles, sitting in an extremely spicy soup. Try it if you dare.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Koken Art Factory; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Just had a blast at koken. This is my first time here (for the Matthew dear show, which was fantastic btw). I have heard of this place for ages before. Like Abby said it is raw for the lack of a better word, a primitive space inside a large warehouse building in the part of town that is dead after dark. The bar and the dance floors are both basic. Bar is cash only. Drinks were 4-6 a piece and my jack and coke was strong!!! It sent me spinning rest of the night...in a good way :) Since this particular show was 18+ the crowd was very young. I caught glimpse of some boots w rainbow furs, a half naked dude, some hoola hooppers w mad skills and bedazzled hoops, just all over the place randomness you prob wont see at other places in the Lou. The floor isn't even so watch your step. There are some comfy looking ottomans over the place. The women's bathroom doesnt have doors on its stalls, just curtains that remind me of forever 21 fitting rooms. I had a great time at koken and will return next time a dj I want to see shows up here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: U-City Grill; City: St Louis, MO; Review: Ah U City Grill....it's small, no frills, with minimal (not always very friendly depends on who you get in the kitchen) service, but the Bibimbap is so delicious, especially at $5.95 a bowl (You should get it with extra meat, which adds a dollar to the price but it would be a dollar well spent).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: O'Connell's Pub; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: First time dining here last night....we are big fans! I loved the atmosphere in this place: animal mounting, large whiskey promotion mirrors, dim brass(?) chandeliers, and large framed artworks. It was packed at 8 PM on a Saturday but we got a table right away. All of us had the cheeseburger, which was big (I can't fit its cross section in my mouth) and juicy (we ordered it medium rare), for $6 = cheap and delicious! The coleslaw were creamy. I didn't care for the fries. They could be more crispy. Service was efficient. I will definitely return when in the mood for burgers again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shiver Vodka Bar and Champagne Lounge; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Meh...came here for the first time this weekend for a friend's birthday. It was packed on a Saturday night (good), unfortunately with some serious dbags and btch varieties (bad). To sum it up, the music was terrible (yes, you can make top 40 awesome if you sprinkle it with a few indie dance tracks but I suspect the DJ here even knows any tracks outside the crap they play on the radio), the crowd was nearly intolerable (we draped our coats on the back of a chair and some chicks repeatedly threw them on the floor...um honey you can still sit on your chair so what's with the attitude?), there is really no dance floor: the dance area was full and everyone was trying to dance/move in the narrow walkway between the bar and the first row of seating, while trying to dodge people getting by. The bartenders didn't do any fancy tricks like the other have mentioned, and the ice chamber? uh...i'll pass. It's cold enough out. Shiver was just as bad and pretentious as Pure down the street. On the other hand, Lucas Park, also down the street, has much more pleasing and attractive crowd, more seating and space, and no cover. Lucas Park can have my money anyday over this place.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Thaxton Speakeasy; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Here is a simple place with lots of potential to be great. We came for a few drinks in the underground bar area. The building is gorgeous. You enter from the back down a shady looking alleyway and supposedly need to know the password (I have no idea. Others did). They charged a very small cover, which I don't think is appropriate. The reason? They are small and very rarely known. To get people to come and liven up the place, they need to make it free for a good stretch of time until a solid patronage has been build up. The bar/lounge is fairly small (think the front room of Pepper Lounge). There were some comfy looking sofas. The bartenders were nice and they have Schlafly on tap (!!!!!!!! A lounge that has Schlafly on tap! How freaking cool is that?). The crowd was mixed...folks of different age groups. The music was eh...Kudos to the DJ for playing more obscure songs/tracks but they could benefit with a few familiar songs (yes, the crap on the radio, which does get people moving sadly) thrown into the mix. We left early to go dance at a busier place, but overall, my experience was positive here. They need to do more PR to get people to show up, drop the cover charge, mix up the DJ choices, and hopefully the place will become more popular then to pop up on people's radar when they are on Wash Ave.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Wei Hong Seafood Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We had dim sum for the first time last weekend, and it was just a-ok. I had regular dinner here before; both experiences left me wanting more. Let's talk about Dim Sum. They have all your normal selections (shao mai, shrimp dumplings, shrimp balls, chicken feet, etc), but instead of multiple carts running around the hall, there were only 2. While each cart contained alot more varieties than those of other dim sum restaurants, I feel like having fewer carts cheapened the experience (how is it that different from regular ordering if you have the same two person bring you food?). Variety-wise, it was definitely lacking compared with Mandarin House, which has reconfirmed its status as my favorite Dim Sum joint in this town after this experience. What I liked at Mandarin House that wasn't at Wei Hong? The spicy jelly (forgot if it's pig stomach or some other organs); the Shanghainese style meat buns with broth (these come out in steamers); the roasted pork with that bbq red glaze; the mussels in black bean paste; the home-made soy milk (and a bunch of other dishes that I'm sure I have been taking for granted). On the flip side, I think Wei Hong has done a great job with several of the stables: the chicken feet had potent flavors; the shrimp with bean curd was compacted beautifully and did not unravel right away in my mouth, same with the shrimp he fen (which at other dim sum places always fall apart before they make it to my plate) and there were alot more vegeterian items than the other dim sum places. Also, service was great! Our water and tea were filled nonstop (as we drank nonstop :P). Overall score: 3.5. This was worth trying, especially if you are a vegeterian, but I will be sticking to Mandarin House because of its specialty items and a more cheery/busy "dim sumy" atmosphere.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Brasserie by Niche; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I did not fall in love with Brasserie by Niche. - French onion soup - WAY too much cheese and not enough broth. We also wanted more crunchiness but got soggy breading/croutons instead (the fact that I couldn't figure out what kind of breading was in there is a sign that there was not enough crunch). - Goat cheese + leafy greens + beet cubes - if you like the unique flavor of goat cheese, you will not like this dish. It seemed like they had tried to take as much of the "goat-cheesiness" out of this dish as possible...in fact it tasted likes a slice of under-flavored vanilla cheese cake, not at all what we were expecting. - Escargot - This was decent, meaty and well cooked. - Herb Gnocchi - Pretty good. The gnocchi was very tender (melts in mouth) and had just a tiny bit of sear on the bottom. - Cassoulet - I did not care for this. The pork belly was all fat (which I normally enjoy but I couldn't find meat at all?!); on the other hand the sausage was dry and too lean; the tomato broth didn't have much flavor other than being...salty. - Corsendonk Abbey Brown Ale - Rich and creamy delicious! - Parisian cocktail - not memorable. Overall, we had a ton of food (yes we had three appetizers that's how we roll....gluttonously) but most were underwhelming. We ended up skipping dessert altogether and left early to grab froyo in the loop. We probably wouldn't return (lots of great restaurants in the Lou that we haven't gotten to yet) but we may give big sister Niche a try in the near future.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bravo! Italian Kitchen; City: Des Peres, MO; Review: 3.5 Stars. Here is a summary of our experience at Happy Hour at Bravo on a weekday: $2.95 Appetizers - Fantastic! We had the batter fried shrimp, the proscuitto flatbread, and the mini meatball burgers with fries. I was impressed by the portions and the great taste. A++ Service - Our server admitted that he normally doesn't work in the bar area but he was very attentive and helpful. No complaints there. A. Drinks - I had the Fresh Fruit Pellini (sp?) It was delicious! Thick and creamy (reminded me of the papaya juice I had at Mojito's in San Juan...drool). Highly recommended for all your foo foo drink lovers out there. A. Price - This is the only reason I hesitated with the rating...they do NOT have a happy hour drink special (wha??). I guess the food special is enticing enough that they don't need to add a drink special on top, but as far as happy hour is concerned, I don't know a single restaurant that doesn't at least offer some sort of discount on the drinks. I would honestly rather them offer more expensive food items but also offer drink specials. In the end, we shared three appetizers, each had one foo foo drink, and shared a dessert. The bill came to $34 before tax. It's not much considering how much stuff we had, but frankly, if it comes down to $20 per person after tax, I probably would have ordered from a dinner menu somewhere else instead of filling myself with random stuff left and right....just food for thought.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fast Eddie's Bon Air; City: Alton, IL; Review: I can take fast eddies in small doses only, as in two to three times a year. Lately they have flooded the airwave with their commercials on large expansions, heated patio, etc. It has been a year since I went there last; we figured it was time for another dose of the Eddie.... (commercials really do work) We showed up around 9 on a Saturday, and whoa! This place has always been busy but it was insanely packed, in every corner of the room, the room inside the room, the patio, and the parking lot. Looks like Eddie's expansions are paying off! We scrambled our food order in (kitchen closes at 11) before looking for a table. It takes the kitchen a while to cook your meat on a stick, so it's pretty important to make your orders right away. If you are new to their food, here is what to expect. First of all, everything is Salty with a capital S. They gotta make $ somewhere. If it's not on food or through covers, they get you with them salty meat that you have to push down with beers. - Big Elmwood - some sort of beef chunks on a stick. $2.99. This is not the best bang for your buck but it's the most flavorful and least salty (from my experience last saturday at least). When I say not the best bang, I don't mean that it's small. ALL of their food items are HUGE portions for dirt cheap prices. I just mean it's more expensive than the other "___on a stick" - Pork on a stick - AKA Salt on a stick. The meat is great but get ready to drink a whole beverage per stick. $1.99 - $0.29 Peel and eat Shrimp - These have always been way overcooked, but not last Saturday. They were fresh and tender. Yum! These are the only food items not too salty. Yay! - Chicks on a stick - I would actually skip these altogether. You get a TON of food here: at least 6-8 chicken wings strung on a stick, but like the Pork, they were salt monsters and not as easy to eat. - Fries - These are pretty mediocre. Nothing to write home about - Burger - never had it. We go to Fast Eddie's to people-watch while having cheap food. Hey, it's great entertainment without having to pay a cover. However, get ready to consume insane amount of beer or other liquids to wash the salt out of your system for hours/days afterwards. I swear I spent the entire sunday parched thanks to our visit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sasha's On Shaw; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I LOVE the atmosphere here. The fresh flowers on the table, lights in bottles, marble tables and seats, and wall to wall of wines: lovely! However, I did not fall in love with the food. I love prosciutto, but the prosciutto and fontina cheese crepe had too much cheese and not enough prosciutto. The smoked salmon was a bit dry and not smoked enough. Portions were not big. Service was friendly but it took a long time to get our food. Last but not least, what irked me a little was the description of food on the menu. I can't quite recall reading another menu like Sasha's that boasts of how great its food is. I could swear every single dish was either "the BEST", "most delicious", or "amazing". I will return one day, but probably only for drinks.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Broadway Brewhouse & Mojo; City: Nashville, TN; Review: I grabbed dinner here on a rainy Sunday night while passing through Nashville. I had the jambalaya and the gumbo. The gumbo was exceptional! Perfectly spicy and creamy. I didn't think much of the jambalaya, which was extremely dry. Maybe this is personal preference, but I like my jambalaya to be more liquid-y with sauce. Everything was fairly cheap and the girls at the order to go counter were very friendly and sweet. The food arrived very quickly. Overall, a good meal.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sanctuaria; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I finally made it! But the legendary Matt wasn't there....darn! I wanted to see what all the hype is...nonetheless the White Buffalo I had was quite good, probably not $9 good, but I knew what I was getting into price wise so that was no surprise. It was cozy with dark and eclectic decorations. I love the skeletons and the big mirror in the main room. The Torte we had was fantastic! It was rich and wasn't overly sweet, which is a huge plus for me; when it comes to "sweets" I don't like mine too "sweet"....ironically. We didn't have food but just looking at the menu it seems a bit....small. More varieties would be appreciated. We had a bottle of wine and played cards. Service was quick and friendly. Overall, 3.5 stars. I probably would go back more often if the drinks are not as pricey.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Atomic Cowboy; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Atomic Cowboy is one of my favorite places in town, because of: 1. Unique drinks - infused vodkas and tequilas (try the pepper vodka; it's spicy!) They also have spiked coffee drinks - yum! Perfect for chilly nights. 2. Laid-back crowd (no pretentious Dbag variety here) 3. Great food - repeat: GREAT. This is not your typical bar grub, the menu is big and the kitchen opens late. I have not eaten anything I dislike here, from the fried pickles to the fried plantains (sure alot of things are fried but tell me you want a salad at 11 pm while drinking pepper vodka? I didn't think so). 4. They have some great acts come to the Foxhole (little theater/room out back). I watched a burlesque show there once last year and it was a neat intimate setting. Service can be spotty...not all servers know what they are doing. But I mostly overlook this considering the 4 points above. I really hope they can continue to revitalize this section of Manchester to bring in more bars and restaurants. This area could be a great alternative to Wash Ave and CWE nightlife neighborhoods.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coffee Cartel; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I'm not a big "gourmet coffee" person and rarely visits coffee houses (The slightly burned Ronnoco at work will suffice 99% of the time for me as long as it does the job of keeping me awake). However, occasionally (about twice a year) I visit Coffee Cartel. For those two times a year, I love this place. I get an over-priced cup of latte ($6 bucks for a 16 oz? Sheesh!) and get a seat by the window. I do some random doodling in Microsoft Paint and watch the people walking by outside. Occasionally I take a few pictures and bask in the joy that my student days are long gone, meaning no more furiously typing papers and participating in easily-distractable group meetings, both go on in the background. I have never gotten food here and don't ever plan to. The service has always been a bit iffy but I don't expect more from people who have to pretty much work nonstop during their shifts. I must say, for those two times a year, I am quite happy with my $6 dollar experience at Coffee Cartel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Contemporary Art Museum St Louis; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Bad news first: the CAM is pretty small. Exhibits don't change often and the space is not very well utilized from a practicality stand point. (They are currently exhibiting works of Richard Aldrich, who I just cannot get excited about...) Despite all these, the CAM is a great local institution. I love opening nights here, which are full of energies and packed with art enthusiasts from all ages and walks of life; The CAM hosts great events that are often free and bring people out when the weather is nice. There are usually laid-back local DJs with their own points of view entertaining the crowds at these events. I think every St. Louisan should visit the CAM at least once, and check out its website for activities. Even though the galleries may be small, the Sheldon Concert Hall (with galleries in the side building) just down the street within walking distance would make a great second destination for an art-lover's outing on a weekend afternoon. P.S. Despite all the one star reviews, one must remember that a trip to any art institution is only as fulfilling as its audience's expectation/preference. This is a "Contemporary" Art Museum; you will find weird shit (for the lack of a proper term) here. I don't always have the same idea of what makes an object art as the next person, but I appreciate the museum's existence as an exposure platform and if you go into it with an open mind, you will too. Seriously though, don't be shallow. It's a great place to visit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sheldon Concert Hall & Ballroom; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I have been to the Sheldon numerous times, both for concerts and for gallery events. The most recent time was a few weeks ago for a classical concert. We arrived having trouble finding parking, which was very unusual considering I rarely see this level of excitement for classical concerts. Only after we walked up to the concert hall did we realize majorty of people were heading to the FOX theater down the street (go figure). The Sheldon is, imo, one of the most under-rated institution in St. Louis. It seems to stand in the shadow of the FOX, which is bigger, more famous, and more ornately decorated. However, the Sheldon offers a more intimate experience and also has a well-developed programming (albeit mostly classical/jazz/blues/so called "old school" genres). The attached art gallery puts on great exhibits throughout the year. Compared with the CAM just down the street, space at the Sheldon art gallery is much better utilized (more artworks in less space, but not as aesthetically curated due to lack of creative space to play with). Exhibits change often and vary greatly. I highlight recommend visiting the Sheldon art gallery and the CAM in one trip. They are different yet complimentary that you will have a more satisfying art-viewing experience when visiting both together.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Village Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I love the burger here, second to Seamus Mcdaniel's and O'Connell's in this town. It's cheap, greasy, and tasty; the sides (fries and waffle fries) are fantastic too! If you love burgers, you definitely need to check it out. Place looks cute from the outside, right next to a shop (forgot the shop's name). Parking is in the back. It looks like a townie bar inside, dark with cramped tables. I heard they banned smoking in 2011 which is great as last time I went it was smoky as hell in there, even for lunch!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Global Foods Market; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: GFM is my favorite local grocery store! You don't have to be "adventurous" to shop here. In fact, putting all the amazing ethnic options aside for now, they have a fantastic variety of vegetables, more potatoes, mushrooms, and peppers than your Schnucks and Dierbergs, at much cheaper prices! The Deli has lots of interesting options! Case in point: they have three types of hot head cheese (for those who can stomach it). The dried goods section (near the fruits) is a gold mine of pretty much dried anything you can think of. They use simple standard containers that keep the cost down. I have yet to try anything here that isn't fresh. And now onto the more "adventurous" stuff, like the circular flat bread that's bigger than your torso, the smoked whole fish, Russian bacon, hundreds of frozen Indian-dinners, sweet Chinese sausages, basically everything that your heart desires and doesn't know it desires. Oh and did I mention their selection of foreign snacks and candies? Yum... It's an experience shopping here. In fact, meet up for a date and pick up some "exotic" merchandises whose names you can't pronounce. What a great way to start a lazy weekend or add some pizazz to a boring weekday evening.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken; City: Saint Ann, MO; Review: I have eaten here more times than I have anywhere else in this world. Of all the fast food fried chicken chains, I love Lee's the most. About twice a month, I stop by this location. The girls at the counter are sweet and helpful. I get my two piece thigh and leg, a side of corn on the cob, and a side of green beans. The crispy fried chicken is my favorite as it has a slight spicy kick. I woof it all down in 10 minutes and carry on with rest of my evening activities. On a related note, here is my break down of fast food fried chickens: Popeyes - too fried (there is such a thing in my book) Church's - too fatty and the meat is not as good quality as Lee's KFC - More salty than the others and the skin is not as crispy Alas, I return to Lee's time after time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: La Monarca; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Ah Monarca...no frill Mexican food...I like. What you should get here: Tacos - less than $2 each; nothing beats tongue tacos made the "authentic" way, with onion and cilantro, Tortas - Mexican sandwich with a big variety of meat filings. Fried Tilapia (see my photo added above) - It is literally a whole fish, deep fried; there is a lot of juicy, white fish meat. Guacamole - I'm pretty sure they made these themselves; they are creamy and delicious! There is no atmosphere per say (it's attached to a grocery store), but of the few times I have been here the tables were clean. The price is great. Very few items on the menu are over $10; most are under $8. For those of you who have been to Taqueria La Pasadita (aka the taco-bell-converted Mexican restaurant in Overland) and wonder why the menus and the food look/taste similar? The owners are brothers.....we asked ;); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Boogaloo; City: Maplewood, MO; Review: Aww....why such low rating for a beautiful restaurant/bar? I have been here a couple of times now, most recently last night; I love the atmosphere, with the colorful murals, open windows, big decorated mirrors, and that classic-car-turned-couch. It's an awesome stop in a Maplewood bar crawl. The waiter was friendly; our drinks were decent (not the best caipirinha I ever had but it was refreshing nonetheless). The music wasn't too loud, which was great for conversations. Great experience over all (except for the guy backing pretty hard into my car right in front of us as we were leaving. Apparently he didn't even realize it as he tried to drive away right away. No damage was done but good god, can people exercise a little more care when driving?); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Adrenaline Zone; City: St. Charles, MO; Review: I have been here twice and I love it. Both times we played Demolitian Ball (which is a hybrid "sport" combining bumper cars with lacrosse and with basketball). It's played in teams so the more people you bring the better (although most recent time we were here we just joined some strangers who needed extra persons for their game). They also have laser tag in the back, with two floors (sort of). But get ready to roll with teenagers with much more energy (my thighs still hurt from two days ago playing laser tag there). The staff is very friendly. They have a little bar with drink specials that are cheap. I had a "springbreak". I forgot what was in it but it was a big glass of girly stuff and tasted pretty good for just $4. Definitely keep this place in mind if you have a bunch of people and would like to do something other than drinking on an evening.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mosaic Modern Fusion; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This review pertains to to-go salad and service only. I had 20 minutes before my flight out of STL on Delta. I stopped by Mosaic to grab something to go. I decided on the chicken salad (which by the way was nothing special, tasted about the same as the $8.5 salad from every other vendor in any airport). By the time I picked up the container, there was a huge line and the "hostess", if there ever is a person there, is no where to be found. There were all sorts of empty tables and at least two servers walking around leisurely, but god forbid that they try to seat some guests. I went up to the bar area to pay for my food. The girl seemed flustered. After she handed back my card, I asked for utensils; she came back with a plastic folk and a few napkins, not in any sort of plastic packaging; She turned around immediately to walk away but I had to halt her to ask for a bag, to which I was told "we don't have bags." Um...excuse me? So they expect their to-go customers to hold on to their food container, utensils, napkins, and a drink in their hands while juggling their other luggage/bags? What about people who dine-in? Do they get bags for their leftovers? As I left, I noticed the line had gotten longer and some agitated customers were flagging down the waiters to ask if they could just sit themselves. I struggled squeezing all the stuff in my hand into my luggage and five minutes after I boarded my plane and began to eat, I realized that without a knife I could not cut through the giant chicken pieces in my salad and had to eat them one bite at a time. From just a 15 minute experience, I would say that the restaurant is grossly under-prepared and the staffs rude/under-trained. They clearly don't have all their ducks in a row. For the same cost, I could pick up a salad from any other vendor in the airport, and I'll know that I can pay immediately, and have all my plastic utensils (yes, a knife too!) in a sanitary plastic pouch, and have a plastic bag to tote them around. This is the first and last time I will stop by the to-go counter at Mosaic in the airport. When I'm in a hurry, one bad experience is one too many.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Powell Symphony Hall; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Every true St. Louisan should experience at least one concert at the Powell Symphony Hall, if not for the love of classical music, just to support local arts and the great ensemble that is the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (one of the best in the country right in our back yard!). The hall is beautifully decorated and of the perfect size. The seats are comfortable. I especially love that you have your own arm-rest (vs. trying to elbow-fight the person next to you for some space). There is more to be desired for the acoustics, but I don't find acoustics to be all that important at these types of concerts. I've been to a few classical concerts here over the years and it has always been a wonderfully enriching experience. The program throughout the year is very dynamic and caters to different interest groups. But I always find it sad that 90% of the audience at a classical concert are people twice my age. Some say classical music is a dying genre. Today's youth simply does not have the patience for it, but I believe most people just need to experience a live concert first hand before they write it off as "old people's art". I may be biased as I have played the violin since I was three, but I truly believe the energy from an orchestra is contagious and will take anyone's mind to amazing new heights. So go to their website, read about the upcoming concerts, find someone you find remotely interesting, and get tickets to see the show! P. S. When I'm at a Bassnectar concert at the Pageant, I don't mind seeing your ass-baring short skirt, but please have some decency and courtesy and not wear it to the symphony!! Seriously, take your hooch outfits somewhere else. P. S. 2: The concession and bathroom lines are long so keep that in mind during intermission. You will not have a lot of time to do both at a leisurely pace. Please realize that no symphony hall will allow you to take food or drinks in during the concert. These are not musicals or pop concerts. If you don't get back before the second half starts, you are not allowed in.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Vine Mediterranean Cafe and Market; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: On our first visit, some highs and an equal number of (if not more) lows. The good: - Our waiter - very honest and friendly. Thank you! - The appetizer sampler - Great great start to our meal. The falafel was AMAZING! The Baba Ganoush had just the right kick of smoked eggplants flavor, and even the stuffed grape leaves, which I don't normally enjoy, were tasty. - I loved the atmosphere inside. The comfy greenish pillows on the benches by the windows and the wall decorations. I love how the grocery store was well separated from the cafe section. - Prices were very reasonable. The bad: - The almond juice was over the top sweet. Holy Crap! How much sugar did they put in this thing??! It would have tasted so much better without the sweeteners. Yuck! - My Beef Shwarma sandwich was terrible. It was extremely dry, despite being drenched in the white sauce. There were alot of "stuff" inside this sandwich but everything tasted the same and that taste was pretty much tastelessness. It came in a wrap, not exactly a pita sandwich that I had imagined (you know, like a gyro with a fat piece of round-shaped pita). - My companion said her chicken Shwarma sandwich was very salty and also in general dry and tasteless. - The other person in our group ordered a Beef Entree that was definitely not cooked to order (he ordered medium rare and it came out well done) but at least it had flavor. There were alot of rice and not as much meat. Overall, a hu-hum experience after the appetizer sampler. I am all about supporting local restaurants, especially considering there isn't alot of Mediterranean restaurants in STL, but the entrees just didn't cut it. We may re-visit but probably just getting the items in the appetizer sampler next time.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Boogaloo; City: Maplewood, MO; Review: Third time was not the charm! After tonight's experience i may never come back again. My previous two visits were fine. I enjoyed the atmosphere. Drinks were mediocre and not cheap but that's what you pay for the atmosphere. Tonight it took 15 minutes after we sat down before someone came up to take our drink orders. The music was way too loud. We had to shout across the table all night. I also dont understand why you need a Dj to play top 40 crap but i'll let that slide. We were playing w the three candles on our table when someone came up and took away two of them without a word, literally right outside of our hands...um ok? And he didn't put them anywhere else either so that was just odd and a bit rude actually. It took another 15 minutes to get our checks after we flagged down the waiter. Low and behold there was a $1 charge for "rocks". WTF? The bf had ordered two jack and cokes on the rocks which showed up in regular mixed drink glasses and did not taste like it had more alcohol than the drink we had next door. Do I give a rat's ass abt a dollar? No. But I find the practice inappropriate. I am not unfamiliar w this surcharge but I have never encountered this in St Louis. Most restaurants price their mixed drinks to include the so-called extra alcohol because it just makes more sense, especially from a customer experience perspective. I mean, how many people out there order jack and coke w out it being on the rocks to justify the double Price levels/measurements?? Just tell me how much a jack and coke is. Don't nickel and penny me on that additional 2 ounces I supposedly got by ordering it on the rocks. It's really lame. Congratulations for swindle that dollar out of me! You just lost a champion for your business.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mongolian Bar-B-Que Buffet; City: Chesterfield, MO; Review: Before I came here, I thought Huhot was all the rage, but after my visit, I am throwing that notion out of the window. Yes, this is a Mongolian BBQ place, but you also get a full Chinese buffet, complete with crab legs on the weekend (which btw have some of the freshest legs I have eaten at a buffet anywhere). The buffet is fairly generic, with some sushi (which I wasn't too jazzed about but it's there) and delicious salt and pepper shrimp if they haven't been sitting for too long. The Mongolian BBQ is fantastic; in addition to all types of meat, fish, and squid, they also offer shrimp. Yay! I'm a shrimp lover and I have always been disappointed that Huhot doesn't offer shrimp. I think I have found my to-go place for Mongolian BBQ in this town!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Cafe; City: Florissant, MO; Review: I just earned some bragging rights as the second woman that finished a level 25 dish. I only heard about the spicy challenge at this place a couple weeks ago. They have four spice levels in the challenge, the 25, 50, 75, and 100 (the increase in level denotes an increase in spiciness/spicy peppers used in the preparation). You have to start with 25 before you move on up. Whoever finishes an 100 level dish gets a t-shirt. A group of us first-timers showed up here on Thai New Year's day (how appropriate). We had been out in the sun all day for a driving event. In retrospect, it probably wasn't a good idea as we were all sun-burned and red in the face before we even started eating some hot (temperature) food. All of us but one signed up for the level 25 challenge and finished our food. We had done this not too long ago in Springfield, MO at the Joe Roger's Chili, which unfortunately served some of the most greasy and gross chili I have ever eaten, but I digress. We ordered a plethora of dishes, from curry meat to spicy eggplant, to drunken noodles. All were delicious!! The portion was just right, not too big to make it impossible to finish in one sitting and not too small to make the spicy challenge too easy. They also have the beer bucket deal (for $17 you get to pick 6 beers off their beer wall, which we were told had more than 100 types of beers, ranging from Asian beers to microbrews to your usual budlight, budweisser variety). The beers were cold; our dishes were delicious; and the owners were good people. A great experience overall, and definitely some of the best Thai food in town. I normally swear by Thai Kitchen but this may have exceeded TK, especially considering dinners are a couple bucks cheaper than TK (unfortunately it is a bit out of the way from us). We will be back! And some of us will be back for the 50, 75, and maybe eventually the level 100 challenge...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Baileys' Chocolate Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Going to Bailey's is like going to Best Buy the morning of Black Friday. People are packed in like sardines; it takes forever to sit down and service is often atrocious, slow and spotty; Last night's desserts were just...odd. The caramel cheesecake was more like a mousse, too airy and fluffy, mediocre at best, and that was $8. The root beer float was decent, but it had way too much cream and not enough root beer. At end of the night, after you have dropped some major $$ for mediocre desserts and you are waiting for your check like you are in the check out line at Best Buy on Black Friday, you could barely hear your thoughts with a large screaming party sitting nearby, you start wondering why the heck did I come here in the first place? I still love the atmosphere at Bailey's, but romance is dead here in my opinion. Either come on a non-weekend night or brace yourself for the crowd, bad service, and long wait. Oh, and mandatory 20% tip if you have a larger group, because we all need to pay for filling up their tables and getting sub standard service. *Eye rolling...; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Urban Chestnut Brewing Company; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: The bf and I had mixed feelings about this place. We compromised to a 3.5 stars rating. We were there on a friday night after the symphony. We didn't have food, just two drinks. I liked the atmosphere. It's basically a decently-lit big room with lots of solid wooden tables (and sewing machine tables that brought me back to my childhood days when my mom made clothes for my dolls and barbies....but I digress). I thought my Schnickelfritz was good (I normally like fruity notes in my beers anyway). However, the bf hated his tripel. According to him, the tripel was "fake"; that it wasn't brewed to be a tripel and shouldn't have been marketed as such. He drinks alot of beers so I assume he knows what he's talking about. He didn't even finish half of it, which was extremely rare as we don't believe in wasting beers...:P Nonetheless, this is a great low-key place to hang out with some friends and play cards.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: My 42 oz margarita is doing the talking for me tonight....and it says "freaking delicious!" We rolled into Las Palmas # 3 at 7:30 PM on Cinco de Mayo and there was a line snaking out the door. Go figure. This was our second food stop of the night. First was Las Palmas # 1 on Woodson, which had a tent and a band and was filled to the brim with people, where I learned that a table of four was a wait of at least 50 minutes (probably longer) and I was told that they are affiliated with the Las Palmas location in Maplewood but not with Las Palmas # 3 on Page (What? But they have the same name and I always assumed they belonged to the same family/chain but apparently I assume too much) So we gave up waiting there and came to Las Palmas # 3, with no band and no tent, but still a 20 minutes wait. At last, we sat down. I ordered a 42 oz margarita immediately and oh my! It was like a boozy fruit smoothie. Yum! (I got peach). We munched through two baskets if chips before our entrees arrived. We ordered the entree that was listed below Mixed Fajitas on the menu (d'oh! Forgot the name) it had mixed vegetables, chicken, carnitas, steak, and shrimp. Everything was delicious. The shrimp wasn't overcooked for once (yes!). I have eaten quite a few times at this location and I really think it has the best tex-mex in town. Secretly I always thought it had better tasting tex-mex than the original Las Palmas on Woodson and apparently I wasn't crazy for thinking that as they are not affiliated.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mother In Law House; City: St. Charles, MO; Review: A lovely house with traditional decorations and white linens on tables. We had brunch here on a Saturday and sat right next to the door facing the street. There was a nice breeze that floated in every once in a while. Our unsweetened teas were refreshing and refilled constantly on this warm spring day. I had the curry chicken with salad, a slice of melon, and a blueberry muffin in the shape of a star. The muffin was warm and moist; the melon fresh and cold; and the curry chicken light and tasty. It was served on a large piece of lettuce that I scraped to get every last morsel. The only thing I wasn't a big fan of was the salad, which had a strange foamy dressing that was just a tad too sweet for me. Our waitress was sweet and friendly and had no complaints splitting our checks (five ways, five cards). A wonderful brunch experience overall. Highly recommended for a girls' day out meal!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Riverside Sweets; City: Saint Charles, MO; Review: They are very generous with the single scoop! For $2.61 after tax, I got the biggest single scoop ice cream ever. It was milky and tasty. I woofed it down in couple of minutes before moving on to check out rest of the little shops along Main Street. This is a great little stop that doesn't break the bank.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Gumbo Shop; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: First visit: hospitality = 5 stars; food = 3.5 stars (some 5 stars others not so much. More on that later); Good people! Everyone was very nice and friendly. I even chance-encountered fellow Yelper Allan C! Alright, getting down to business. Some background: I LOVE Cajun food. There are not a ton of options in this town but my favorite is Broadway Oyster Bar. The crawfish etouffee and jambalaya are fantastic there. I like spicy food and they are spiced just right in my opinion. Now switching gears to the Gumbo Shop. This bare restaurant has a large impressive menu. We ordered so many things, and here are my verdicts: Appetizers: - Crab cake: delicious! - Hushpuppies: moist and wonderfully spiced! - Fried oysters: light and delicious Entrees: - Gumbo + Jambalaya: man...I hate to rain on the parade but I did not like this. It doesn't have enough kick for me. Everything was kinda watered-down and bland. - Jambalaya.....I also wasn't too jazzed about this. Again, I needed more kick. - Blackened fish.....HOLY SMOKES! The fish was heavily spiced and incredibly tender; quite possibly the best blackened fish I ever had! I will definitely return, but I may only order the blackened catfish next time. It looks like I still have to make the long drive to Broadway Oyster Bar for the more standard cajun fares...that's a bummer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pho Long; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Update: Shortly after I wrote the review, I received a long and very detailed email from the owner describing how the pho was made and how its flavors have developed over the years. I do think pho is a matter of personal preference and perhaps the pho I had here just did not suit my personal preference. This aside, I appreciate the personal response and explanations and I will drop by for another visit sometime. * * * As much as I love small, family-owned restaurants, I don't have very good things to say about the pho here. I have had it three times so I know my verdict is not based on a fluke in the kitchen. So what's wrong with the pho? 1. So much damn noodles! Every time I ate here I had to scoop big chunks of noodles out of the bowl. They soak up a huge portion of the broth instantly. If you are gonna put a crap load of noodles in the pho, use a bigger bowl and give me more broth so I don't have to slurp liquid out of a soggy noodle mess. 2. The broth is just not potent enough for me. The flavor doesn't have enough complexity. 3. $10 bucks for a bowl of pho is pretty pricey, but I wouldn't have cared if only it tasted better. What I don't have a problem with was the service, the atmosphere (the renovated space is clean, efficient, and actually kind of cute with the plants by the windows), and the quantity of meat in my combination pho. At end of the day, I visit a Vietnamese restaurant for its pho and as long as I can find better pho somewhere else in this town (and I can at Mai Lee, Lemon grass, and Truc Lam), I would not come back here again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Upstairs Lounge; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Upstairs Lounge is one of those places that I don't love but I end up going a bunch of times anyway. I know a couple of people who DJ on the weekends here. We show up for morale support. The place has some comfy booth seats. I like the little TVs. I photograph them often (I've uploaded a bunch of pictures). But aside from that, I am just not that excited about the place. It's tiny. The bathroom upstairs is a dump (cool broken mirror mural I guess on the stall wall). Service at the bar is awfully spotty: sometimes you don't even get a full drink or it is really watered down. It's dead empty most of the times until you have a big namer in town. People watching can be fun here but you need PEOPLE before you can watch them. Just an overall M'eh place for me, and thumbs down for always charging a cover.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mekong Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Mekong has good "miscellaneous Asian" food, for the lack of a better term. I don't love the pho here. The other Vietnamese noodle dishes have been just meh to me as well. But the stir fry is fantastic! The portions are big and they have a ton of items to choose from on the meny. It is dead most of the times so you definitely will get the waiter/waitress' attention (ha!) And one huge plus. They open and serve food late into the evenings. I want to say they stop at 1AM. That's important because not many Asian restaurants with decent options open that late.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ragin Cajun Piano Bar; City: Alton, IL; Review: We made a late night stop here to meet up with some friends who live in Illinois. It's a big place with a fun atmosphere. There are two floors and a patio. The front of the bar is cool; there are different types of seats, including a set of airplane seats; there is a big chandelier over the pianos; there are drunk women on the second floor dancing to the songs and flashing the crowds (intentionally or unintentionally); there was the homeless guy without teeth walking around holding a beer and trying to strike up a conversation with his garbled talk; there is a pool table on the second floor that's sloped to one side and not really useable but it's there if you don't care about keeping scores. When I'm at a bar, the one thing that really irks me is the lack of seating. I don't want to stand around all night or dart for the first stool available. You won't have that problem here. It's got a ton of comfy seat options. I did not have food this time but next time I'll have to try some of these cajun favorites that others have raved about. Overall, this is a great spot to stop by and get a few drinks if you find yourself on the east side of the river.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brennan's; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Back when the Maryland House first opened, I loved it. They used to have all sorts of artworks exhibited in the little rooms, but like Abby's review below I am also getting quite dis-enchanted with the place. What is with all the private access spaces? Why? i guess I'm just not cool enough to know how to access them. I also find the bartenders to have a chip on their shoulders. WTF? The drinks are pricey and there is never enough seats. One thing I did like on a recent trip there was the older gentleman DJ (DJ is probably pushing it. He mostly played records, but then again, no one actually spins records anymore). He played some cool jazzy music and was obviously very enthusiastic about what he was doing....I LOVE watching people like that! Overall, Maryland House = blah. Brennan's = Still cool. I would rather hang out downstairs these days.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Iron Barley's High Hog Ridge; City: High Ridge, MO; Review: There are certain things I genuinely HATE about this place. To me, this is a restaurant that has been banking on its food network fame and goes out of its way to inconvenience diners. So if you are from out of town, skip! Especially if you have a group bigger than 2 people, it's not worth the trouble. I guess to start with what's decent: I find the food to be on the average to high quality range. Everything is pricier than they should be but the entrees have decent flavors. On our last visit, we had a fairly large party. I tried a sample of others' food. The side of green beans with bacon was WAY too peppery/salty; the Monte Cristo dogs were interesting. I'm a sucker for jellies so I enjoyed it. My friend's side of barley was completely cold when it came on the table and it also tasted funky. She left it sitting after one bite. The dessert peanut butter blaster was fantastic and it was a large slice, perfect for sharing. I also do not have any major complaints about the service on my visits. It's fair; the servers could be more attentive, but the place is always packed and busy that any lapse in attention is justifiable to me. What I find to be extremely distasteful is all these creative ways they come up to make a few bucks. $2 cold/grocery store bread; $3 split check fee (really? Is there really a need to charge $3 per check when people are dropping upwards of $30 for a meal?); no seating until everybody in the party shows up (which means even though 11 of our party of 13 were present, they will not let us sit and we all have to awkwardly stand around the bar trying to stay out of others way. We were gonna order appetizers first anyway so I don't see why the wait for two late-comers)....seriously? When are they gonna start charging for re-fills? And why do they need all these restrictions and surcharges? To up keep the restaurant that's in a seedy part of town? Puh--lease!! Because of their "we don't give a shit about you or your convenience" attitude (and their "we don't give a shit about writing more descriptions on our menus cause we'd rather our over-worked waiters explain everything if and when he/she finally makes his/her way to your table"), Iron Barley is the most over-rated restaurant in STL in my opinion. For your hard-earned $$s, you can have an equally delicious if not more enjoyable meal, and that means not just good food, but great service, and actually be treated like your business matters. A good restaurant should at least make the simplest attempts to cater to a diner's not-so unreasonable needs. But apparently at Iron Barley, they are too famous to worry about that.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Pearl Cafe; City: Florissant, MO; Review: Since my initial visit, I have returned multiple times. I've enjoyed/sampled a number of dishes on the menu with various degree of heat, including the spicy eggplant with ground chicken, the garlic chicken, the Tom Yum soup, and the Panang Curry, which was tasty overall, but I agree with Erin's comments, it was too sweet. Other than this minor suggestion, I have no complaints. Beers are always cold; Service are always quick. The owners are super friendly. On every visit, I came away with fond memories of seeing friends crying/dripping sweat and snot over some spicy dishes.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: MERS Goodwill; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This place is the king of thrift shops! After having passed it many times in the recent months while driving on I-40, we finally made a stop here. It is essentially a huge warehouse full of blue bins that are semi-organized. When you go, get ready to dig and not have a very specific goal in mind. The price is very reasonable (79 cents per lb. Need I say more?). I found a ton of interesting stuff, from retro purses to Michael Jackson-esque 80s embroidered jackets, to unique ceramics, all for less than $2. They were all in good shapes (i.e. not broken/torn/chipped/dirty, although there was a ton that wasn't in as good shapes) Despite the fun digging, this place made me sad. I saw a photo album still full of pictures from what looks to be the 1950s and 1960s. It made me wonder what happened to the people in the family. There were also so many perfectly good stuffed animals that are going to become destroyed during recycling.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Waterway Carwash; City: Creve Coeur, MO; Review: Meh...I am one of those people who tip (anywhere outside a restaurant) before viewing the results at places such as the car wash. Last week I stopped by here for the first time. I had a coupon that knocked my cost down to nothing + tip so no complaints there. I like the streamlined process they have here; it seems very efficient, and it's cool to be able to wander around inside the station while waiting for the wash to be completed. So of course I tipped my 20% and got in to drive away and the first thing I noticed was my dash area was....just as dirty as 15 minutes ago when I drove in. My wash package included a wipe on the inside, but apparently they just dropped the ball on this one. I have a small car, with only two seats and very limited interior space that can be wiped, so all they needed to do was wipe down the dash; I have a very protruding glassy deck to the right of the steeling wheel that was completely covered by dust when I took it in and guess what, it looked the same coming out. Disappointing experience....I guess it was my fault for not checking inside and out before I left but if I have to do that and point out such obvious misses, then what's the point of sending it here? If it wasn't for the coupon I would have given this two stars. I am definitely going to think twice before I come here again. After all, I could have just sent my car through a gas station car wash for $6 to achieve the same result.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: FroYo Frozen Yogurt; City: St Louis, MO; Review: This is my favorite Froyo in St. Louis. It's clean, busy but not overly loud and rauchy. It is smaller than the U City original location, which means fewer flavors and not as many seating options, but the flavors they have are crowd-favorites and I don't mind eating while standing/pacing by the door when the weather is nice. I also like the decor of all Froyo locations; the colors are very clean, cheerful, and bright. I could come once a day; at ~100 calories per half cup, these are great desserts for the weight conscious :); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kluckin' Chicken & Fish; City: Maryland Heights, MO; Review: Fantastic fried chicken and fish! Sweetie Pie's and Porter's have nothing on this place! Let me back up....We drove past the Kluckin Chicken numerous times in the past and always wanted to check it out. After an exhausting day at the Aquaport in Maryland Heights we stopped by for some fried goodness. Everything was freshly cooked to order. The prices were reasonable (2 piece mixed part chicken was only $3 something and that includes a side and a roll. $1.5 more if you want all white meat). I had the hot n spicy type, which wasn't very spicy but it was very tasty. My companion had the weekend buffet: for $8.99 you get all you can eat chicken, fish, country fried steak, and all the sides (green beans + bacon bits, meatball + spaghetti (he didn't like it too much) + corn + mashed potatoes). It was a pretty good deal if you are starving! A couple of things to note before you come: - There is NO atmosphere. It's a old place with wood panels, a couple of TVs, some gaming machines; it looks stingy and you could call the bathroom area scary because it's next to a industrial-sized washing basin. - The wait is LONG! If you want fast food, this is not the place. I know fried chicken = fast food to most people, but not here. They appeared to be grossly understaffed (looks like a family restaurant) with just one young guy in the kitchen cooking and a girl taking orders/serving. Of course, there is no wait for the buffet. There were also a ton of orders for pickups. During the hour we were eating here, they received at least 5 phone calls for delivery/pickups. Looks like most people order that way to avoid the long wait. However, if you can look past these two things, you will be rewarded with great home-style fried deliciousness! We will certainly return in the future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Casa Gallardo Mexican Restaurant & Cantina; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I am VERY surprised by the low rating. It's a decent tex-mex restaurant. If you go into it knowing this, then you will likely not be disappointed. I've been here numberous times (close to work) and never had a terrible experience. Sure the salsa is boring and everything is smothered in cheese but they offer all your standard tex-mex fares, the margaritas are very good (if you have never had a banana flavored margarita, do it! Only $3 for a big glass of frozen goodness at happy hour), and they have great happy hour food (and non margarita) specials during the week. Don't hate just because it's not "authentic". Not everything has to be "authentic". I'm Asian and I like to eat at Panda Express every once in a while. Is it authentic? Hell no. But doesn't mean it's not tasty in a different way. Don't be scared away by the 2.5 stars. Give this place a chance when you are in the mood for tex-mex.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Yellowstone Cafe; City: Town and Country , MO; Review: This is $$ place at most. Whoever put up that $$$ is probably scaring away business. I've been here a few times for lunch and have always enjoyed my meal. Portions are large and the fried walleye is fantastic! It's so good I haven't deviated from it after all my visits. Like Patt said, all the sides taste so fresh. Beware the kitchen is slow at lunch (because it's always packed to the brim with large groups). Make sure you get there early/late to beat the rush. This place is also one of the few non-chain restaurants in the Chesterfield area so hit it up when you are in the mood for some lightly-fried fish!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant; City: Saint Ann, MO; Review: A couple of recent reviews said untrue things about the "all you can eat" option here. To be clear, the menu clearly indicates you need 2 or more to get all you can eat; it also comes with 10-12 banchan sides including the steamed egg and soup. With that said I was not very impressed with my recent visit. A group of us came for dinner. The place was packed with Asians=good sign. Service started slow but our waitress was very sweet and kept tabs on us; no complaints there. The banchan were tasty; all your usual suspects: different types of kimchi, kongnamul (bean sprouts), anchovies, potato salad w apple, black beans, pickled cucumbers, steamed egg in a bowl, and some sort of tofu vegetable soup. The soup was god awful, no flavors. Everyone loved the potato salad and egg (sooo easy to make btw, crack an egg in a bowl, add equal amount of water, stir, microwave for four minutes; drip sesame oil and green scallion pieces on top after and you are done). When it comes to the meat, they were fresh (pink) but pretty low quality: the beef brisket is a cut of meat from the lower chest of the cow; that was not what we had. They brought out thin strips of "beef brisket" that had puffy fat yikes! moving onto the pork belly, I eat fat in moderation so I didnt have alot of these to make a determination; the chicken was fine no complaints there; lastly the bulgogi was disappointing. Meat marinate was too strong; meat pieces were small and almost looked black in the bowl. At end of the day, as this is the only all you can eat Korean BBQ in town, it will do just fine, but really for $20 you should get much higher quality meat. Looking at the menu for dinner entrees, they are expensive (as usual), which brings me back to my first and last impression of Korean food: just why the heck is it so pricey?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Famous Szechuan Pavilion; City: Brentwood, MO; Review: UPDATE: We stopped by again recently. While the cold shredded chicken and beef noodle soup were still tasty, the sweet and sour pork was pretty terrible. It was grisly; the sauce it came coated in was runny and tasted predominantly of soy sauce (not nearly as quality meat or tasty as the same dish at KC Chinese Rotisserie on Olive). I'm not gonna change the rating as I think it's still more than 3 stars, but beware when you order that particular dish. I wasn't a fan. _____________________________________ Best Chinese restaurants in any town are more than likely not your giant food halls decked out with lantherns and plastic dragons. Sure Lulus and Mandarin House are pretty decent, but for real home-made flavors, you gotta think small. How small? Drive-thru coffee shack small! I read about this place on Yelp and finally tried it last weekend. It is even smaller than what I expected based on everyone's reviews. There really are only space for four people to eat and we are talking about cramped in, sitting on plastic red stools. Despite this, the place looked fairly clean and it was pretty cool on such a muggy weekend. The "lone old lady" is very friendly and chatty with us. Her grandchildren were helping out and we got to talk to them too. We learned that she came from Chongqing, the spice capital of China in the Szechuan province famous in China for its hot pot and fiery-tempered but good looking women. Plenty of restaurants in the United States have Szechuan in its name, but very rarely do they offer anything remotely close to authentic local flavors (Joy Luck has pretty good Szechuan style dishes if you want to try more substantial dishes that are not offered by the coffee shack. They are on the Chinese menu). We shared a number of dishes, including the spicy noodle, shredded chicken, Yu Shan pork (sweet and salty pork stir fried with hot pepper), and wontons in spicy sauce. Everything was tasty and reminded me of mom's cooking. The portions were not big but not bad at all considering how we ended up paying only $25 after tip for two persons. I will definitely return; And if you are interested in more authentic Chinese cruisines, you should check it out too!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jia Xiang - Home; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: UPDATE: On my most recent visit here, I discovered that they took the English names off the menu! I don't know if they are gonna give non-Chinese folks English menus or if they just completely decided not to bother with appealing to non-Chinese speakers...but the menu I got did not have English. Just a heads up!! How is a place not listed on Google Maps one of the best Chinese restaurants in town? This tiny Chinese restaurants manages to spread its fame through word of mouth in the Chinese-speaking community; however, even many avid-Chinese food lovers out there do not know of its existence. The owners (a Shanghainese family) seemed to have given up from the start to even try to appeal to non-Asian eaters, as evidenced through the lack of any English language sign visible from the road. With that said, there are so many reasons to try this place. The dishes have English names underneathe them so you have an idea of what you are ordering. But really, just point to anything and you won't be disappointed. To name off a few, the Chinese style ribs are delicious! Tender and juicy; the home-style tofu is lightly fried and sits in a yummy vegetable medley; the eggplant is soft and flavorful. I have not gotten anything that I didn't enjoy here. This place is cash-only and receives quite a few take-out orders at meal times. There are however 7-9 tables inside that can comfortably sit 4 people each. The set up is bare; folding plastic chairs and tables; so don't come for atmosphere. Entrees are cheap (averaging $4-8 each and large portions so go nuts and try a bunch). There, I've done my part in promoting a business that deserves much more attention than it has been getting in the past number of years. It's a pity that I've always had more enjoyable food here than the much more famous Lulu across the street (not that Lulu is bad but Home is so much more unpretensious, cheaper, and have more authentic flavors). Now that it's on a map (aka Yelp directory), maybe you'll also discover it to be one of your favorite Chinese places in town someday. P. S. For those who are curious, Shanghai cruisine is known to be a bit on the sweet side.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sakura Mandarin; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: 3.5 star experience for first timers We were in the mood for some fairly authentic appetizers for such a hot day. We ordered some sort of sliced pork noodle soup, two types of steamed buns (regular pork and crab), jelly head with cucumbers, and spicy beef and tripe. - The noodle soup was ok....nothing to write home about. - The jelly head was strange....there were too many cucumber pieces and not enough jelly head (the head is normally thicker than the jelly pieces in most jelly appetizers), although the cucumber pieces were quite tasty and crunchy. - The spicy beef and tripe was odd...it didn't taste "authentic". They may have added some sort of special ingredient, something that tastes like bean curds. It wasn't bad at all but if you were looking for the authentic spicy beef and tripe flavor, this wasn't it. - Lastly, I thought the buns were DELICIOUS! I have not gotten Shanghai buns this tasty in a long time. The restaurant seemed clean. I liked the bright green walls. Service was fair. We placed our orders and got our food very quickly. Overall rating? 3.5 stars. I will return.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Foundation Grounds Coffeehouse & Cafe; City: Maplewood, MO; Review: I was never a huge fan of coffee shops. Why would i pay $4 just to sit in a noisy, cramped room while fighting with strangers over the few electrical plugs in premium locations? However, since my recent Scandinavian trip, I have become more accepting of their existence. I stopped by here on a weekend afternoon for abt three hours. The iced mocha I had was tasty and i liked them asking me what grade of milk to put in. There were unfortunately limited sockets in the room, which is also a bit small. But on the positive sides, they did not play music too loudly (good as I was writing) and the staffs were very friendly. Overall a pleasant experience. I will return in the near future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Kings Public House; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This and Tivoli are the only reasons I come to the Loop anymore. It's a slightly dressed up Riddles, still have those dark wooden tables; great live bands that aren't so loud so you can still converse even in the front room; plenty of seating, including some on the sidewalk; great Guinness on tap; lively crowd (albeit young); sweet waitress (the one with black hair). What's not to like?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hacienda Mexican Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I came for lunch. Great friendly service; lots of seating options, inside or out on the patio. Unfortunately that's where the good news end. My steak lunch fajitas didn't even look appetizing. The meat slices were dry, bland, and overcooked. The tortilla wraps were sticky! I spent most of my lunch having to discreetly scrape the flour stuck to my teeth with my tongue when I really wanted to participate more in the conversations (I had to give up using the wraps all together). This may have been one of the most unpleasant experiences I've ever had at a Mexican restaurant, certainly the worst in St. Louis. With so many Mexican restaurants in town, I won't be taking my money here next time.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Brennan's; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: How can you not love a place that puts "Festus, MO" time on the wall? We stopped by Brennan's last weekend. We came earlier in the evening, around 10 PM and managed to fit two small tables together. It was crowded but not loud, perfect noise level for conversations. The foo foo drink menu isn't too big, just six options. But for anyone who is seriously interested in alcohol, they have a big selection of whiskeys, and according to my alcoholic companions, the menu does not do what they have in store justice. Our server agreed that they need to update the menu to include all the hard liquor options. Brennan's is definitely my favorite drinking establishment in CWE. Unfortunately it's so busy on weekends that it's impossible to find seating unless you go early. My previous review for Maryland House still stands.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kim's Bakery; City: Chesterfield, MO; Review: Four star patbingsu (Korean shaved ice dessert with fresh fruit pieces, rice cake, sweet beans, peanut shavings, etc. Others have already described it below) but one star price. $7 for a shaved ice drink? Really? I just came back from one of the world's most expensive cities where I rarely had to pay 5 euros for a dessert at a cafe. To be charged this amount by a strip mall bakery in St. Louis is just ridiculous. What this town needs is competition...another place that offers this tasty dessert, to show Korean Bakery a run for its money.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Momo's Ouzaria Taverna; City: St Louis, MO; Review: I liked Momo's. This restaruant/ouzaria is large and lovely decorated; there is a fireplace against the wall; seating is well segregated on the inside and there are outside tables lining the edge of the restaurant. We had a baked brie appetizer that was tasty with nuts and fruits mixed in, perfect complement to a few summery drinks. There is a good list of girly drinks at around $8 a pop. I had a glass of sangria that was cheap ($4), strong, and delicious! It was dry and not overly sweet like I've had at many other places. The crowd was of mixed ages, laid back, and casually dressed. I'm a fan.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Taqueria Durango; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Since my initial visit in 2010, I have stopped by at least a couple dozen times. I've pretty much tried everything on the menu, including the giant shrimp cocktail that comes in a chalice (has a little bit of kick), the famous ahogada that is a big explosion of tastiness on a plate, and the before-mentioned tripe soup, which I was not a fan of. The tortas and tacos have consistently been delicious and flavorful. This is definitely my favorite authentic Mexican place east of Kingshighway. I am bumping its rating to 5 out of 5, especially given how a number of "upscale street tacos" joints have been popping up all over town lately. It's a joke these new places advertise their tacos as "street tacos" when the flavors are no where near as authentic as what Durango offers at a fraction of the cost.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ms. Piggies Smokehouse; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Ms Piggies is not your most consistent BBQ joint; on random days and at random times, I've showed up finding out that they had ran out of brisket or rib or pork, really, anything. But when I do get what I wanted, everything is messy, glistening, and tasty; I am a big fan of the beef brisket but everything else is good here as well. The sides are super sweet (If you are watching your figure, I'd avoid the sweet potatoes which sits in some sort of syrupy glaze and taste absolutely heavenly). Ms. Piggies is no Pappy's but with Pappy's so far away, I'll settle on Ms. Piggies to satisfy my BBQ craving.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: De Palm Tree; City: University City, MO; Review: I've only had Jamaican food twice. My first experience was here. I had curry goat and fried plantains. I enjoyed my meal. While service was very slow, I didn't mind it as the restaurant was small but busy. Unfortunately, my second Jamaican food experience (in the middle of no where in Massachusetts) showed me how flavorful Jamaican food can be. In comparison, the curry goat here does not have enough spice....it was pretty....bland. If you don't like too much spice (and I'm not referring to just hot spiciness but the combinations of spices/herbs) in your food, you may not mind it as much. The restaurant is small but carefully decorated. I liked the atmosphere.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bristol Seafood Grill; City: Creve Coeur, MO; Review: Happy Hour = Good Value. We had a large group and ordered no fewer than 12 dishes off the happy hour menu. Price-wise, can't complain since the most expensive dish was $6. But taste-wise, some were definitely much better than others. The tuna tartare was fresh; the lobster roll and curry mussels were delicious; The salmon flatbread and Chipotle shrimp were good. Next time, I wouldn't get the calamari (quite a bit of fried filler on the bottom), the lobster tamale (eh...id rather have just a tamale or a lobster roll), or the duck flatbread (couldn't really taste the duck). We also had a lot of oysters on half shell. At $0.75 a pop, these were a steal and tasted fresh. I had a Bellini (Italian cocktail) that was pretty disappointing - tasted like a fanta with a little bit of alcohol. If you really like Bellini, get the Fresh Fruit Bellini from Bravo. It's much better there! Service was fantastic. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful about splitting checks and putting multiple tables together when our party out grew our table. All in all, 3.5 stars.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Casa Gallardo Mexican Restaurant & Cantina; City: Bridgeton, MO; Review: I like the Casa restaurants in other parts of the city (especially the one on Manchester), but this one didn't live up to the Casa name. We came on a Friday after work; both of us ordered the mixed fajitas. Service was very slow. Our poor waitress looked overworked in the busy happy hour section; It took more than 45 minutes to get our food and when they arrived, we were very disappointed. The portion of the fajitas just wasn't right. There were clearly not enough food on the iron plates and nothing was sizzling. The chicken was overcooked and tasteless. I had a total of....two shrimps on my plate. Was this a joke? The only saving grace was the steak. It was cut rather unusual for a Tex Mex place. The slices were large (not the stripes you usually see), perfectly cooked to medium, and they were smoky and juicy. Kudos on that. Slow service, general lack-luster food, we probably won't return.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 360 St. Louis; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: The setup is gorgeous. In fact it's the only place in St Louis that reminds me remotely of Vegas. With that said, for a new place with so much potential, why the hell would they charge everybody $10 cover for some top 40 crap "spun" from a laptop?! We were here on Saturday night. The crowd was sparse, more than half looks like they are from out of town, and it was pretty much a sausage fest. We had asked the elevator person how busy the place was and he said there were 300 people.....yeah right. Not that i always trust what the bouncer says but it was just a blatant lie. We came, we saw, and we left 20 minutes later. Until they drop their ridiculous cover and bring some actual DJs in, I won't be going back, which is a shame because it really has great potentials to be a party central. I'm sure management laid down some serious money for this place but they won't be able to recoup until they get a steady crowd going. For one thing, they could waive the cover charge for ladies at certain hours and just charge the fellows. That'll reduce the "sausage fest" factor and entice more people to check out the awesome space.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taste Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This was really 3.5 stars but I rounded up. Beautiful little bar, refined and rustic at the same time; I LOVE the wooden ceiling. It reminds me of the bars I went to in Helsinki last summer. A group of us (5) came on Saturday. No tables or seats until 10 PM so we moseyed over to Wild Flower next door for a few drinks first. At around 11PM, we grabbed some seats at the bar. I ordered an ab-duction. When the bartender (not Ted, which is a little bit of a bummer as I wanted to see the man of the hour in action) brought out a little cold tub of duck fat, I knew I was in for a treat. I liked the drink. It was certainly very unique. I was slightly disappointed by the size (not lush-friendly). After the duck fat, I had You can Ring My Bell. I admit I picked it after seeing the word Chamomile. I love chamomile tea, having grown up drinking it. However, I never had it in a cocktail before. It was strong and had complex flavors. I would definitely get this again. My companions ordered a number of cocktails that I tried; none of them jumped out at me as something I would order myself. However, the Old Fashioned was truly spectacular! I have had it multiple times before but never this tasty! Moving onto food; as we already ate before coming here, we only got the fries and the pork belly. The fries were ok; I didn't like the pork belly. I'm a huge pork belly fan, again, having grown up eating it, but the pork belly wasn't fatty enough, the meat was a bit dry, and the sauce it sits on is messy and I found it not complimenting the pig flavors. We would have ordered more food but nothing jumped out at us on the rest of the menu. I would definitely come back to try more cocktails, but I would save my money for cocktails alone, not food.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wild Flower Restaurant & Catering; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We were originally planning on grabbing drinks at Taste, but it was packed (surprise!) at 9 PM so we moseyed over to Wild Flower for some beverages to start the night. The patio was packed to the brim (and looked lovely. I agree with everyone else that this is a great place to eat outside in the warmer months)! We sat inside at the bar. I LOVE Jamie the bartender. He was awesome, friendly without being intrusive, and always ready to bust out big smiles. I will come back to Wild Flower again just because he was so cool. I had an Eden martini that was tasty. Jamie made me another drink and a shot based on my requirements (fruity that's not overly sweet). I liked them as well. We did not grab food here but I'm putting it on my list of places to return to after the great experience we had here.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sidebar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Every year on my birthday, I ended up here at end of the night. By that time, I've normally had more cocktails than I should and ready to get my dance on! I genuinely love this place when I am tipsy. Why? It's always packed with a mixed crowd (from dressy dressy to bums in jeans); there are no frills, no fancy lighting or seating, but unlike Lucas Park, which has all the frills, Sidebar always has a happening dance floor. Also unlike pretty much every other place with a dance floor on Washington Ave, Sidebar does not play top 40 crap (well, at least not on the nights I went there); They have awesome live bands that play non grinding-required music and to top it off, they don't charge covers. For all these reasons, year after year, I decided to wrap up the night by stopping by here on my birthday and bust out a few "Elaine" moves right under the band leader's nose. I am super thankful that Sidebar exists.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Niche; City: Clayton, MO; Review: At last, I've made my way to all three Gerard Craft establishments, with mixed feelings about all three. Niche on a Monday night (Prix Fixe) for me was 3.5-3.7 Star food + 5 Star service. Let me explain. We came to celebrate a special day and had made reservations via phone two weeks in advance. A couple hours before our reservation time, we got a call to confirm the time and we were told that btw it is a prix fixe menu. Upon hearing this, I almost decided to drop the reservation. I will eat just about everything normally but for celebratory meals, I like to have more choices than the chef's "value Monday" combos. But it was 4 PM on a Monday and I didn't want to put up with the hassles of trying to book somewhere else last minute. It may be a commonly known fact that Niche has prix fixe Mondays, but I wish they would have told us two weeks ago as that would have made a difference to my decision. The restaurant was packed and the hostess was warm and lovely. Decor was clean and efficient (like Tim mentioned, I didn't find it romantic, which wasn't a problem at all for us, but just to throw it out there). Our table had a glimpse of the open kitchen bay and we immediately recognized Craft manning the kitchen and handling the plates. Great! Because if we didn't enjoy the meal, then we can say with some certainty that it's not because the star chef was absent. The menu on this evening consisted of a caprese salad, choice of roasted chicken or pork shoulder, and a choice of butterscotch layer cake, a cheese plate, or vanilla ice cream with chocolate for dessert. To be honest, neither entrees excited me. I was disappointed that a seafood dish was not offered as a choice. I ordered the pork while the boy got the chicken. Our salads were large-portioned and quite refreshing, with very fresh mozzarella cheese - great start to the meal. I can't say the same about the pork however. In retrospect, I have gotten pork from Niche, Taste, and Brasserie and I found all three dishes disappointing. My conclusion? I just simply don't care for Craft's interpretation of pork! I like my pork fatty (and I find his dishes too lean); I also like my pork heavily seasoned (but I find his dishes relying heavily on the sauce/puree/goo that's coating the plate under the pork and personally I think there is too much of these extra "goo" to cover up the natural flavors). Moral of the story is I probably should avoid pork in future meals at his restaurants. However, I will say that the pork was well-cooked, as in very tender, and had just the slightest hint of smokiness that was nice. The roasted chicken, on the other hand, was quite delicious! I probably stole more chicken off the boy's plate than I have eaten my own pork dish. It had such perfectly crispy but non-greasy skin and; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tavern of Fine Arts; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: A group of us came by on a Friday night. It's in a lovely neighborhood, with plenty of parking in the lot across the street. When we showed up around 10 PM, it was quite crowded. We had a large group and the tavern folks were nice enough to help us put a couple of tables together so everyone could sit down. We just had drinks, no food. The French press coffee was great and cheap (If they keep condensed milk on hand, they could mix it with the coffee and offer Vietnamese Coffee, which is TASTY! Just a thought). Some of us had the Manhattan and thought that was pretty good. My girlfriend mentioned the mojito was a little too sweet, but none of the boys complained about their beers so all was good. Our waitress was very attentative. We got our refills regularly. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. However, I do agree with Christine below that I'm not sure how to feel about this place. I also see what the place is trying to get at, a bar/coffee shop/music venue/art gallery. In the end though, it felt more like a gallery/coffee shop to us than a tavern. I have nothing against gallery/coffee shops, heck, in a previous lifetime, I was a struggling art student, but for a place with "tavern" in its name, it needs to be decorated a little more. The least they could do is add some conversation pieces to the bar itself. I think the paintings are fine, but there should be more of them. Of course, that will remove the "gallery" airy feel from this place, but at end of the day, they are not here to sell sparsely-placed artworks on white walls, that's what museums and galleries do, they are here to make money on food/drinks, so if they want to compete with the other bars in the area, they'll have to make the place look more like a bar. Just my two cents. We will go back, but from a first visit, nothing is screaming out at us to return anytime soon.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Crepes Etc.; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: Lovely interior...arranged like an European cafe. Prices were reasonable. I had a coconut macaroon that was huge, tasty, and cheap. Between a bunch of us, we had tea, lattes, cappuccinos, and some fresh fruit crepes. Everything was tasty but it took a really long time to get everything. The restaurant was fairly empty and there were quite a few people in the food preparation area but maybe because most of them were new, they didn't seem to be cranking out items as fast as they could. One of us got a 16 oz latte that came onto the table in a much much smaller cup. When asked, the waiter said they ran out of 16 oz sized cups...um what? That's not our problem. If we paid for a 16 oz drink, then we need 16 oz of...stuff. He did offer to give our friend a couple of refills so all was good in the end, but it was irritating that he just set the cup down and walked away initially. Later, the head chef came out and made more excuses about why the initial drink was so small. He said the 16 oz drink another friend in our party received actually wasn't made right, that it was overly concentrated initially, which was why it had to be diluted and made much bigger....um what? 16 oz is 16 oz, regardless of how strong or weak a drink is. Overall, it was a strange experience with a few hiccups. I will give it another try in the near future.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taste of St. Louis; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This year's taste was a 3.5 star experience for me. We went on Saturday. After walking almost a mile from Union Station parking lot, I was told by the entrance way "guard" that I couldn't go in because I have a professional camera. I asked why he thinks so, he said because my lens looked big and looks like it's detachable.... Yes. I did bring a DSLR with the kit lens attached, but doesn't one third of the population have a DSLR these days?Just having a DSLR doesn't make someone a "professional", especially considering all I brought was a camera with one lens and that lens is clearly not telescopic. I've seen this type of restrictions at private events before, but I consider Taste a public event (they blocked off public streets so it better be a public event) and I question the legality of such a requirement. It's a chilling thought, that you can be banned from a public festival/gathering because your camera looks too "fancy". Enough ranting on that for now. After going through the hassles of taking care of the camera, we finally got in and walked around. As I've already eaten at more than 80% of the places featured on restaurant row, we only grabbed samples from the few places that I haven't gotten around to visit yet. Most were simply ho-hum. - French Quarter Cafe: Our jambalaya and crawfish etoufee were terrible! The Crawfish étouffée usually has a dark brown/redish color from its roux. The etoufee I got here was runny and in a creamy white color (Wtf? I've never had creamy white colored anything from a cajun place before) and tasted like they had just dumped a can of cream of the mushrooms sauce on top of rice and threw a small piece of crab meat in the mess. The jambalaya was painfully bland. I'm guessing they may have rushed the preparation of the dish in order to be ready for the festival crowd. Both portions were tiny for $6 each. - Tortillaria Mexican Kitchen: the fish taco was excellent, well-spiced and tasty. The carne asada taco....not so much. The meat was well cooked but under-seasoned. They could have put more salt on it and the cold wraps could have used a little warming. - Meskerem Ethiopian: We had mixed feelings about the food here. I thought they were under-seasoned and overly sweet. I had Ethiopian food before and these were pretty mediocre. - Gooey Butter Cake: no complaints there. These sweets definitely saved the day. I would have liked to grab something from the Italian places. Unfortunately, most of them copped out to serving meatballs and pizza. Whatever happened to creativity? Lame. Overall, I appreciate this kind of events and how they bring together the communities in our diverse city. But the camera restriction did put a sour taste in my mouth from the get-go and the mediocre food didn't wash it out of my system either.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saffron; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: One of my favorite Indian lunch buffets in town, right behind India Palace. The lunch buffet has limited choices: usually the only protein is chicken and there will be a couple of vegeterian entrees. However, everything I've had in my more than a couple of dozen visits here had been fantastic. The food is well spiced (although not spicy); the service at lunch has always been courteous and prompt. They keep your water glasses full and ask whether you need naan refills almost right when you run out of them (they bring naans onto your table). I have never had a bad experience dealing with the servers or the food at Saffron, and I'm thankful it's so close to work that I can visit on a bi-weekly basis.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Salt; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: At last, I had made my way to Salt, and it did not disappoint! For dinner on a Saturday night, we shared two bottles of wine, a round of cocktails, and pretty much every dish on the menu. Normally when I eat in this manner with a large group, I have a couple of clear favorites and at least a couple of others that I wouldn't ever get again. But this time was different. 80% of everything I tried was tasty and flavorful. My favorite was the braised pork belly (amazing, melts-in-my-mouth fat! Much tastier than the pork belly served at any of the Niche establishments in town). The others in my party agreed with the overall deliciousness of the food. However, we did share the same sentiments over three things that could really be improved: - The drinks/cocktails were just so-so. The boy had an Old Fashioned that he dismissed as "pretty awful". See, I trust his opinion because he's an alcoholic slash connoisseur, but I digress. - The meatballs were pink on the inside, hard, and definitely undercooked. No one should be under-cooking pork! I don't care how fresh the meat is. I don't want to get sick! - The rustic tart dessert was pretty ho-hum. I don't want to end on a sour note. Overall, the meal was fantastic given how much we've tried and how many dishes we liked out of those. I will definitely return in the near future, perhaps for brunch next time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Remy's Kitchen & Wine Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Surprisingly tasty happy hour food! My girlfriend and I moseyed here for happy hour a couple days ago. We tried a number of dishes, including the beef kebobs, the stuffed grape leaves, and the Frito Misto (fried calamari, scallops, and shrimp). I must admit these are one level above your regular happy hour offerings. Even the fried dish wasn't greasy at all and the flavors were fantastic. the kebobs were smoky and perfectly cooked. The stuffed grape leaves were served with a cumin-y tomato sauce that was delicious. I only wished the portions were a little bigger. We each had a cocktail as well. I loved my Pink Lady. It wasn't overly sweet like I feared. My friend's Mojito was very refreshing. She finished the whole thing. I used to work in Clayton a couple years back and now I am sad that it took me so long to discover this place. We will be back for happy hour again, and maybe we'll try the wine next time. After all, it is a "Wine Bar". P. S. I love the high ceiling and big glass front windows facing the street. Vovely setting to strike up conversations with old pals.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Acme Oyster House; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: This was definitely a let-down. We liked the raw oysters, although some of them were extremely small, not much bigger than my toe nail. Wtf? The people who don't eat raw foods liked the chargrilled ones. I'm in the first camp. While the chargrilled ones are tasty, I prefer my oysters to be naked and not dressed in two inch thick cheese. BUT to each his own. We (large party) waited for a good 40 minutes outside. It was no biggie. And to go off topic a little, I spent that time looking up some "bad" reviews and was extremely amused by some of the comments. One person said the raw oysters are bland....well, I doubt you will find a non-"bland" raw oyster anywhere in this world. Anyway, back to the food. Everything outside of the oysters were quite bad. This is not the first time I had Cajun food but these were some of the worst gumbo and jambalaya I ever tried. The gumbo was runny and everything was bland. Most of us ordered the peacemaker Po Boy. I didn't think these were all that special. Fried seafood is fried seafood. I've had the same version all over the US at Cajun joints. This place is a PASS, especially for tourists who has had exposure to Cajun food before.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cochon Butcher; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: 3.5 stars. Overrated. This was clearly a trendy lunch place for hipsters. While I consider myself a little bit of an artsy hipster, I did not fall in love with the overpriced sandwiches that sounded better on paper than they tasted in my mouth. We rolled in on a weekday. The restaurant is definitely stylish. But the girl at the counter was THE unfriendliest waitress/restaurant person/order-taker I have encountered in a long time. I don't think she cracked the smallest of smiles to anyone in the place the entire time we were eating there. The food: we ordered pork belly sandwich, Muffaletta, pastrami, BLT, Mac and Cheese, and the head cheese appetizer plate. The head cheese plate was fantastic! The head cheese was thicker and stickier than I have eaten before, but it went well with the sweet home made pickles and crackers. My pork belly sandwich was a let-down, especially after reading such high praises from previous reviews. There was a thin thin thin, and did I say thin? layer of pork belly that was bland and really dry to the point of tasting like jerky, sandwiched between two slices of grocery store white bread along with some cucumber slices and mint. I have no idea why they had the nerve to charge $10 for this. I was definitely still hungry after eating it. The muffaletta was decent, but the general consensus from my fellow diners was a big meh. They didn't care for their pastrami (smothered in dressing and not enough pastrami) or BLT (how is this better than a $6 sandwich that can be found in any sandwich shop?); the crawfish boiled peanuts could have just been boiled in water, and the mac and cheese was way too rich. I am willing to pay up to $15 for "gourmet sandwhiches", especially in a tourisy town like NOLA. I understand that you pay a premium for atmosphere and specialty, creative food items, but I didn't find these sandwiches worth the prices they were charging. This is gonna be a big PASS on my next trip down.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Coop's Place; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: 3.5 Stars and I'm rounding down for a couple of reasons. The food was good here, much better than other places we visited on this trip. I listened to the advice of fellow reviewers and ordered the fried chicken plate that also came with cole slaw and rabbit and sausage jambalaya. I like my jambalaya wet and theirs is fairly dry. Nonetheless, it was tasty, just not the best jambalaya I've had. The fried chicken on the other hand was phenomenal!! (the only other place that had equally delicious chicken was Screen Door in Portland, Oregon). Service left alot to be desired: 1. We waited for 40 minutes outside. After getting inside, we realized the place was half empty; we also realized they were making people wait possibly to make up appearance, but most likely because there was just ONE GUY running the entire front. This poor fellow was taking orders, making drinks, checking out customers, running around like a chicken with his head cut off. It was like an advanced level of that "Diner Dash" game. Why the hell did the restaurant owners have just one person out front? He was clearly doing his best to keep up with all the patrons but if he had a helper in the front room, we would have ordered food and drinks faster and got checked on a few more times. 2. A blonde woman from the kitchen who dropped off our orders blatantly rolled her eyes at us when we had some confusion over who ordered the dish she was carrying. It was literally a ten second ordeal and it only happened because one of our orders was placed wrong. Nothing gets my blood boiling more than encountering rude service people at restaurants. Leave the effin attitude at home. We all have bad and hectic days at work, regardless of what line of service we are in. Get over it! If you don't like working in the service industry, leave and do something else. Overall, I would come back for the fried chicken again, but they need to make some changes to how they train and schedule their service people.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lebanon's Cafe; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: 3.5 food + 1 star service. I'll be nice and round up to a 3 overall. We rolled in on a weekend night after finding out Jacques-Imos had a 2 hour wait. Immediately, we loved the atmosphere of the big, open, and bustling dining hall. I had the shish kabob plate, which was very unevenly cooked. Half the plate of meat was beyond dry and bland while the other half was decent. The hummus was mediocre. We were susprised by the high prasies by Yelpers. The baba ganuj was missing the signature smokiness. The hummus with lamb meat was laid over wayyyy too much hummus that distracted from rest of the dish. I thought the meat was under-seasoned. Our friends did enjoy their chicken kabob and said they were pretty tender. Our waitress was terribly dazed and confused the entire night. She told one of our friends that he doesn't get sides with his entree even though the menu clearly indicated (it wasn't one of the excluded ones with an *). She put our falafel onto the table without any bread and told us it would have to be another 5-10 minutes for the bread. She then disappeared and didn't give us any plates either. We ended up having to scoop the falafel onto our forks and ate over our napkins while waiting for the bread. Our entrees got onto the table long before our baba ganuj did, which kinda defeated the purpose of ordering it as an "appetizer". Lastly, even though she took our orders (five people on three checks with no shared anything) on separate checks from the get-go, she still messed up the bills, in the most odd way! She put two checks on one person's card, and neither of the two checks belonged to that person. WTF? This isn't rocket science! By then we were too tired to argue about the eff ups and just wanted to get the heck out. Overall, mediocre Middle Eastern food.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: We came here twice in our short four day trip to New Orleans. Why is it so awesome? Tasty, cheap beignets + cafe au lait, great service (seriously, these people can remember the most complicated group order and not mess them up), central location perfect for people watching, and lastly, lots and lots of seating. You don't have to worry about not finding place to sit, even with a large party. (Although, the take out line looked really long both times we were there. We got served and paid and was done before some of the people standing in "to go" line even got their food!) What a business model! the place really offers only a handful of items, yet it has done an exceptional job with these items and has survived over the years and manages to fill out large rooms with diners day after day. Kudos.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: I really wish we stopped by during the day to check out the stone fireplace. At night, it was just a big annoying road block on my way from the bar to the bathroom. But even in the dark, it was easy to tell what a cool and rustic joint it is, with lots of tables both inside and out in the patio and a piano in the back room where you'll find drunks singing off key. I had my first hurricane that didn't taste like cough medicine. It effed me up for the rest of that night....well, it could have also been the four drinks I had before we rolled into the place....now I'll never know.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Make It Right; City: New Orleans, LA; Review: We stopped by the lower 9th ward sans-tour. I truly believe this is something every tourist in New Orleans should check out. To start, it was depressing to see so many lots where houses must have been when Katrina hit some six years ago now overgrown with tall weeds. There was a gate that had rusted through and through; remains of a porch that sat in the middle of an eerily empty lot without a house attached; dilapidated roofs and abandoned houses with gaping windows. All of these contrasted sharply with the bright and airy "Brad Pitt Houses" as they have become known as. We saw a handful of them. They are modern, architecturally interesting, and very colorful. They made our eyes pop in an otherwise bleak landscape.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Sky Cafe and Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We came for happy hour and boy did we leave happy. Place was a little hard to find...it is located inside the newer building (I think? Or is it the old TV station tower?) that's not right on Brentwood. Look out for their lighted sign on the road that signals where to turn off. There were ample parking, both right next to the restaurant, across the street from it, and inside the attached garage. Half off appetizers - delicious! We had the hummus, the sweet potato fries, the wings, artichoke dip, and gosh I don't even remember what else. We washed them down with some $3+ house wine that didn't taste awful for being cheap. The appetizers were HUGE, especially for just $4 a pop. The place was modern and airy, with big tall windows and a second floor with more tables. This is my new favorite happy hour meetup place!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Riverbend Restaurant & Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I just came back from a trip to NOLA, where we were disappointed by the food. After four days of mediocre gumbos, jambalayas, and red bean and rice from places that supposedly served fantastic cajun food, we found ourselves seriously missing our own Cajun standard, Broadway Oyster Bar. Luckily, before we were gonna head there, I did some yelping and found this place I have never heard of before. We swung by on a Friday around 6:30 PM. The place wasn't too packed. We sat down right away and began our feasting: Peel n eat shrimp - HUGE, plump little fellas. Yummy dipping sauce. Special: Jambalaya Enchiladas - Some of the most tasty enchiladas I have ever eaten. It was a little on the salty side and they could have given us more chips, but nonetheless we wolfed it down in minutes. Special: Jambalaya Bisque - O.M.G. one of the best soups I have ever tried. It was creamy but still had complex flavors. Crawfish Etoufee - I personally prefer my etouffee a little less runny than what they serve here, but that's just a personal preference. This was a top notch etouffee, although I was disappointed that I didn't find many bell peppers, which I absolutely love. Seafood Gumbo - It was spicy (I think it was good but honestly by now I already stuffed myself silly and everything started to taste the same). Bread Pudding - Wow! I don't care how much food you've had by dessert time; you must try this. You won't stop eating it until it's gone. We will be back!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Kemper is small. You can check out everything in less than an hour (even less for me as I don't go back to the permanent collections every time I visit). Nonetheless, I normally find something interesting/inspiring in every exhibit. I love the use of space here...artworks are not crowded or spaced out too far in a pretentious manner. As far as how it compares with other art museums and galleries in town, I agree with Dean that Pulitzer puts on some yawn-inducing shows. I do like the Contemporary, but it's quite far from me and those who live in the county. The Sheldon concert hall has some fantastic rotating exhibits but the viewing atmosphere is quite lacking. Currently, the Kemper has some very fascinating pieces by Tomás Saraceno on display until January 9th. You can even enter one of these structures... So next time you are in the Forest Park/Wash U campus vicinity, check out the Kemper! AND it's free!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Square One Brewery & Distillery; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I have mixed feelings towards Square One. I've been here a dozen times, and the beers had always been great, but normally, service is abysmal and the food leaves much to be desired. One thing I will say....I love the setup and the atmosphere here. It's unpretentious. In the summer, you can bring your dog into the outdoor garden, which is also big and has plenty of seating. On our most recent trip, we had no issues with service (phew~). We sat in the back room and ordered a bunch of drinks and food items, some of which made us go WTF? The "Trio of Dips" (Traditional hummus with roasted garlic, a spicy black bean dip, and a curried edamame, served with tri colored tortilla chips and toast points $7.95) was strange. Some of our chips were seriously stale (the ones on the bottom of course). The dips were so bizarre that we had to go back to the menu to figure out exactly what we were putting in our mouths. Other than the curried edamame, the other two dips were very bland. The spicy black bean dip wasn't at all spicy and the roasted garlic dip did not even have a hint of garlic. My friends ordered the absinthe and aquavit. They claimed the absinthe wasn't right. When melted sugar drops into the liquor, the drink should become cloudy, which didn't happen. Also according to my Nordic friend, the ingredients in his Aquavit wasn't right. I've had Aquavit before but not enough to know what makes it right or wrong. Since my friends don't Yelp, I figure I'd pass the info along to those who had been exposed to these two specialty drinks and are interested in ordering them. They may not be what you are used to. We'll probably be back in the future but will stay away from these two drinks and stick with beer and basic bar food instead.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kaldi's Coffee Roasting; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This was my first time here....LOVE the wooden walls and tall ceilings...very rustic. On a Saturday, this place was packed with undergrads with expensive macs pretending to write papers when they are checking facebook every 10 minutes. Ah college....how I miss thee. Anyway, my white chocolate latte was tasty and so was the peppermint brownie. Staffs were friendly. Place was packed...hard to find seats. Parking was also a bitch. The lot out back is not big and you have to feed the meter even on weekends :\; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Panda Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: 2.5 food. 3.5 service. I know this is an Americanized Chinese joint. I wasn't expecting anything authentic. My shrimp egg foo young was decent but the boy's mixed meat stir fry had so much MSG that I couldn't wash it out of my system all night. The folks here were very friendly and helpful. But food-wise, you are better off eating at Panda Express.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Southtown Pub; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Worst experience at a bar in St. Louis. Period! I love a dive bar. I don't need unique drinks or cool atmosphere as long as people working there are friendly. Heck, I wouldn't even care if the entire place is decrepit or has dead roach in the bathrooms. Keep this in mind as you read the rest of the review: We rolled in on a weekend night with a light buzz. It was around 1:15 AM. We didn't realize it was a 1:30 AM bar. We ordered drinks, the bartender made them and handed over. Then as we paid, he said oh it's last call. Ok, thanks alot for the heads up when you made our drinks. Fine. No problem. We'll make it quick. We retreated to a corner of the back room and started drinking. Five minutes later, the music was off and a guy working at the bar in red baseball cap came over to tell is the bar is closed. We told him we were hurrying in finishing our drinks. To that he said "no, the bar is closed". Um...can you be more effing rude? So we walked towards the door with our mostly full drinks still in hand. While we were putting on our coats and pouring drink down our throats, he actually held the door open and let the cold winter air blast us, literally kicking us out. So we left our drinks on the counter and left. As we rolled out the door, he said "you can take that with you if you want". Um...WTF did you just say? We can take our mixed drinks in open containers to go? Are you aware that's fucking illegal??? When we got to our car, we looked at the time. It was 1:27 AM, 12 minutes after we went inside. Never will I set my foot in this place again, and you can count on me to spread the word amongst my friends that the people working here were dicks. Maybe the food is decent but any bar, dive or not, needs to give its patrons basic respect, and we got none here.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Par Lounge; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This place started off the night on a seriously sour note....we rolled in around 10, place wasn't packed and crowd was chill...cool! Yeah it allowed smoking but I (non-smoker) could take it once a while. No biggie. Over the course of next hour, I had some jello shots and the boys tried to get a couple of drinks. Service was slow as hell even though the place wasn't busy. It took us a while to even be acknowledged at the bar when bartenders kept on walking back and forth in front of us without asking what we wanted. Finally when we did get some service, the boy tried to order an Old Fashioned with rye whiskey. Bartender looked at us like we just said something in French, so the boy asks what whiskeys they have and requested to have a certain one made in an Old Fashioned. Bartender informed us that it would "ruin the whiskey". At that point, for the sake of not arguing about a stupid drink, he ordered another whiskey in an Old Fashioned. All of us tried this "Old Fashioned" and it was by far the worst Old Fashioned I have ever had. For anyone who is not familiar with the drink. It's one of the oldest drink recipes ever invented, involving a small amount of sugar or simple syrup, water, bitters, ice, lemon-peel and whiskey. Modern interpretations of the drink may involve a small amount of soda water as well. So the version we had here was topped off with a soda water, but there were WAY too much of it. Heck, it tasted like a carbonated lemon juice! You can say maybe she is just blunt at suggesting what she thinks is good or bad in a drink, and maybe this is just one drink that she hasn't really mastered. Either way, every visit to the bar is accompanied with simple objects: to get decently made drinks in a laid back atmosphere and to get decent service while at it. Unfortunately, the only thing this place had going was "laid back atmosphere". Meh...I will not return, even though it's conveniently located behind the Hi-Point, one of my favorite theaters in St. Louis. P. S. Whoever plays "Black and Yellow" on the juke box in 2011 at a chill bar is a douche.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bridge Tap House and Wine Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Finally made it to the Bridge after having tried to go for almost a year. We rolled in on a rainy weekend evening; place was busy but not completely packed. I love the decor...very simple but elegant at the same time. Awesome chandeliers on top of the bar, such a nice touch. We sat at the bar, grabbed a few beers, and tried a few appetizers. The soft pretzel was fantastic....the House Made Cheddar Crisps (with fresh apple slices, cherry chutney, IPA mustard, and some walnuts), not so much. Flavor-wise, the grouping did not make much sense. Neither the mustard nor the chutney complimented the crisps. I was also disappointed that the Charcuterie section of the menu did not offer anything like headcheese, salami, or prosciutto. All they had were smoked duck meat and smoked tenderloin. Outside of food, the bartenders were nice and the crowd was laid back...my kind of place. I will return. P. S. Overheard a dude trying to order American Honey only to be told by the bartender that they don't serve that there. Awesome.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Paulz Burgerz & Dogz; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Stopped by for lunch, grabbed a buffalo burger (my first time. I've had plenty of buffalo chicken sandwiches, but never a buffalo burger). I have to say I enjoyed it quite a bit. Burger was juicy and the buffalo sauce gave it a nice kick. It was also very cheap (less than $5 for the burger if I remembered right). Of course, when you add a drink to it, you are looking at over $7 for lunch, but for burgers this quality, I could have it all week. P. S. not a place for "atmosphere". It was pretty small (only about 7-8 tables) and filled with mostly men. I remember quite a few people getting stuff to go.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Santa Fe Hotel; City: Reno, NV; Review: This was a memorable dining experience even though I can't say the food was very exceptional. However, I highly recommend it for anyone who loves trying new things (food). Like others have mentioned, they give you ALOT of food. You definitely get the bang for your buck. My dinner started with a soup of unknown ingredients (I could taste vinegar, onions, but that's all I can distinguish). It was slightly bland but surprisingly addicting. This was possibly my favorite part of the meal. After the soup came beans (and way too much of it. How could anyone eat that much beans???) and salads, with just green lettuce in some sort of balsamic dressing. It was nothing to write home about. My entrees (lamb with a side of oxtails) had good flavors although the lamb was very fatty and the oxtails had alot of thick sauce all over that made it very greasy/heavy. Overall, my feeling of this meal would be significantly different if I wasn't working out of town, which means I couldn't take any food back to my hotel room sans refrigerator. I think the thought of having wasted so much food really took away alot of the pleasures I had from this experience. :\; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chevys Fresh Mex; City: Olivette, MO; Review: Wow. We came for dinner and had some of the worst fajitas we ever had. My meal started with a weak margarita. There were hardly any liquor in it. However it wasn't very expensive so no big deal. My shrimp fajita was just terrible. It shouldn't have been called a fajita at all! None of the components (shrimp, peppers, and onions) had been grilled at all. It looked and tasted like they were all boiled and then hastily presented on a sizzling skillet. The corn muffin, which I always loved the few times I've eaten at other Chevy's, wasn't right either. It was way too moist, almost wet. Very disappointing meal...this may be the last time I ever visit a Chevys.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Colorado Bob's Ship of Fools; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Cutest dive-bar bartender! And since it's a dive bar, you bet she's friendly too! We rolled in on a weekend evening. The place wasn't packed. Drinks were super cheap and STRONG. We played both the big buck hunter game and a few rounds of golf on the machines in the back room. The bartender and a guy working there checked on us multiple times to make sure we didn't need anything else. This is as good as dive bars get. There is ample parking on the street outside this place and thanks to the sail boat out front, you won't miss it driving down the street.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: El Maguey; City: Chesterfield, MO; Review: I admit I rarely eat Tex Mex when I'm in the mood for Mexican food, and I rarely stop by El Magueys because there are so many of them in this town, I just couldn't remember which ones are decent and which ones are below average. We stopped by here on a Friday night around 6 PM. It was already filling up. If we didn't show up for another half an hour, we would have to wait in a line that snaked out the door. Everyone ordered Fajitas (really, it's the only thing I crave when I get Tex Mex). I got the El Maguey fajitas which had chorizo, chicken, shrimp, and beef. One thing I like about this place is how many types of fajitas they offer and they are very reasonable priced. Most places charge you more than $14 for a fajita, especially when you are talking about "supreme", "multiple meat". But you can save a few bucks here, especially if you choose the double serving (two people share). All the ingredients were tasty. Chicken was a little dry, but the vegetables were well cooked. It was a little on the greasy side. I had a banana margarita that was the shit. I know it sounds gross but try it next time you crave margaritas. Service was fantastic. Our waiter was very efficient and checked on us constantly. We got our chip basket refilled multiple times before our entrees got onto the table. All in all, this may be one of my favorite Tex Mex places in town, on par with Las Palmas # 3 on Page and Matador in the Chesterfield Valley.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Uncle Bill's Pancake & Dinner House; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I admit I have only been here either when intoxicated or driving others who are intoxicated. I almost always get the ham, with french toast, and also some much needed OJ. I like Uncle Bill's not because the food is spectacular (although the french toast is quite delicious and some of the best I've ever at breakfast joints), but because it's...well, there, and it's open all night, and the wait staff is always so friendly and super patient with the drunkies that roll in after 1 AM. These people can understand garbled orders and requests that don't make much sense. I'm sure that took years of training. Thank you Uncle Bill's! You are a true St. Louis institution.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: KC Chinese Rotisserie Restaurant; City: University City, MO; Review: UPDATE: Try the sweet and sour chicken (I'm serious). KC is hands down THE most authentic Chinese restaurant in the St. Louis area. (FYI, the profile photo is not for this business. It is of Jia Xiang, a smaller Chinese restaurant next door, which also has solid authentic food). KC and Jia Xiang are the reasons that I haven't set foot in LuLu (across the street) in years. Both places have been relatively "non-user friendly" to non-Chinese speakers in the past but they both have English on their menus these days so if you can't find a native to go with you, you can always resort to pointing at items on the menu. KC serves Chao Zhou style cuisine. Chao Zhou is a city in eastern Guang Dong province, which is where Cantonese cuisine originated. Cantonese style food in America gets a bad rep because the Americanized version of it is what every Chinese take out place offers, almost always super greasy, with heavily breaded mystery-meat and thick sauces. But the real Cantonese cuisine is much more sophisticated, well balanced with complex flavors, and almost never greasy. Early Chinese settlers in the US came from Southern China. As such, Cantonese cuisine is the first and most prevalent Americanized Chinese cuisine. This is the place to visit if you have always wondered what is the authentic version of Panda Express (although you won't find many of the same dishes here because they simply don't exist in China). I have lived in the US for a long time and have gone to many Chinese restaurants over the years. But I can count with one hand the places I have visited that served truly good food (as in if the chef moved camp back to China, his business would flourish nonetheless). KC is one of these places. Definitely try their stewed/marinated meat. On my last visit, we got the stewed meat sampler, which was delicious. However, the sampler does include things like intestines, so probably only for adventurous eaters. For entry-diners, the soy bean chicken is tasty and I always like just simple vegetables dishes here. There is zero atmosphere and service is often hurried (because the chef often has to take orders himself and cook at the same time). It's semi-self service. You grab a bowl from a stack and get rice from two big cookers by the door. One other interesting thing about KC is they make a variety of desserts in the dirty-looking friges behind the counter. I don't remember if the names on the frige have English translations or not, but honestly, it's almost impossible for me to tell which item in the frige corresponds with which name. So order at your own risk as we normally do :P; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Gramophone; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I like the Gramophone. It's a small and intimate space to see a band and the bar is long, which means alot of bar seats. I like the close circuit TVs they have at the bar that shows what is going on on the stage so you won't have to turn around all the time if you are drinking at the bar. I don't find the acoustics terrible either as Allison has mentioned. It is loud as eff so don't expect to be conversing even if you are not right by the band. Drinks are alright. Nothing to write home about. P. S. I see people always lining up for the bathroom next to the bar. There is another bathroom across the room (forgot if it's upstairs or downstairs). Just FYI.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Eau Cafe; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Friday night at the Eau is a 3.5 star experience for me. The place is beautiful and tastefully decorated, with exciting lighting. If you enter from inside the Chase, you'll see the dance area first. When you round around the wrap around bar to the right, you reach another area with tables and sofas. The setup is smart cause I can still make conversations in the backroom area despite loud music playing out front. Now the part I wasn't too keen on. I've been to places with alot of older rich folks with young women or vice versa. But that vibe/energy is intensified in this place. If you are a younger gal, you would feel like you are in a jungle being preyed on. If you are cool with that kind of crowd, you'd like it. I wasn't a fan so I won't be heading back anytime soon. Ending on a good note, my "girly" drink was tasty and not overly sweet, exactly as I ordered it. Service at the bar was also fast.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: MI Hungry Catering & BBQ; City: Overland, MO; Review: This review is long-overdue. I had an interesting experience at Mi Hungry a while back...I say interesting because everything was so unexpected. The one-man restaurant was not any bigger than a diner car. For $10 you get an INSANE amounts of food and sides. Between the two of us, we probably tried everything on the menu. I have to admit this is not my favorite Jamaican food experience, mostly because the style that is served here is almost a fusion between Jamaican and soul-food (so think ribs with Jamaican spices). While some may love this, I was taken back because I anticipated full on Jamaican flavors. Nonetheless, everything was well-seasoned and tasty. I loved the jerk chicken, collard greens, yams, and the plantains. The fish was slightly sour (possibly from having just a little too much vinegar poured onto it in the end of the cooking process). The ribs were good but they didn't taste all that different from those I can get from BBQ joints all over town. Our chef/waiter/cashier/owner was super friendly. This may have been an off day when he was the only one in the restaurant, so it took a good chunk of time to get our food and get going afterwards, so be prepared to wait for a while at dinner time. We were also a little disappointed that he didn't have any of the Jamaican refreshments in store. I wanted myself some sorrel!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: St. Louis Lambert International Airport - STL; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Oh come ON! Lambert deserves way more than one star! I have never reviewed an airport before but come to think of it, I have spent more time at Lambert than any other business in St. Louis so why not? Setting individual incidents aside (I have encountered my share of dicks at the airport), on an aggregate basis, this is a decent airport. In all aspects of service, I can think of at least one major airport that fails much much more than Lambert: - Rude employees? Chicago O'Hare - Delayed Flights? Newark Liberty - Drab interior? New York LaGuardia - Most confusing walkways? Philadelphia International - Distance from downtown? Washington Dulles In the words of Paul K below, this airport is not what it used to be, a bustling hub to companies like TWA and Northwest, but the old girl definitely has it still. I love myself some Dunkin in Terminal 2, and that little Schlafly Tap Room Bar at end of Terminal 1. I am habitually late arriving, but despite the long lines at security check-in points, they have always been able to run people through quickly.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: De Palm Tree; City: University City, MO; Review: Man...I just didn't like it at all the second time around. It was, again, a three hour meal despite the fact that we immediately knew what we wanted to order. After my first visit, I fully expected this. While I've never been to Jamaica, I have experienced "island time" before and this restaurant definitely drives that experience home. But the two star review is not even because of the ridiculous wait time, it's the food! The snapper was so painfully unmemorable...think dry, bland fried fish. If you like fried whole fish, mosey down to the Taqueria down the street from the strip mall and get a whole fried Tilapia from there. It'll be much tastier and a heck alot cheaper. The jerk pork was kind of a joke...think pork chops smothered in tomato sauce, with just a hint of island spices. Something is not right about this dish. Aren't you supposed to marinate your meat, vs. pour sauce all over it and be done? On a good note, the codfish balls were very good and I liked the jerk wings. If I ever go back (which is a big question mark at this point), I would get this again. Lastly, to add injury to insult, the next day, both of us suffered from stomach issues a couple hours after eating our leftovers. :( Seriously, this place needs to shape up! We caught a glimpse of the kitchen. There were three dudes in there, in addition to the waitress lady who disappears for long periods of time into the kitchen. It escapes me why four people cannot seem to crank out meals fast enough to provide adequate service to the diners.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: David's Bridal; City: St Louis, MO; Review: This location has 4 star service and selection, but the DB chain as a whole is a terrible company when it comes to keeping their promise. I've stopped by here multiple times and worked with several consultants who had been very helpful. I have no major compliant with this store other than how busy they are. Once you get into your dress and come out to see yourself in the big mirrors, you will have at least 6 people (usually more) from other parties there gawking at you. Not a big deal but just to throw it out there if you are the type that wants more privacy. However, be warned that when you fill out that personal information form at your first consultation, you have pretty much given the entire wedding merchandising world the right to spam call and email you. Despite indicating that you do not want DB to share your information to other merchants, Oh they absolutely will. Ever since filling out the registration form, I have been getting calls nonstop from everyone wishing to cash in on the wedding bandwagon, including Mary Kay reps and some shady publishing company (Reader Services) that declares I'm entered into some sort of sweepstakes. In retrospect, I should have given them an non-operating phone number and an email that is dedicated to wedding spam crap. Seriously. It's ridiculous. This company has no shame :(; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Land of Smile; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This is a pretty average Thai place. A bunch of coworkers and I rolled in on a weekday at noon. My Thai iced tea was super sweet, won't be getting that again. My red curry with pork was decent, but again, the sauce was too sweet. It's as if they dump a bunch of sugar in all of their ingredients, even for the drinks. If there is no better option on Olive, I would probably return, but personally, I like Thai Nivas down the street much more.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blondie's Coffee and Wine Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Overall, we had a good first experience. We came by on a very cold night. I like the decor; it felt very warm and inviting. We grabbed some drinks and a couple of desserts. The desserts were hit or miss. The hot fudge cake was amazingly rich and tasty, but the chocolate cake was pretty ho-hum and a bit dry. Marilyn Monroe was a great drink (as everyone else has already mentioned). I don't recall having many cocktails with what I call complex flavors, but this was interesting, in a good way, and not overly sweet. Unfortunately, other drinks we ordered were pretty unmemorable. Our waitress was very nice and stayed on top of things to get us what we needed. We will return in the near future. I'm definitely glad to see this place open up on a street that doesn't really have many chill alcohol + dessert places. I also liked that the other patrons were pretty laid back...a great vibe that isn't easy to find on Wash Ave.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Berix Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Cheap, tasty Eastern European dishes done right! We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon. The place was very clean and looked more like a bakery than a restaurant. There is a wrap-around porch with tables. Cute! (Too bad the storm was passing so we couldn't eat outside). The menu is huge and everything was pretty cheap, especially considering how big the portions were as we found out later. I had trouble picking just one item that I wanted more than others. We split an order of pancakes filled with potatoes. Excellent! The donner kebob came on sour-dough that was deliciously soft. My cabbage rolls with ground beef (not bread, just beef rolled into cabbage leaves) was a messy plate topped with orange cream sauce. Not sure how healthy this was but all the flavors blended wonderfully and the meat was well seasoned. Service was slow but mostly because quite a few customers came in ordering cakes and frozen yogurts, etc. They had multiple types of baked goods on display/sale. Too bad we were too stuffed after dinner to try any of them. We will come back here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Modesto Tapas Bar & Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Like Tim, I really don't know how I feel about this place. I have been here several times and each time was a big mix of hit and misses. Spotty service aside, I always enjoyed wine here, but the mixed drinks are so so blah. On our last visit here (on a Saturday night), the sangria tasted watered down (can't even taste the wine in it at all); the mojitos were oh so sweet. I know they are girly drinks but my god, I don't want to inject myself with sugar every time I gulp! The porkbelly was really dry and in general unremarkable. On the flip side, the marinated Manchego cheese and olives over tomato-rubbed bread was pretty good. We had another dish (some sort of meatball) that was also pretty mediocre. I can't even remember what it was now. Meh...for non-cheap mediocre food and bizarre drinks, I just don't see the reason to stop here very often. I'll probably be back again in a few months, but they really need to tone down the sugar in their drinks and keep working on the food.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Half & Half; City: Clayton, MO; Review: Holy Wait! This place was filled to the brim with hipster of all ages on a Sunday morning! After a brutal 40 minutes wait, we managed to sit down by the bar. Patrick K's review is hilarious and true...there were a ton of empty tables yet they seemed to be perpetually un-attended and un-cleaned. Mid-way through brunch, the expediter (or whoever he is that assumed the role of the expediter) in the kitchen had to scream on top of his lungs. It was pretty amusing to see. Service at the bar was good. We got the menus and our drinks pretty quickly. The steak and egg was phenomenon, high quality chunks of steak cooked perfectly to medium as I ordered. The cream sauce on the onion rings was thick and delicious and complimented the potatoes very well. I was less excited about the cinnamon french toast...meh, nothing to write home about. The boy enjoyed his chicken liver. I'm not a fan of liver so not gonna pass judgment on it (looked and tasted like fried anything). We will return...maybe...once the "newness" wears off and the wait shortens.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blood & Sand; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We finally got around to trying this place after hearing so much about it. It's hard to know what to expect when all you see are five stars when you look at the earlier reviews. Five stars? it honestly wasn't in my opinion (and I'm probably being very critical), but it was a pretty damn good experience so I will count myself a fan. Contrary to what some of the others have said, I don't find the space gorgeous. Hip it is but it actually felt quite cold. They have pretty chandeliers but a crap load of people rent those for weddings these days so really they are nothing to write home about. I will say that the cocktails are pretty fucking spectacular. The Silver and Sand felt like my type of "girly" drink. It really wasn't a "girly" drink but they do a splendid job of countering the bitters (with sweet vermouth and whatnot) so the drinks are more "friendly" to sweet palette like mine. Super smart! The Grounds for Divorce had a creamy after taste that was delicious. I also liked the Secret Is In the Telling (hooray for sweet corn water) although if I'm a guy, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. I didn't like the goat milk sorbet. It sounded fantastic in theory but was way too tart; the avocado and carrot cake flavors were much better. Wild mushrooms were tasty and so were the pickled vegetables (who doesn't like pickled onions?!) In summary (because I love writing reviews that sound like an 8th grader's English paper), it's hard to judge Blood and Sand without comparing it with similar eateries in town (similar as in in the same price level plus a strong focus on artisan cocktails). Salt and Taste make wicked cocktails, but I find their concoctions often just a tad too bitter. It is probably more of a personal preference than anything, but for this reason alone, I liked my drinks at Blood and Sand much much more. I'm gonna hold off on judging the food until I get a proper dinner, but the prices look pretty reasonable for fine dining. I am excited about B&S (not so much the social club aspect. Personally, I find that extremely lame) and I hope they stick around at least long enough for me to make a few more visits.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Map Room; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Absofuckinglutely charming! Seriously, this is possibly the cutest little cafe/tea house in St. Louis! Unfortunately, on the night we rolled in, I really wanted some alcohol...A taste of Irish Coffee and some white sangria later....I decided that I should have just stuck with tea or coffee. The sangria was really watered down, just overall strange. The Irish coffee wasn't done right (a curdling drink is not appealing). I don't blame this on anyone but myself. It's called a tea room instead of a bar for a reason....:\ This place was calling my inner hippie by the name: I loved everything, from the hand towels in the bathroom (instead of paper towels), to the board games, to the cute little patio with cafe lights, to the playful Mackerel tabby boy cat lurking in every corner. I could see this as an awesome place to just hang out on a lazy afternoon. Out of towners! There is a wonderful cajun restaurant - River Bend Cafe, just down the street from here. Dinner? check; Tea and dessert? check? awesome chill/date night? check! Too bad I went on to hit up some trashy places on Wash Ave and had an all day hangover after...; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clarice's Bridal; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: Clarice's is a must-stop wedding dress shop in the STL area, with some caveats you should know about before you go. Pro: - Large selection of reasonably priced gowns, from a few hundreds to thousands. They will sell you the dresses off the rack as samples for a nice discount...something to consider if you are like me and lolligag with the dress shopping until it's too late to order something in for the wedding. I am pretty lazy and my free time is valuable to me so I'd rather not spend all weekend running around bridal shops just to see 10 dresses at each place to choose from. You won't have that problem here. They will have a ton to pick from. Con: - The space is WAY too small for how many brides/mom/dad/uncle/whoever that come with in the bridal party they try to accommodate all at the same time. You are literally tumbling over other parties as you look through racks of dresses. I made an appointment for noon on a Saturday and holy crap! They had at least four other parties inside the small building at the same time. I had to try on my dresses in the office! That's totally fine with me; I'm not picky, but it seriously limits your time and how many dresses you get to try on. My person and I grabbed 3 and I can tell that's all she can let me put on without going into the next person's appointment. I have never, in a wedding dress shop, felt as much pressure to get dressed quickly as I have here, and that's a bit unpleasant. Just something to keep in mind. Bottom line: by all means, go! They have beautiful selections and are reasonably priced. I didn't get my dress here in the end but I found some very tempting styles that I almost ended up with.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Ultimate Bride; City: Richmond Heights, MO; Review: They are moving soon! Check their site for new address. I didn't end up buying a dress here but I had a great shopping experience. Mona was very friendly and had a great eye of picking out styles that may work with my interests. The old location (Brentwood) is very small; they stored all dresses in the back, which makes it hard as you have to rely on the consultant to pick styles that they see fit. I was happy with what Mona found, but would have liked to be able to look on my own. Their price point is a bit higher than most other boutiques in town. I believe they started right below $1K but goes up well above a few grands. I went on a weekday evening and the place was empty except for another group. It was the perfect time to try on dresses. I encourage you to do the same and look up their weekday hours instead of trying to go on the weekend and have to compete with other brides for time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brides By Demetrios; City: Brentwood, MO; Review: Demetrios has one of the largest and most beautiful wedding dress show rooms in St. Louis. They have a lot of dresses to browse through, but before you go, make sure you check their website and see if these are the types of dresses you are even looking for. I found out while looking through their in-store selections that Demetrios is all about the blings. Pretty much every dress I saw was crazily bejeweled, with beading, alot of ruching, and usually very satin-y materials. These are not what I wanted in a wedding dress. But if they are your cup of tea, by all means, go! Just be aware. Service was good. My consultant was very attentive and friendly and was not at all pushy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Enchanted Bride; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Enchanted Bride is super close to my work. I dropped by without appointment on a weekday evening. The shop was fairly small, but empty on this evening. You could browse through the selections quickly. The service was impeccable. The lady helping me was very friendly and tiredless-ly helped me get in and out of at least 8 dresses that I pulled out. Some things to note: they don't let you take photos. This is pretty common in boutiques, something to do with agreements with the designers. Personally, I find it hard to not have pictures to compare with other dresses that I've tried on, but this is nothing against the shop itself. The price point is mid-high range for wedding dress, starting at just below $1K to a few grand. After that day, I received two hand-written notes from the shop reminding me to stop by anytime if I haven't found anything. In the end, I found my dress elsewhere, but I do recommend Enchanted Bride for other ladies still shopping.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Bridal Prices; City: Godfrey, IL; Review: I drove a good hour to come here and not sure if it was worth it. For future brides, this is the physical shop for the online dress store at bestbridalprices.com. The shop itself is honestly kind of a dump. There were two-three fitting rooms. They all had curtains that didn't close all the way. I'm pretty sure anyone walking past them could see me getting undressed in the giant mirror inside the room....yuck. Still, I was pretty determined to not drive an hour in vain so I found some dresses to try on. The selection wasn't very big and there were some very dated styles. I did some home homework on their website before I went and found a few styles I wanted to try on, but I didn't see any of them on the racks. I had to flag an employee down to show her my list, to which she said ok, I'll grab them, and disappeared into the back. She found two of my four and didn't really explain why the other two weren't available (but they say on the website that it's available in store...WTF? I'm so confused). The two she handed me were impossible to put on by myself so I had to flag her down after getting partially undressed. She had this nonchalant attitude of not wanting to be bothered as she zipped me up, and turned around to leave right away without asking if I needed help with the other ones or if I needed to have a photo taken. All in all, a very unpleasant experience. If you see something on their site that you want to try, make sure you check if they have it in store in the size you want first before you drive all the way across the river. Also, if you are shopping by yourself, be prepared to feel like a pest as you flag random employees down inside the store.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Bridal Connections; City: Florissant, MO; Review: Don't judge the place by what it looks like from the outside. They have a great selection and the woman working the register has good taste! I personally don't like to be "helped" into my dresses (Come on! I'm not an old womanl you also don't need to watch me to make sure I don't steal stuff) unless it needs to be tied in the back. They let me try on dresses on my own here in a pretty laid back pace even though I rolled in 40 minutes before closing time. I didn't end up getting my dress here, but I was impressed with the selection. It made the trek to north county quite worth it. Other things to note: the price point is low-mid for wedding dress: a few hundred to just over $1K; The shop is right next to weddingwonderland bakery, which makes tasty and reasonably priced wedding cakes and does not require consultation appointments. If you are shopping for both, why not kill two birds with one stone and do a tasting next door after dress shopping ;); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robins Bridal; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I didn't get my dress here, but they had some of the best prices on wedding dresses in town! The selections were large and the consultant was helpful without being pushy. She let me try on dresses on my own and checked on me periodically to see if I needed help. The lines they carry here are very reasonably priced, most under $1K. I both agree and disagree with Amanda below. This is not a real "boutique". The selections do lean towards the conservation/traditional styles, BUT they certainly don't have boutique prices either. I believe this store carried similar brands as Clarice's in South County (also similar prices). So if you like the brands they carry, might as well check out Clarice's too to see more selections/styles in the same brands.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Matador; City: Wayne, PA; Review: We came for lunch and tried a number of tapas...everything was oh so mediocre. It's American tapas so I fully expected overpriced and under-portioned faux Spanish/Mexican offerings. Unfortunately, Americanized or not, the flavors were just not there. The Sangria was the star of the meal... both the red and the white sangria were refreshingly delicious! I don't mind paying 8 bucks for these. The ceviche was alright, seafood bits with some lime drizzles and a chip, nothing to write home about; the grilled salmon was very overcooked and placed on top of some lackluster arugula leaves. The sizzling garlic shrimp tasted like boiled shrimp with just a hint of garlic, definitely not nearly potent enough; The crab cake and the wild mushrooms in truffle oil were better than the rest; the mushrooms would have been a great dish if it wasn't so damn salty. Oh and I forgot about the chicken tortilla soup...yawn..at least it was cheap so my expectation was low. Our waiter was nice and attentive...a big plus for the restaurant cause I consider the food alone to be only 2.5 stars. Overall, there was nothing special about this place other than its Sangria. I'm pretty astonished by the five star reviews. Maybe we came on an off day, but if a restaurant's offerings have big ups and downs like these, then it no where deserves the praise it's been getting.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Area 14 Lounge & Sushi; City: Clayton, MO; Review: Fix your damn bathroom lock! I don't want to have to hold the door closed while using the toilet! If you are gonna have one single toilet bathroom for the entire place then you need to stock it with enough toilet paper. What kind of place runs out of toilet paper at 11 PM?! Aside from my frustration with the bathroom, there is really nothing wrong with the place. It's a small lounge, with alot of seating and surprisingly decent mixes (depending on the DJ of the night, obviously) but the crowd is seriously hit or miss...I don't personally enjoy places over-crowded with the college-age, pastel-shirt and plaid-shorts-wearing variety. Seriously...plaid shorts are so 2006. Get with the program!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 33 Wine Shop & Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I have a distaste for the Chocolate bar. I would like it alot more if I don't feel like I can run into everyone and their uncle there on a weekend night. So to not be part of that madness, we popped in next door at the 33 Wine Shop. They had a very impressive wine and beer list (huge plus), but I absolutely hated my recommendation from the bartender. I guess it wasn't completely his fault. I asked for a recommendation of a red with heavy fruity notes and he recommended a rose. I hesitated. I haven't had a glass of rosé in years (it feels like fake wine to me) but if it came recommended then I'll try it. I'm by no means a wine connoisseur but that rosé was pretty awful...tasted like fortified wine, very bitter, and definitely didn't have fruity notes. That disappointment aside, the place was very low key and had a much bigger back yard than the chocolate bar next door. The backyard needed some string lights, but other than that, it was a great place to chill on a summer night. We sat out there for a good two hours and no one came out to check on us and see if we needed another drink. Normally I wouldn't care but a bartender stopped by the table next to us so I'm really confused...were we supposed to have gotten service but someone slacked off? Or was it just supposed to be self service if you want to sit outside? Anyway, overall, despite the hiccups, it was a chill place to be if you can't take the madness next door.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nobu's Japanese Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We came for lunch. I had a fantastic Chirashi bowl, although it wasn't a "typical" chirashi bowl that I've had anywhere else. Instead of large pieces of fish laying on top of plain rice, I got fish slices that were hidden in a mangle of seaweed and other garnishes well-mixed in with the rice. I was surprised by their use of garnish this way and I could even see others criticize this as a "cheap trick" to serve not as much fish in a Chirashi bowl, but I have to admit the mix tasted pretty darn good. Service was fab; super friendly waitress. I'll be back for lunch. P. S. My coworker did mention the place is actually ran by Japanese people, which is pretty rare as most sushi places in the US are owned and operated by non-Japanese Asians.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flavor of India; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Five words: Weekend Dinner Buffets and Sweets! It must be tough to run an Indian restaurant in this town. There are just so many of them and so many good ones! But Flavor of India really has something going for itself thanks for the five words I just mentioned. I don't particularly think this place has a better buffet than anywhere else (it's hard to beat India Palace in my book) but I can find more sweets here than anywhere else and I can enjoy a relatively inexpensive weekend buffet when every other Indian place in town folds away its buffet tables. Flavor of India will always have my vote as a stop-worthy Indian joint.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Farmhaus Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Underwhelmed... We rolled in on a Friday night; place was packed; we liked the nice beer selections (although cocktail selections were limited and mediocre). The food: Butcher plate - we probably get these everywhere we go. There are quite a few items on it and the waitress dropping it off explained all of the pieces which was fantastic (I hate getting a dish like this and not having someone explain the individual pieces). I liked most of the items (esp the pig head), but the pig pie was pretty awful .. bland and fell apart on a fork and in my hand as I tried to pick it off the plate. The Bacon wrapped meatloaf - disappointing. The meatloaf was seasoned but it really didn't go with the soft small slice of Bacon wrapped around it..the flavor combination felt forced, definitely not a party in my mouth. The presentation was interesting but both the meatloaf and the bacon were brown brown brown...not exactly appetizing to look at. Potato was also cold. Anyone else thought it needed some sort of greens to balance out the heaviness? The pearl onions just wasn't cutting it for me. The pig toast - tasted better than the meatloaf. I liked the fat on the pork. Well done. Chocolate Trifecta - hard as hell to eat...it came with a chocolate drink, some chocolate ice cream, and a tangled mess of funnel cake like bread, with a few spicy nuts hiding underneaths. As we tried to break pieces of the cake down to dip in the chocolate drink, the whole thing would fall off the plate and spill nut pieces beneath it onto the table. They really should think about how they present this and make it easier to eat. I enjoyed all three chocolates so no flavor complaints there. Overall, food was good but a five star meal? Eh... I say this with complete disregard for the prices which certainly push Farmhaus to be one of the most expensive restaurants town. Unfortunately I can think of at least one place in STL where I had better of everything I ate here and at a cheaper cost (Annie Gunn has a fantastic Charcuterie plate for $16; The Shaved Duck has a few nice selections of bacon-wrapped [insert meat or seafood]; Salt really knows how to cook pork). For that reason, I doubt I will visit this restaurant in the near future. There you have it...my "food snob" assessment of Famhaus; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Famous Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Awesome laid-back place to get a drink....even though I don't smoke and hate getting smoke on my clothes. It's dark, with tall ceilings, and a loooong stretch of bar stools. The bartender was friendly. They had a surprisingly large selection of bloody Marys with house-infused vodka: spicy and flavorful just like it should be; bonus point for the old man sipping whiskey and smoking cigar next to us amongst the youngsters. The only minor issue: The Old Fashioned. I consider their version a "girly" interpretation of the recipe. The Old Fashioned is a simple drink, whiskey + simple syrup + bitters + lemon peel twist over the top. Their version was topped off with soda water and there was no twist of the peel over the top; it came with an orange wedge garnish. There is nothing wrong with this "modern" interpretation. In fact, most places in town do not serve the original recipe. But it's something to keep in mind if you are a hard core traditional old fashioned drinker...you would probably be disappointed.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Demun Oyster Bar; City: Clayton, MO; Review: Disappointing overall...I wanted to like the place cause our new residence is within stumbling distance, but I just can't sugar-coat the experience. - Raw oysters came on bed of salt and were fresh, warmer than expected but still pretty good. No points deducted here (although I didn't care for the mignonette sauce, too much acidity, overwhelms the natural taste of the oysters, but that's probably a personal preference more than anything). - Pomme Frites -these just don't taste "right"...Yes I can taste the animal fat they were fried in, but was this really twice-fried?? I don't get the fluffy on the inside and crispy on the other side. It was all fluff in my mouth...cuts were too chunky for my liking. - Steamed mussels and clams - fantastic but why is the whole bowl of food barely luke warm? It came with a few pieces of barely toasted bread. We requested more bread and got three more slices, un-toasted this time and crunched when we tore them up...yep, definitely stale. The broth was fantastic but mostly wasted no thanks to the stingy portioned old bread. Come on! Show some respect to your diners. Don't drop grocery store bread to go with their $$ meals; either get some nicer bread or make them in-house. Don't cheap out on the basic! It's tacky as hell. - Marinated Homegrown Seasonal Tomatoes - Mari- what? These taste like two days old tomatoes from Schnucks rolling in some olive oil and sprinkled with basil. The whole reason we ordered it was that it was "marinated" but did not taste a hint of that. - Beignets - Too dense to be proper; Because the dipping sauce to beignets ratio was too high, most of the sauces went to waste. - Drinks: as it was after 9 PM, we got to enjoy the happy hour drink pricing. We got the bartender's choice. It was a mule, served without lime and had way too much ice, imagining eating ice slushy, could barely taste the alcohol even when digging beyond all the slush....just a really bad drink. House wine was $5...cheap blend but tolerable...wasn't expecting more so it was alright. -Service: our waitress seemed rushed and disinterested. One thing that really irks me about restaurants that have happy hours: If you are gonna offer it, don't try to hide it and force the customer to ask about it. It's really lame. Announce it in a clear place or don't offer it at all. The only two things we had that were "happy hour" prices sucked...looks like they are pretty much half-assing the offer. There. Someone has to break the bad news. Maybe it was an off night....I'm sure we'll be back again. It's hard to write off anywhere within stumbling distance from your house. Next time we'll just get the oysters....prob nothing else. Actually, hold that thought....fast forward three hours and we both crawled into bed with queasy stomachs, not pointing any fingers at the oyster bar but it was the last place we had any food and drinks at all; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cafe Provencal; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We were very pleasantly surprised by everything we've had here today, a small, no-fuss menu with solid flavors. - Urban Chestnut and Civil Life on tap and served in appropriate mugs = point plus - Bread - I rarely comment on the bread, but these were just the prefect accompaniment to our soup and scallops. I don't understand why so many "nice" restaurants decide to cheap out on bread. It's the details that make the meal. - French onion soup - great flavors with just the right amount of cheese; I remember so many times of getting this at other restaurants and tasting the powder that it was made from....yuck. - Scallops appetizer - three medium sized scallops of perfect consistency sitting in a rich cream sauce. It was so delicious I dipped all of the bread in the sauce after I woofed down the scallops. - Pork Chop - perhaps the only disappointment in the night: yes, it was most likely my fault for ordering pork chop at a French restaurant, but the chop was over-done and pretty dry, although the vegetables, asparagus, green beans, and carrot slices, were tender and very good. At first I thought it was just my dish, but the neighboring table ordered the same dish and that also looked overcooked when I stole a few glances as he was cutting. It seems to be the way they cook pork chop here....I wouldn't get this again. - The New York Strip steak was phenomenal (just a tad overcooked...we ordered medium rare; it came medium). They used the perfect amount of bearnaise sauce to give the meat a hint of that herby flavor. It was also a very well-trimmed meat. You would think this is so basic that any restaurant serving steak should be able to nail....sadly that is hardly the case regardless of how much $$$ you are paying for your meat. - Creme Brulee - too "dense" for the dude but I liked it, bring on the denseness, hell yeah! At end of the day, fine-dining or not, a good meal doesn't need fancy ingredients or innovative presentations, it just needs to have good flavors, down to the most basic components, like the bread and the trimming of the meat. They really did a wonderful job of demonstrating this. I was slightly disappointed by the lack of creative combinations, but old school meals certainly have their own charms. For one thing, we sat super close to two other tables on each side that we unintentionally overheard some pretty amusing conversations. At one point during dinner, we heard an older couple bickering. She called her husband a big jerk and he countered you are full of baloney. They then proceeded to discuss the origin and variety of bologna sandwiches....; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 3500 Winehaus; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Yes I'm that idiot who orders sangria at a wine place....but to my defense, it's hot as hell out so a refreshingly cold beverage sounded great at the time. Unfortunately, it was easily the worst sangria I've had in a long time. I had the white first. Sangria minus the right amount of fruits = bad wine. That was what it tasted like. I decided to not give up on it and ordered a red sangria, which was much better but left a funky chalky taste lingering in my mouth after each sip....it tasted suspiciously like Crystal Light flavor powder....Yeek! I had a drinking companion who also ordered a white and agreed with me that it was just awful. Service was ok...spotty but no big deal. Big patio with ample seating = big plus. Morale of the story: if you get sangria here, be warned that they MAY be terrible.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Plush; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I had biscuit and gravy and chicken fried bacon here (yes. It exists). It came with a "dipping" sauce of mayo. My heart took it like a champ. It felt the appropriate thing to order after a great show, on the eve of America's Birthday. I don't know how this place is during the day but at night it was awesome. The band drew a mixed, hipster-heavy crowd. The space is HUGE, multiple floors of loft space with pool table, ping pong table, dry erase boards, half naked mannequins. First floor is a "restaurant" and a beautiful curved bar. Why 5 stars? - They serve food until 1 AM and the food is very reasonably priced. - They have 20+ beers on tap, with all your local favorites; drinks are cheap, especially for a music venue. Bartender was very nice and got our drinks quickly. - Seating! They have sofas, chairs, love seats, booths scattered throughout the place; no need to stand on your feet all night. - Second floor patios: they are small, nonetheless, I like having the option of going outside to get fresh air at some point in the night - Bathroom: yes this is a super important element that so many other places seem to eff up. They put enough bathrooms in this joint. - Free pool and ping pong: I don't remember the days when I don't have to pay for these at a bar. In summary, Plush is like Koken (which is also a neat place for shows) with better utilization of space. What is there not to like? Five stars.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Phat Tai; City: Maryland Heights, MO; Review: You would've never known this place existed unless you gamble and you got hungry for Asian food while you gamble (actually you are most likely an older Asian person who likes to gamble). None of these describes me at all but I am kind of a porker and just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Now picture this: It's 1:30 AM. You find yourself west of I-270 looking for something other than diner food. You are probably somewhere between sober and drunk-off-your-a$$ but you are hungry and you don't want to settle for Steak n Shake (you know, the one with floaters in your water...actually, that's all of them). Somehow you got dragged to the casino by some drunk friends who want to spend $5 on the slot machine and get their free sodas. You get on the casino floor, past the old folks with oxygen tanks, and low and behold, an Asian noodle bar (apparently it's part of the "Asian Gaming Room", which sounds racist as hell, but maybe the employees speak Asian languages? No clue). You think to yourself: am I really attempting to get authentic Asian food in a corner of the casino? The answer is yes and you are gonna be really glad you drove past the Steak n Shake with floaters in your water. The noodle bar is tiny and the cooking area is completely open. At a quarter before 2 AM, there were four older "chefs" shuffling inside the small space. They are all Asians but I don't think they are from the same country. A cloud of smoke continuously to rise out of the hot woks. We get the pho, the Taiwanese rice noodle (with bbq pork, onions, shrimp), the meat buns, the pot-stickers, and the roast duck soup. Everything tasted awesome and not just because it was 2 AM. The soups had big portions and delicious broth, the roast duck was tender, the shrimp not even a tad over-cooked..All the flavors were really spot on and they even had Vietnamese sweet chili sauce (also syrachai) to go with your meal. It actually brought back memories of traveling in Asia, when food stalls would be open late late into the night, with people huddled on make-shift benches, slurping their noodles under tiny murky light-bulbs. You know you've hit a home run when you can find that feeling in the corner of a casino in the Midwest. Thank you Phat Tai! You won't turn me into a gambler, but you bet we'll meet again in the near future. (Menu: [url]); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rustic Goat Eatery & Lounge; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: First of all, I just want to say this place has soo much potential. It's beautifully decorated inside and there was a killer jazz duo performing yesterday evening. Unfortunately, 20+ minutes after we were seated, NO ONE came to take our drink or food orders. So we left and took our empty stomachs down the street. Get your act together Rustic Goat! You are clearly in the business of making money so act like it!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Kitchen Sink; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Outstanding food and value! This was the best new restaurant I have been to all of 2012! We ordered the shrimp and grits, fried onion rings, and the 4 horsemen Cajun sampler. Best shrimp and grits I have ever had: creamy consistency with perfectly cooked shrimp, and those corn fritters were amazing! The Cajun favorites were pretty good too, although personally I would have preferred them to heavy-hand the spices a bit more, but at $12 an order, you simply cannot beat this value for cajun...anywhere! The wait was pretty long (although we did order alot of food and totally tied up the kitchen for a while...oops) but well worth it! I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the items on the menu!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Orbit Pinball Lounge; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: It's a less gritty (classier/more generic), non-smoky (thank you!), and much much closer to home version of Silver Ballroom. Layout of the place is alot like the Handle Bar in the Grove. I like that familiar charm of old-house-converted-to-drinking-establishment. The pinball tables are cool but would be cooler if they are still functional machines. I loved the skeeball machines in the back...Bartenders checked on us multiple times during the night even though we were sitting quite far from the bar. What not to like.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: HandleBar; City: St Louis, MO; Review: This place has seriously legit Russian food. You must try the Yummy Pelmeni if nothing else. We also got the large Zakuska plate. While the offerings were typical Eastern European appetizers, the portions were disappointing for a hefty $22 (the option with vodka, of course, why would you get it without). You'll probably get more food if you order $22 of vodka and appetizers separately. Service was iffy...two guys at the bar were pretty oblivious to empty plates and glasses. Once we moved to a table, no one came to check on us and get drink orders...a pity as the place wasn't super busy and not having a server "hover" definitely loses money for the joint. I think they need to train their bar-tending folks better...or they could just be family members and not give a crap. Regardless, I'd go back. On a somewhat unrelated note, Orbit Pinball Lounge in Maplewood almost has the exact same layout as this place, plus a back room. I had serious deja vu when I walked in their door.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Heavy Anchor; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: What a cool place?! It's a bar with a dive-y vibe minus dive-y decorations. The place was wonderfully and imaginatively-painted in bright colors. The music room in the back feels like your friend's garage back in high school days. Drinks were cheap. We didn't get food but ended up staying way longer than anticipated to check out the band and play shuffleboard.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: JJ Twig's Pizza & Pub; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: We spent $40 bucks on two 12 inch pizzas - That's $12 for a think crust that I can easily get at Imos for a fraction of the cost and a whopping $25 for a 12 inch "double decker" with pepper slices, sausage, and onion. One of us hates mushrooms so we tried to order one half of the double decker without mushrooms and were told it would be more expensive if we try to "split halves". Really? I don't care who you are but $25 for a 12 inch pizza (It is not deep dish. I don't care what they call it, double or triple decker) is just highway robbery. I can and have dropped some serious dough on food but this just wasn't worth it.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Gyro House; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I found nothing special about this place. The gyro was decent. I would get that again if I'm ever in the area and craving Greek. The lamb kebob for the same price had just a few small cubes of meat on top a big bed of lettuce. The proportion was all wrong. It was weird. The folks working there seemed like they would rather kill themselves than splurge the tiniest smile. Somewhere over course of the night, I thought the place was gonna burn down after smoke filled the entire room twice over. Clearly there is no fire alarm in this joint. Ending on a positive note: the fried cheese was tasty!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Angelo's Chicago Taste; City: Hazelwood, MO; Review: By far the best gyro place in this town. I've eaten the Gyro Platter countless times. It comes with insane amount of meat, fresh tsatsiki sauce and cheese cube. You will certainly have enough leftovers for at least one full meal afterwards. Gyros are not fancy food but sometimes it is harder to crank out good flavors from simple ingredients. They do that very well here. Go at lunch time. You'll have to fight a crowd but everything is guaranteed fresh then.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Schneithorst Restaurant & Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: How do you say "Meh Food" in German? This place has everything it needs to be a successful restaurant: beautiful exterior with loads of character, fantastically central location easily accessible via major roads, amazing selection of beers, not to mention it is also one of the few places in town that serve traditional German fares. But what is the deal with the food?? We ordered a variety of dishes off the dinner menu and maybe one out of our party truly enjoyed his food (He had the sausage sampler). The appetizer potato pancakes were bizarre. It was more like mashed potato patties, definitely missing the texture of shredded potatoes. Multiple people ordered the Sauerbraten plate, which came with beef covered in grocery-store-packet-style gravy that had cooled and congealed. The braised red cabbage was way too sweet and the haus spaetzel tasted strangely like tomatoes with overcooked mashed potatoes that have been sitting for too long. Having recently returned from a two week trip to Germany, where I had simple food cooked in simple ways but with tons of great flavors, I initially thought I was just being a German-food snob. But after hearing the thoughts of everyone around the table, it seemed my opinion was definitely shared all around. Ending on a couple of positive notes: the service was great; the pretzel bites were good, and the beers, as I mentioned, make this a worthy stop for happy hour (Two words: Das Boot)!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I have no basis to call the food legit (Having never been to Ethiopia and I know better than to assume the meals I had in South Africa resemble anything close to Ethiopian food unless I want to be that uncultured ass who thinks food from all countries on the same continent taste the same). Authenticity-aside, everything I had on a cold Friday night here was tasty and far exceeded my previous exposures to Ethiopian food (in the US). The meat sampler was full of flavors; I would definitely get this again and recommend it to anyone trying this place out. However, I did wish it had a little more "chunky" stuff vs. "puree" stuff (Yes, I AM that uncultured ass). I had way too much of that honey wine. Boy was it good, but be warned: you are going to feel like shit the next day if you have a full bottle of it all by yourself. Lastly, they really need to get more servers. Took forever to get checks.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: St. Louis Artists' Guild; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I like checking out the art exhibits here. The guild is in a beautiful old building with a choke-full of character. It does not have the most visually-stimulating layout for presentation of artworks but there are two floors of rooms that can hold quite a few paintings/photographs. Just the reflection of a setting sun on the wooden floor as it shines through the lovely french doors on the first floor can be considered art enough in my opinion. Best part of visiting the guild? You can take a walk around the Oak Knoll Park, where you are surrounded by lush greeneries (in the summer) despite being so close to busy roads.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Laumeier Sculpture Park; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Laumeier is one of my favorite places to take a stroll in St. Louis. It is spread out over a large area of land, which is great cause you won't be running into people every step of the way. There are sculptures of various sizes that can spark interesting conversations, a great place to take a date in my opinion. There are outdoor concerts and movies in the summer months, where people congregate on one of the many open fields under the stars. The welcome center has a small gallery but worth checking out if you are already in the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seoul Taco; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I agree with Kevin's sentiments below. The food definitely has good flavors but at least a couple of items' prices are a bit steep. The tacos are tiny. You need at least three, but most likely four to make it a meal. That will cost you more than $10 if you get a water or drink to go with it. We were also a little surprised by how little Kimchee you get for $2. We are talking about liquid-sauce-to-go size container for these. I have no service or flavor complaints and I think the pricing is fair for mobile food trucks where I'm expected to pay a bit more for convenience, but for a stand-alone store, for the same money, I could always mosey down to U City Grill and get a big bowl of Bibimbop with a much bigger side of kimchee.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sugarfire Smoke House; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Whoa Crowd! Went for the first time over lunch to witness the madness. Parking lot was full of cars circling like vultures. Place was packed to the brim, not a single empty seat (luckily, people were considerate enough to leave after they finished eating, well, most of the people). I got the 6 oz pulled pork plate with rice and beans and bread pudding with mushrooms. Meat was tender and had the perfect amount of fat; rice and beans were creamy; I didn't care as much for the bread pudding...flavor was a little odd for me. The order lasted me two meals and the leftovers tasted great the next day as well. I'm glad this place exists in the heart of Creve Coeur close to work so I won't have to make a long drive just to get my BBQ on.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Civil Life Brewing Company; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: There is nothing not to like about Civil Life. Friendly bartenders, low key crowd, darts, that old-timey-exposed wood look, board games and more seating upstairs, not to mention some of the best locally-brewed beers in STL.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Perennial Artisan Ales; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Perennial needs to get its act together...of the two times we've been there, the service was abysmal (I swear the bartenders just see right through us); they ran out of pretty much all food items for sale, and the beers were just OK (there was one particular dark beer that was beyond horrible... I couldn't remember the name but reading Tom J's review below, I'm pretty sure it was the "mint/chocolate/burnt toast abomination" that he referred to. How could anyone serve this? I still consider this a worthy stop on a micro-brewery tour but much improvements are needed still.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 4 Hands Brewing; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: 4 Hands is one of my favorite micro-breweries in this town (esp on nights when they have a food truck sitting outside)! The place is small but there is always a laid back crowd. I love the big wooden tables but wish they would have more seating options to accommodate the weekend crowd. Beers are good, although for some reason, every time I went I got the flight. I guess none of their beers really stood out in my mind so I just go for the whole crew.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Piccadilly at Manhattan; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: I am a fan of this little place tucked away in a residential part of Ellendale. I've been a few times and have no complaints with the food or services. I would call the menu "standard", your usual sandwiches and some seafood options, nothing too "fancy", but everything they do offer they cook pretty well: I've had tasty ribs and succulent, perfectly-cooked shrimp (po boys). The "Picadilly Passion" cocktail is also fantastic and not overly sweet as this kind of cocktails tend to become. Well worth a stop if you want some non-fussy good food (offers are priced slightly higher than your "neighborhood grill" be aware).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sanctuaria; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I've been to Sanctuaria for drinks a few more times since my initial visit in 2011 and I have to say overall I find the drinks to be pretty hit or miss. This would be alright except their drinks are damn expensive, which only makes the "misses" more painful to swallow. I mean, I don't want to drop $40+ on drinks for one person just to have a small portion of my experience being truly "great". Take last night: the sangria was more like an ice slushee; the Mama's Remedy really didn't need the sugar on the rim of the glass (it was already too sweet to start with). Luckily, my last drink of the night, with tequila and passion fruit (forgot the name) was a boozy delight with perfect amount of tequila and sweetness. I still think it had too much ice but I'll let it go. Overall, meh. I did have great service on all my visits so no complaints there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dominic's Trattoria; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I need to preface this with the personal preference that I detest Italian food in the US; there is always too many noodles, too much cheese, too tomato-y, just too much everything, all the darn time! Dominic's however served some really solid food on our recent stop here for dinner. The smoked fish appetizer was some of the best I ever had! Both the trout and the salmon were fresh, with the right amount of smokiness. Our entrees were tasty as well; my scampi came with big shrimp that were seasoned and cooked perfectly. We got the creme brulee for dessert. It may have sat for a tad too long as the inside, once I cracked the surface, was not as warm as it should be, but the flavor was legit. On top of that, these folks really know how to give good service. As someone had mentioned, the pause in between courses was timed very appropriately, much better than any other "fine dining" joints in this town. Service was efficient and non-intrusive. Overall, it was a great dining experience. Admittedly this is not the kind of restaurant I usually hit up, as I found he decor a bit dated and the menu options somewhat uninspiring (call it old school I guess), but I'm happy that we tried it out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hamburger Mary's; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: It was a Friday night at 10 PMish. We just took a break from a concert at the Firebird, looking for hamburgers. The nearby Hamburger Mary's popped up on our phone. We opened the door to a full blown drag show which took us by surprise as we thought it was just a dive bar where you could grab late night scrubs. Unfazed we sat down at the bar, ordered some food, and watched the crowd amuse themselves by three drag queens moseying their ways up and down the stage. This place has great set ups for drag shows. The "stage" if you would call it, is parallel to the bar and is long and wide, so a large number of tables fit directly in-front of it and everyone can see the action without hovering over someone's head. The decors were "kitschy" and full of in-your-face colors...definitely fun to look at. Now the food, which we came for. The wings were pretty ho-hum.. dry and overcooked, but the burger was huge and perfectly cooked to a medium, and all around delicious! Last but not the least, best looking bartenders in STL! I don't care if they swing a different way! :P; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blood & Sand; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I've been back here quite a few times since May of 2012 and I have to say they know good food here. I don't recall ordering anything that I regretted, from the sweetbreads (not so easy to cook as they look!) to the wild mushrooms to the carpaccio. Surely some had more complex flavors than others and some could use more or less salt, but taking all of the experiences I've had here and compare that average with the accumulated experiences I've had at restaurants with similar styles in St. Louis, Blood and Sand is as good as it gets in this town, plus a younger and sexier vibe. While I'm not calling the food cheap by any measure, they could be a hell a lot more expensive given all the reasons above and how popular they are. I'm bumping it to a 5.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Basso; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I like wood, especially in a bar. I like the set up of Basso, with that long wooden bar. The place felt classy yet still hip. That's not so easy to pull off. I didn't have food here but I appreciate that they had a large beer list and friendly bartenders who were quick on their feet. The only two things I didn't like were the valet parking (while cheap enough, management should know that this will turn off a considerate number of people who would refuse to go just out of principle) and the fact that their set up makes it hard to accommodate large parties (we all just stood around the bar awkwardly in a long line as none of the tables can be pushed together for everyone to sit down). I will return.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fortune Teller Bar; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Glühwein! Imagine my surprise when I saw it sitting in a little electric warmer on the bar. It's only been two months since I had Glühwein in the Christmas markets in Germany, but I missed it already. While I found the Fortune Teller's version a little too mild and sweet (much less alcoholic/pungent than what I had in Berlin), I still appreciated them offering it. To cap off my German nostalgia, I also had a shot of Bärenjäger...certainly don't see that in a bar around these parts everyday. Rawr! I am a little obsessed with taxidermy so the mischievous-looking coon on top of the bar was another pleasant surprise. Now I want to meet the owner. I think we have similar interests. I dig this place. I'll be back.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City Diner At the Fox; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Horrendous! I don't have high expectations of diners. I've eaten at all the diners in the Lou, drunk or sober, sadly, this was by far the worst experience I've ever had at a greasy spoon. The country-fried steak was full of gristle. The side of vegetables came swimming in a pool of oil. The gravy on my husband's biscuit tasted sour. We never got the french onion soup that we ordered and also never got a single refill on our water even though all of us had finished our glasses by the time the plates came onto the table. Our waitress was disinterested and absent and seemed like she was doing us a favor by getting us checks. I think I caught every single table looking around trying to track her down at some point during their meals. The only thing I liked was the hot chocolate. Never again. Thanks for ruining our night!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Joyia; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Surprisingly good tapas from a place I've never heard of! A bunch of us came for dinner while looking for a "tapas" place. Overall, I find the tapas scene in the Lou to be seriously lackluster. The big namers are either over-rated (Barcelona) or inconsistent (Modesto). I was impressed by what came out of the kitchen on this non-weekend night. The chef definitely knows good flavors. - The grilled octopus was a great appetite-opener (a bit too citric-y on top but tasty overall) - The Lamb kebob was juicy and delicious; the side salad was refreshing and well balanced - The Lamb Tagine had a velvety combination of butternut squash, orange rinds, and apricot and went really well with the couscous. - The Tuna Souvlakia was just a hair overcooked, but the steak was juicy, thick, and well-marinated. - Chorizo Rollo was almost a sister dish of Spanikopita (Vegetarian version). Both have crispy shells and creamy fillings The prices were slightly higher than normal tapas but this was appropriate given the size of the portions (also bigger than normal tapas). Another highlight were the drinks! The sangria was good and we all loved the Dark and Stormy. It had the perfect ratio of rum and ginger beer. Well done Joyia! What an excellent new tapas place! We ate so much we didn't have room for dessert, but we'll be back! Now if they could bring razor clams and grilled Padrón Peppers onto the menu....I'll love them forever!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Trattoria Branica; City: Frontenac, MO; Review: Slightly above average food and strange service. The place was completely packed and had an older crowd at around 6:30 on a Saturday. Food took a long time to come out of the kitchen, probably for the reason just mentioned. The smoked trout appetizer was good; I liked my seafood frettucine even though it looked like it had been sitting as the sauce was a bit congealed when the plate came onto the table. My dining partners didn't care for their lamb (you know when you get a lamb that isn't cooked exactly right, it tastes chew-y?) and lasagna, but I heard the trout entree was decent. Service was...odd to say the least. Our waiter almost sounded condescending at times (I suspect it was because there was some sort of coupon involved...I had no idea what kind as I was invited by the person with the coupon). He was stumbling all over the specials; later, when one of the people in my party asked for more bread, he snapped back at him with a "hold on!". I overheard him snap at other tables when they tried to flag him down with a request. Jeeez..what was with the attitude. In the end of the meal when he asked if there was an occasion (probably because there was a little bag that we exchanged sitting on the table), we mentioned it was two people's birthdays. He responded with "Do you want a cake or something?" Eh...we'll pass if you put it that way. I have never heard a waiter ask me that before. You either bring it out or you don't say anything. That was just...strange. Overall, meh. For Italian, it was pretty cheap. My fettucine was $17 I believe and the portion was pretty big. I just didn't find it all that special, especially given the strange, borderlying-rude service we received.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mission Taco Joint - Delmar Loop; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: Wow that was so underwhelming it made my jaw drop. The Three Little Piggies burrito was pretty much a bean-snooze. I didn't taste any fatty pork belly, just dry, bland shredded pork meat. Did I say dry? My husband's fried egg with chorizo sandwich would have been much better if they fixed the bread to chorizo ratio. I don't think it was too much bread, just not enough chorizo. The guacamole, at a whopping $7 a pop, was bland and did not have enough pico. We added quite a bit of salt in it. Drinks were good and the atmosphere was nice. Meh....I won't be coming back here anytime soon to satisfy my Mexican craving. P. S. Folks who think this is as good as street tacos get really need to take their butts down to El Durango on Page. There is no comparison. Their tongue tacos blow anything they make here out of the water.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Half & Half; City: Clayton, MO; Review: Alright, it's been more than a year, I've made a few more visits, and absolutely nothing I noted before had changed. Service was terrible....water not refilled, insolent/clueless host/hostess, empty tables not cleaned/turned around fast enough when lines were snaking out the door, even my to go steak and eggs had been generally overcooked from a few past visits. I'm writing the place out of my brunch options list. :/; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gringo; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I really liked the decoration and the set up, super cute place with patio seating. Unfortunately I didn't care for the food. We had the guac, which was of a good portion and I enjoyed the "show". I then ordered three tacos, all three were incredibly bland and unmemorable. The octopus taco had way too many chunks of grapefruit that completely overwhelmed the octopus, which was also mushy. The combination was just so odd. The other two tacos were soggy and fell apart the moment I picked them up. We left very unimpressed.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Home Wine Kitchen; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I really mean this to be 3.5 stars. To make it short and sweet: we came for brunch. The service was fantastic. The watermelon mimosa was delicious, but the bloody mary was pretty disappointing: it was watery and didn't feel like it has enough substance/flavor. The steak and eggs was great - medium rare steak perfectly cooked. The shrimp and grits looked awfully greasy. But the real problem was everything was REALLY salty!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The London Tea Room; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Huge tea list, decadent sweets, lovely tall windows letting in plenty of light, metered parking right out front, close to restaurants and bars on Wash Ave but not quite too close. What a cool hideout!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Copia Restaurant & Wine Garden; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Underwhelming food at unjustified prices + sloppy Restaurant Week preparation = 2.5 stars. A girlfriend and I came for dinner during Restaurant week. She ordered off the fixed menu. I ordered off the regular one. Unfortunately, both sets of food were mediocre. My shrimp and sausage jambalaya, at a whopping $23, had potential but was really undercooked. The rice was still hard and so was the side of four little asparagus. My theory on what had happened: to make a proper jambalaya you need to cook the rice and the other ingredients together, wait for the mixture to simmer over low heat for a while until the rice is cooked. However, there is a quicker way of doing this by cooking the rice separately from the meat and veggies, which I'm pretty sure was how they tackled it here. I have no problem with the "white jambalaya" preparation but they really need to taste the stuff before they come out the kitchen. My girlfriend's restaurant week offerings were just sad. She ordered the Copia salad, which came out with low quality lettuce. The advertised "goat cheese crostini" was nowhere to be found. Her entrée of Pork Scallopini definitely had been sitting for a while under a heat lamp. The sauce on top of the medallions were thick and had started to congeal. The side of "fried spaghetti" looked like it had been attacked by stale butter. When it came time for dessert, she got the crème brulee after we both watched a neighboring table's guests having a hard time breaking apart their dry bread pudding. The crème brulee, unfortunately, was completely cold. I understand there are a few school of thoughts on how a crème brulee should be served and both cold and hot are acceptable. But at the very least, the top layer of sugar needs to be caramelized immediately before serving. For the whole dish to be cold is just.....odd. I suspect they just made a batch of them and stuck everything in the frige. I wrote a whole bunch but what I really wanted to say is: If you are going to do a promotion like Restaurant Week, which would expose your business to potential new customers, don't half ass your offers! It's going to make you look worse than if you effed up the regular menu. Relating to that thought, I'm not sure I understand why they even participated in the promotion. Majority of the other participating businesses are targeting the mid-price range dining market. Copia is on the fine dining price point and it just doesn't make sense why they would need to "dumb down" their menu to appease the cheaper mass. The folks running the place need to take a hard look at what they are charging vs. what they are offering. The food has potential, but it's no fine dining quality, and the corner-cutting on fresh preparation is just insulting at the price they are charging.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Billy G's Kirkwood; City: Kirkwood, MO; Review: Meh...besides the big patio space (with nice outdoor furniture), I am pretty unimpressed by my visit. Our waitress was very sweet, but service was slow and since she isn't old enough to drink yet she could only tell us what is popular vs. answering more detailed questions like would you say this cocktail is sweet, which brings me to my second complaint: the drinks were way too sweet. This came as a surprise as one of us had actually been here recently and was overjoyed that her lemonade was not too sweet. Well, apparently they made some tweaks to the recipe :| I'm not sure why so many bar operators don't understand what the modern women want from a cocktail: sugary sweet is definitely not one of the desired qualities. Also, no self-respecting drinking establishment should be allowed to use mix to make Mojitos (Tree Mojito). Seriously, it is insulting. Two hours later I can still taste the chemicals on my breath. Bleh! Lastly, some of us who ordered whiskey on the rocks got hit with a $2 "rock" charge (they were already $9 to start with). Oh hay-ell.naw! I get where "rock charge" comes from. You get hit with a rock charge when you order a drink on the rocks that, supposedly, when served neat, gets a smaller pour. But there is literally no way to compare what you would have gotten when you order it one way or another. To put that aside, at end of the day, the practice of up charging is just lame as hell. Most people order their whiskey with some ice (unless we are talking about seriously premium single malt varieties). Why not just build the damn charge into the price? The margin on alcohol is already beyond ridiculous at a semi-fancy bar/lounge like this, you wouldn't think they have to resort to this just to trick you into paying $2 more dollars....The only places I go these days that charge me "rock fees" are the places I don't return to and clubs in more expensive cities where I don't have a choice but to pay up (keeping in mind though that I don't go to these places to socialize, which was the point of the trip here). Seriously, just don't do it. Even if it was legit, the practice is beyond tacky.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Alpha Brewing Company; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I am always happy to see a new microbrewery pop up. This one is in a great location, near food and other nightlife; I tried the Tamarind Sour Red and the Shizo Session and loved both. They used two of my favorite ingredients, tamarind and mint, in these brews, not to mention they used them quite well. The flavors were well balanced, not overly tart, sweet, or minty. I loved them even though beers rarely excite me.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Corner 17; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Cute place. Big props for hand-making noodles, but they need to either let the broth sit longer or add more stock ingredients to give it more flavor - the soup was a bit one note for me. The pan fried noodles weren't all that different tasting from panda express - lots of soy sauce and not much complexity. I wouldn't get this again. They are no longer offering kebobs "this season"...not sure what that means but i think they are trying to figure out where they want to go with those offerings. Service was slow, despite having at least five employees rushing inside the fairly small space. Bottom line - these folks have some great ideas but they need to keep on working on their recipes. Having hand made noodles is cool but how you turn that into a tasty dish is just as important a challenge. While I don't judge Corner 7 based on authenticity (let's just say the soup was more authentic than the fried noodles), there is definitely room to improve flavor-wise....especially considering I've had more flavorful beef noodle soup from other mom and pop Chinese places in town that charge at least $1.5 less a pop.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mud House; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Rolled in for brunch and, man, I really didn't think it was all that. My pork shoulder sandwich was REALLY dry and the bread/meat ratio was a little off (Maybe it was because the meat was so dry so the bread just added on to the pile of dryness....definitely not a party in my mouth even though I was so starving I could have eaten the table). Maybe we just went on an off day when they didn't get their pork right...shrug. Pear peach apricot smoothie was decent but all I could taste was the peach...could have used more of the other two ingredients maybe? Food took forever but service was friendly so no complaints there.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harvest; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Easily one of the best meals I've had in St. Louis. We had the Hudson Valley Foie Gras with roasted peaches...exceptional! I could have ordered three of these to have for my entree! My husband's roasted beet salad also had well-balanced portions of fresh ingredients. For entrees, we ordered the rainbow trout and some sort of pork special. Both were perfectly cooked. The "sidekicks" on the plates were inventive and fit in with the overall flavor stories. We came on a weekday night. The place wasn't busy. I wasn't particularly fond of the decor...a bit old-fashioned, but other than that, I have no complaints. The cocktails were tasty - not overly sweet; they had a few favored local brewpub offerings for the beer lovers. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pan D'olive; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This was really a 3.5 star experience. What knocked almost a star off for me was the unclear segregation of where "happy hour" prices were applicable. We sat outside on the patio and when asked about the happy hour, which was advertised on a big banner facing the main road, we were told happy hour only applied to the bar area tables. Shucks. It would have been nice if we were informed of that when we walked in. We normally don't order our entire meal from the discounted menu so they really wouldn't have lost revenue because of it, but the ambiguity definitely soured my mood before we even started eating. The meal itself was good. My husband ordered the lobster ravioli and quite enjoyed it. I had wanted just a light meal so I ordered the grilled lamb kofte. These were good but a bit overcooked for my personal preference. We washed our meals down with some local brews. The crowd was older folks. The parking lot was completely filled by dinner time. Judging by the popularity, you may want to make reservations for dinner.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Shack; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Such a tastefully-renovated place! I love the shabby chic look, with the floral-patterned roof decors and the boats and wooden doors with chipped paint as tables. What I didn't like, unfortunately, was the food. I had three tacos, eggs and ham with crispy pork, steak, and baja fish. All three came wrapped in foil. The fish taco looked and tasted like fish stick inside a tortilla with way too much cheese; the steak taco was lukewarm to start with and had shredded un-melted cheese on the bottom, not an appetizing sight. The eggs and ham with crispy pork belly was a mess of a hodge podge of flavors. The crispy pork wasn't really crispy. Overall, none of it felt truly fresh; I have a hunch they were all batch-made earlier in the week and were wrapped in foil and stored in a frige until orders came in. They actually reminded me of those bean burritos on Taco Bell's dollar menus. :| Rest of my friends ordered the Shack-wich. That looked like a better choice. If you are going to get stuff smothered in cheese, might as well go big or go home. I won't be back here for the tacos that's for sure.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Baileys' Range; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Let me pre-face by saying I had drinks and a salad at Bailey's Range. I was that person who went with full intention to get a burger but just didn't have the stomach room for it. In retrospect, I should have just gotten some fries and watched everyone else eat, because the chopped salad i got was huge and awful, completely devoid of taste, a giant bowl of leaves and not enough anything else. We had a pitcher of boozy lemonade for the table. At $32 a pitcher, it was very watered-down and un-memorable. I will definitely return to the Range for the burgers but the lackluster taste of everything else gives me no urgent need to do so in the near future.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Pageant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: The Pageant is my favorite music venue in St. Louis. I have been to countless number of shows here over and find it to be the perfect size for intimate performances. By intimate I don't mean not crowded. Depending on the popularity of the artist, the space can be really packed. Personally, I would rather see a band as a sardine then sitting faraway in an airy arena, but that's just me. The GA section gets you up close while you could also sit back in a seat on the balcony if you don't want people all up in your personal bubble. The seating is limited on the main floor but that is the price you pay for having a large GA section (in proportion to rest of the space). Drinks are pricey but I found them to be quite strong majority of the times so you do get your share of poison at the bar. I haven't had a bad experience here yet and I certainly appreciate them bringing diverse acts.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Post Sports Bar & Grill; City: Creve Coeur, MO; Review: Back a few years ago when Growler's closed, I knew it was just gonna be a matter of time before something else pops up in its place. Surrounded by office parks, the location is a gold mine. There is not much to say about the place. It is cleaner and blander looking than the Growler's; Service can go from slow to insanely slow (they really need to hire another bartender/waitress at happy hour times). Happy hour specials are nothing to write home about. In fact I have been here a few times and kept on getting different prices for the same appetizers. Either I'm getting the wrong sizes for "happy hour prices" or I'm not good at reading instructions for what items are eligible for special prices....no idea. This is a moot point though, because business is so good that they could just drop all their hh specials and I'm pretty sure the place would still be packed with office people. A place to meet up with coworkers you actually enjoy hanging out with outside of working hours...that is what the Post is for and it lives up to that expectation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Diana's Bakery; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Tres Leches cake to die for, something like $25+ tax, custom-made with one day turnaround, topped and filled with fruits. It's gorgeous and tastes like heaven. I can't think of a better cake for special events. You must try it....not a slice, get a whole cake. You will probably have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner once you have a bite.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Northwest Coffee Roasting Company; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I spent an entire Saturday afternoon sitting by the fire pit outside, in a chair in the rocks, reading my book and watching people play with little bells hanging on strings. This place is converted from an old garage and about as cozy as a coffee shop can get. My only issue was my drink. I got (some sort of) hot mocha and it was a hot mess. There were also all sorts of loose chocolate bits in the drink and the latte art didn't turn out at all. As I am not a hardcore coffee-drinker/lover, this did not dampen my mood. It is easy to miss the entrance. I drove right by it twice before realizing it's RIGHT NEXT to the car repair/tire business at that corner.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spare No Rib; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: One of the best new restaurants that opened in St. Louis this year in my opinion. These people know good flavors. You need to try it! We had a fantastic meal here on a week day night. Don't let the name fool you. They have more than just ribs. I am not a huge bbq fan and was delighted to see they had tacos and other offerings on the menu. We both had the sampler that included two tacos, two ribs, and a side. I had the pork cheek and carnitas tacos. These are street-style tacos without as much onion as those from Mexican taco joints (perfect!)The tacos were loaded and perfectly-spiced. The ribs were tasty as well. They came with two sauces, which were slightly similar. They could distinguish them a bit more. But that was literally the only minor complaint with the meal. The owners came out to greet us. They were very nice and eager to improve and get their name out there. The place is tastefully decorated with a modern, rustic vibe. We will return.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tripel; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We swung by for some drinks and were not disappointed. They make artisan cocktails (with price to match of course) that may be just a tad on the sweet side (more from the bitters vs cheap syrup thank god) for the gents but with well balanced notes nonetheless. I had to get the "Smoke Wagon" to wrap up the night: a delicious and fun bourbon drink served with encapsulated smoke that had just the right hint of sweetness and woodiness. Fab! I can't wait to come back to try the food.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Scottish Arms; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I've been here numerous times and will probably continue dropping by. Unfortunately, the experiences have always just been mediocre. Service can go from slow to insanely slow, which doesn't matter as much when you are just chilling/drinking with friends; the food is often inconsistent: two batches of fries ordered at the same time would come out with different crispiness; drinks are decent but almost always on the sweeter side; in this day and age when cocktail bars are cropping up left and right, these cocktails are nothing special for the prices they charge. They need to keep working on their recipes to keep up.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hartford Coffee Co; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This is a decently sized coffee house with lots of seating (albeit not very private or atmospheric - this is where you come to study). I had a great white chocolate mocha here and the barista was super nice. Nothing to hate on.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Melt; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We stopped by on a weekend evening a couple months ago while our friend was guest-DJing. This is a cool, laid-back spot at night. I don't care so much for the pin ball machines. They seem to have turned up everywhere in the past 5 years, luckily they didn't over-do it here and just had a couple sitting there; they serve their waffles late into the evening; I will admit they are not spectacular waffles but they are just the right type of dessert, not too greasy and not too heavy, for your late-night munchies; drinks were cheap; bartenders were nice; other patrons were pretty chill; there were plenty of mismatched seating to relax in. I can see this having a different vibe during the day, but at night, it is a cozy spot to meet up with friends when you are in the area.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mad Art; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This isn't a great art gallery. You walk into a big room with art not set up in any interesting way. It is more of an event/special occasion space with some art hanging on the walls. That's it. With that said, while I wouldn't go out of my way to stop by to check out the art, I enjoyed attending events here and keeping myself entertained by looking at the pieces in their current exhibits.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Capitalist Pig; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I can't say I love the BBQ here, but neither do I hate it. The sides can also be hit or miss. I have stopped by a few times in 2013 attending events at the adjacent Mad Art Gallery. While I think neither is the rage, the concept of converting an old police station into something, anything, is quite inventive, and I have enjoyed being able to get food while looking at some random art pieces.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: V Vegaz Style; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I have been visiting V Vegaz for years and could not recommend it more! I worked with multiple stylists and even had my wedding day hair done in the salon. I have gotten consistently sharp cuts. The stylists really listen; they work efficiently and do not get in your face with annoying chatters. I never had to wait when arriving on time. Quality of service absolutely matches the price here.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Planter's House; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: What a welcoming addition to the St. Louis cocktail scene! I love the tall ceilings, wooden bar shelves, cozy backroom nook, comfortable seating. Cocktails are $8-$10 a pop. I had the Voyses (I'm a sucker for Chamomille in cocktails) and No Body Puts Baby in a Corner (a more sophisticated version of "girly drink" as it's on the sweet side) and enjoyed both. We also had the wild mushrooms...hate to say it but Blood and Sand's version of the dish has more flavors imo. Service was great. Bartenders were friendly and knowledgeable. Definitely worth a stop for cocktail fans.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Olio; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We had a wonderful first visit here last weekend. I love the rustic chic decor and the abundance of windows filled with warm yellow lighting. It couldn't have been a more inviting sight as we pulled around the corner on a cold rainy night. As our small group of four had just gotten turned away from Bar Les Freres (probably for the 5th time since they opened a few years ago), we were worried there would be no free table at the also-fairly-small Olio either. Luckily the place is deceptively larger than it seems. We shared a hummus plate since everyone had dinner already. We really tore into the bread which they refilled several times. So nice. We all enjoyed our cocktails. I especially liked that they had a rum flight. It would be nice if they would offer aged rum selections in addition to the filtered ones. What knocked off half a star for me was they had ran out of three cocktails on an already fairly small list of eight that night. I'm not a creative drinker. I kinda need someone to come up with a list that I could pick from, or I'll be ordering the same two to three drinks at every establishment (and what's the fun in that?). I get that the bartenders can make anything requested and they are pitching as more of a wine bar than a cocktail destination but I rather like what Planter's House had done with their cocktail menu. From what I remembered it was just a slightly longer list but they had also listed a number of classic cocktails, many of them seem to have been "forgotten" by modern day drinkers but are oldies and goodies nonetheless. That would give the less imaginative drinkers like me a few more options to pick from. Also, I agree with someone below that the Acoustics left more to be desired. Sitting at two small round tables, I could barely hear my friend across from me. Not sure what they could do to fix this but it was a bit annoying at times. 4.5 stars. Certainly worth a visit and many return trips.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Elaia; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: The jury is still out on Elaia for me. Maybe I am old school, but when i spend 100+ pp for dinner I expect first and foremost perfectly cooked proteins. I would like to have them presented in creative manner and with well thought-through garnish that compliment and bring complexity to the flavor profile and texture, but at end of the day, if my proteins are not done exactly right, the creativity becomes a moot point. For dinner, my pork loins were a little too lean, my lamb medallions were a little too overdone, and my chocolate tort needed just a little more sweetness. No points docked for the salmon or the sea scallops ceviche (the passion fruit brought the perfect citric note to the ceviche - ingenuous!). Perhaps it is not fair to judge a restaurant based on highly personal preferences. The woman next table might like her pork with no fat and her lamb mostly done. This meal would have been five stars for her. While I recognize this, I feel the real issue is that Elaia is priced just a tad higher than its competitive peers in this town, and from this one experience, I feel pretty ambivalent on whether that incremental cost is justified. Dinner - 3.5 stars. Service - 5 stars (yes, thank you for explaining everything on my plate instead of dropping them off and leave). Bar while waiting - 5 stars (John really is one of the best bar managers in town, always perceptive and quick on his feet). I'll roundup to a 4 (even though Olio is technically a different space).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Melt; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Dropping a star from my previous review. They REALLY need to bring another wait person on weekend evenings. On our last visit, we waited for 15 minutes to get menus, and ten minutes later still no one came to take our drink or food orders. To add insult to injury of having to take our empty stomach elsewhere, we also lost some quarters on the bowling arcade machine. Apparently they had lost the ball/puck. Get your act together Melt and properly staff your night shifts! No thanks for that 30 minutes of my life you just wasted.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Central Table; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I stopped by for dinner with two girlfriends a few months back. What a lovely modern space, with plenty to talk about and see while waiting for menu/service. No big complaints with the service. Waiter swapped two of our drinks that were very similar and we didn't notice until two sips in. It was alright since my friend doesn't have cooties (that I know of). He was friendly and helpful. I enjoyed my pizza and cocktail. The three of us split the bone marrow, which was unfortunately poorly executed. Three pieces were served but one was significantly smaller than the other two. Obviously this is not a dish you order to get a large quantity of food, but the inconsistency in the three was pretty darn inconsiderate in a sharing situation. I am not dying to go back any time soon because I can get similar pizzas at Pizza places like Dewey's and Katie's; I can swing by one of the many Sushi Ai branches for sushi (perhaps quantity over quality at times); or I can head down the street to Taste for more creative cocktails and small plates. I'm just not sure where this place fits into my map of go-to culinary establishments in this city.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lu Lu Seafood & Dim Sum; City: St Louis, MO; Review: There are two dishes I get from Lulu's....Beef with Spicy Tripe and Salt and Pepper Shrimp. The beef with tripe is seasoned with just the right amount of Sichuan Peppercorn (any spicy Chinese dish that makes your mouth go numb has it as an ingredient). The shrimp dish has these succulent, perfectly cooked shrimp deep fried in fluffy white-gold breading. Both have been consistently delicious over the years. Personally I don't come to Lulu's for Dim Sum. I go to Mandarin House, which has much better traffic flow (it's one giant room basically) for the carts.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Urban Chestnut Brewing Company; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: UPDATE: We returned a few more times and came upon the worst corn nuts in history (chewy fried dough pieces) and inconsistent pours for the same beer ordered from two barkeeps (glasses of totally different size and volume, seriously?). The food was alright. I liked the mushroom dumplings but the portion was pretty small. It was more like a $10 snack. I would knock off half a star but I'll wait for a few more visits before I drop it down a full star. Whoa! I dig the open food-hall layout. There is certainly nothing like it in St. Louis. The unique floor plan alone is worth at least one visit. We just grabbed two beers here. The food didn't look spectacular but I'm not sure this would be a place that needs to have amazing/creative dining options; Decent bites that you can wash down beers with are more than sufficient (Now if only they can consider having kebobs Fast-Eddie's-style....) There are still a few kinks to work through: ordering is a bit confusing. It's cool to have multiple stations but because so many people are simultaneously waiting and pouring, the bartenders couldn't seem to keep track of who got to the bar first. One guy actually skipped right past us to serve the group behind us when it was pretty clear we had been waiting. I agree with what another reviewer said about needing visible explanation of the beers. There were paper menus floating around but not visible enough.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sameem Afghan Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We had pretty good food here for dinner. The appetizer of potato pancakes had soaked the grease paper through and through when it made it onto the table, but I can't knock the taste: perfect combination of semi-crispy outer and soft/smooth filing. We both ordered lamb but got it in two different ways. The lamb shank was tender and came buried in a fragrant rice (there was a hint of sweetness that I never tasted in a middle eastern dish before. I couldn't pinpoint what the spice was but it was surprising, in a pleasant way). My lamb pieces in brown sauce (forgot what it was called) were well-spiced. Service was quick and friendly. They apparently have an upstairs seating area (entrance to the left of the restaurant facing the street) in addition to the main ground-floor front, so don't be discouraged when you don't see tables first walking in.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hiro Asian Kitchen; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Finally! Real Asian-style braised-pork pieces in noodles! I grew up eating almost identically-cooked pork belly slices (by mom) on holidays and having it in my Hiro Ramen was like tasting a slice of home. Having never been to Japan (yet) I can't say how authentic the ramen was, but it fit the bill for a tasty Chinese-style noodle dish. In addition to the juicy pork belly (with just the prefect amount of fat), the broth was also very flavorful. I will definitely have this dish again and again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Brazikat; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I have to preface this with if you want "real" Brazilian food, you can give up now. No restaurant offerings in St. Louis stack up to the food I had in Brazil. Now that's out of the way and you lower your expectations, I found this place to be perfectly Ok for the meat lover (the quantity over quality type). We came for a birthday celebration on a Friday night. Place was packed. There was an eff up with our appointment time which resulted in almost an hour wait. Not cool. The meat pieces on the skewers were quite small and the cut/quality mostly average if not below. Some are overcooked. It's pretty obvious chicken (cheapest) is in top circulation; I probably saw Picanha, the best Brazilian cut, once all night. At end of the day though, the price is quite low for Brazilian all-you-can-eat. You are certainly not getting great meat but you are not paying through the roof either. Don't get the Groupon or Livingsocial or whatever it is they offer right now. Just check their current special. We realized the "special" was actually better value than the "deal" my inlaws went in with. There were definitely some shady stra'tegery (yes I know that's not a word) going down when these deals were conceived, but brushing that aside, you WILL be full after this meal. I was also surprised by how attentive the service was, from the lady who took care of our table to the runners. Everyone was jovial and courteous and always asked what we were looking for.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: R T Weilers; City: Saint Charles, MO; Review: I don't usually review "bar and grill" type places because the food is always crap. Let's be honest. You don't care about complexity of flavors when you are drunk off your ass. I stopped by here for lunch on an weekend with low expectations (I was in the area; they had a patio and it was a nice day). But my chili and fried chicken were definitely above average bar food. The chicken were juicy and tender and not as greasy as the ones I find at my favorite chicken fast food places.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Juniper; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We had an enjoyable meal here, with a few caveats. The shrimp toast as a starter was very tasty. The fried green tomatoes with trout was...odd. Even though the tomatoes were fried perfectly without appearing overly greasy and the trout had a nice smoky flavor, they simply didn't go together. We were all a little baffled by the combination. I tried my friend's kale salad and fried oysters starters too. The salad was way too salty and the fried oysters were good except only half the fried pieces were oysters. The other half were chicken. We didn't think this was explained clearly on the menu. Since my friend was getting chicken and waffles for entree she really preferred to have her starter with all oysters. Since there were no shrimp and grits on the menu on this evening I opted for the shrimp andouille, again, well seasoned and the kimchee complimented the flavors, but it was very similar to the the shrimp toast. For some reason I thought I also get andouille sausage but turned out I misread the name, it was a sausage made of shrimp, not shrimp AND andouille. Darn! Cocktail wise what really shined were the Cola Highballs. They had quite a few enticing options. Overall, great atmosphere (although I have to say I dont understand why they painted those French Cafe posters on the top of the wall. I find them so beyond tacky even if people just hang them in restaurants, let along permanently painting them into an establishment). Food was priced just right imo. The group consensus was that everything could use less salt. Despite downing one after another water, all of us had left still thirsty for remainder of the night.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Small Batch; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Small Batch may be my favorite new place to grab a drink (besides Olio). The decor is classy without looking too "Generic" (aka none of those French bistro posters that just won't die). I had a nice serendipitous moment spotting the Willett Pot Still bottles on the bar shelves as I was just at the distillery a few months ago. Service at the bar was great. Drinks were well-made and the sweet potato fries were bountiful. We were surprised with a free amuse-bouche. It wasn't exactly a balanced bite (too creamy) but why should I complain about free food! We went on a week day night when the place wasn't too busy so the atmosphere was quite laid back and romantic date-friendly. I think this may be the best way to experience Small Batch.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Yo My Goodness Frozen Yogurt; City: Clayton, MO; Review: Everything was way too sweet! I felt like i was eating sugar with every bite. They really gotta tune down the saccharin. I was also sad they didn't have mochi bits.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Central Studio; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I bought a Groupon with very little expectation and ended up using all my sessions. I tried Zumba, Sexy Fitness, Flexibility/Body Conditioning, and Hip Hop. The owner Arica taught most of the classes I took. She was amazing, outgoing and super clear with her instructions (and boy can she move on that floor)! The classes always started on time; sign-up and scheduling/checking in was easy and organized; other students are friendly. There are resident dancers participating in a lot of the classes but no need to feel threatened or embarrassed just because your body doesn't twist and turn the same graceful ways. I always got a fantastic workout at end of all my hourly sessions. I can't recommend this studio enough. I will be back for more Zumba classes and maybe eventually will up my nerves for the Tango classes that I've been wanting to take.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: St. Louis Bread; City: Creve Coeur, MO; Review: Wow....talk about attitude! I waited for my order for a bit, no big deal, they were busy. Then call my name which is pretty common, and this woman who ordered after me went up and snatched the bag and walked away really fast; I was worried that she took my food so I went up to the counter to check if they were still making mine. The lady behind the counter with curly hair and black vest totally barked at me "no, we didn't called your name". Well I heard you say a Jen and I just want to make sure someone else didn't just take my food. "M'am...there are more than one people with the name Jen" She snapped back at me with this exasperated bitch look like I just inconvenienced her with the world's stupidest question and asked her for her first born's toes at the same time. If people don't like working in the service/food industry then find another damn job! Ridiculous...; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: 360 St. Louis; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Do not even think about ordering the ceviche - hands down the worst ceviche I ever had. At $18 a pop, there is no excuse for its quality! I wasn't at all expecting authentic Peruvian Ceviche here, but this dish was just sad...the fish bits were mushy and oily and tasted like they came straight out of a can; the shrimp were so overcooked they were chewy; the only decent component were the chips that came with the dish. They were at least crispy. Come on 360! You can do alot better with the price you are charging on these suckers. If you can't make a half decent fresh ceviche, don't put it on the menu. Yuck; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Guido's Pizzeria & Tapas; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I was tipped off by a coworker who had spent a chunk of her life in Spain that Guido's has the most authentic Spanish tapas in St. Louis. But how could it be? A place in the hill that offers mostly Italian fares?? In the past few months we stopped by multiple times to check it out. I must say that my coworker is right about the tapas. We skipped right over the Italian menu on our visits. The tapas are "old school", don't expect any unique combos with modern twists and surprise ingredients, but they are all solid: from the Calamares a la Plancha, to the Jamon with olives and stuffed Piquillo peppers... These are still not quite the real thing I had in Spain but they are as close as any tapas place in this town has gotten. Another plus is the fantastic sangria. I like the red more than the white but both are refreshing, full of fruits, and you can tell these are not made with crap wine that so many other places offer in their sangria. I am slowly becoming a fan of Guido's, getting a jar of sangria, sitting on the patio out front, shaking my head at cars blowing through the four-way stop-signs...bliss.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sasha's On Shaw; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: What happened to this place??? Our last visit a few weeks ago was atrocious! They had these fancy iPad menus except half the wine choices were apparently not available. They were out of three different wines that we picked along with the pate appetizer. The descriptions of wine on these digital menus are laughable. Two paragraphs on the vineyards, where it's located in Spain, what kind of beautiful hills it sits on, but absolutely nothing on the notes of the damn wine itself. Our waiter who was also the bartender was terrible. He didn't have anything to suggest when he repeatedly came back with "sorry we are out of that". He didn't bring us utensils until we had to flag another wait person down, didn't bother to pour a full glass of wine for everyone (only three) after the tasting pour; never came back to check on us or gave us the check. Every step in the process involved excessive waiting and then flagging someone else down. Even though the bottle of wine we finally got (after our first choices were apparently out of stock) was quite exceptional the service was so abysmal that it put a serious damper on the experience. I am not coming back any time soon. They need to make some changes around here or they are going to find themselves in serious troubles very soon.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Salt + Smoke; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Very cute place, light and airy, with modern rustic flourishes; The fried pickle was delicious. I liked that they didn't bread the pickles too many layers as most places tend to do; My brisket sandwich was good but the brisket, which should be one of the stars of a BBQ joint, was too dry; luckily the "wet" burnt end mayo (which was very tasty) helped compensate for the dry meat. HUGE bourbon list! Was this the best BBQ in town? Not even close (from a first visit), but this doesn't matter; Salt + Smoke is here to stay. I don't even remember the restaurant that used to be in its place, but a dressed up BBQ joint is just what this loop needs. Did I say they have a huge bourbon list?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aya Sofia; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Meh...I wasn't too impressed with my food. In fact I was kinda confused by how everything was presented. The Iskender (grilled lamb and beef) were shredded meat smothered in tomato sauce and yogurt. I normally love the sauce but there were way too much of the tomato sauce and the pita that came with it were shredded in tiny pieces laying on the bottom of the plate. By the time I got to them they were soggy and indistinguishable. Others in the party ordered the sis kebob dish that was basically a skinny long piece of sausage (cue Penis joke) laying on top of a folded pita. The sausage was good but again, why the redundant pita? Why on the bottom? Is this just an inside joke on private parts? Ending on a good note the price was right for the portion and the meat pies appetizer was tasty.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Peacemaker Lobster and Crab; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We rolled in with what I would call "reasonable" expectations and we were not disappointed. Nice rustic modern decor with laid-back vibe. My shrimp po boy sandwich had good portion and was not overcooked. I recommend the fried green tomatoes side. Most places that I ordered it from serve half-assedly breaded slices that fall apart before they make it into my mouth, but not here. Yes everything I had was fried, so no I wasn't expecting the ingredients to be the most fabulously fresh seafood to start with (not that I had any issues with the freshness). This is not a fine-dining seafood restaurant after all. The drinks were a tad sweet but boozy. Service was a little off. We sat at the bar and our server/bartender "handed us over" to her colleague as soon as we mentioned we got the wrong appetizer. Not sure what that was about but the second gal was friendly and attentive. Overall we had a good experience and will return.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Guido's Pizzeria & Tapas; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I have made it back here numerous times since the initial visit. I am upping the number of stars. I have not ordered a plate of tapas that I didn't like. The sangria is top notch. Service is attentive and friendly. Love the little patio out front on nice breezy nights.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anis Hyderabad Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Some of the best Indian food in town! We ordered an array of "typical" dishes, Lamb Vindaloo, Butter Chicken, etc. Everything was delicious. You order at the counter and they bring the dishes out to your table. While waiting you get to enjoy the most modern-day Indian music videos (Indian MTV channel maybe?) on a number of TVs on the wall. These provided a great deal of entertainment for us. Worth a stop if you love Indian food.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cucina Pazzo; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We stopped by less than half an hour before they closed for brunch (unwittingly) and still received friendly un-rushed service. In fact I didn't even realize they closed at 2 for brunch until there was a lull in our conversation and we suddenly saw that we were the only people left in the place -- oops and thanks for not rushing us out the door. My steak n eggs were very tasty and cooked perfectly to a medium rare. Lovely modern rustic decor. I will return for dinner in the near future.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Small Batch; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This is my to go place for group dinners and celebrations. They are extremely friendly and helpful with splitting checks and cutting cakes, etc. The drinks are boozy and creative (love the seasonal hot drinks in the winter) and the food often doesn't taste vegetarian at all (huge plus for me since I love meat). The decor is elegant. It's a wonderful place to spend the evening with friends.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bangles Indian Cuisine; City: Downingtown, PA; Review: I really wanted to like this place but it was a disappointing visit on Thanksgiving day. The restaurant was full and had a special event in the big room. The entrees were pretty standard Indian buffet fares but the problem was some of the entrees were lukewarm - I think the burners were out without anyone noticing or replacing them. The fish dish had pretty much been drained out of the chunks without the restaurant adding more. We counted more than 20 minutes (and a few people asking for it) before a new batch was put in. The goat meat in rice (forgot the name) was chewy and again did not have enough chunks and was never replenished while we were there. Service was terrible. Our waiter never took away our used plates. We had a pile of 5 plates/soup bowls sitting in the middle of a table for four for a long time before we had to flag him down to grab them. The waters were not refilled until we had to flag him down again. Restaurant workers were walking back and forth behind us all meal long but I'm confused on what exactly they were rushing to and from if they are not refilling entrees timely, checking the burners, or providing base level of service. The owners/managers seemed friendly so maybe it was just an off day? Either way there are plenty of other Indian restaurants in the area. I had lunch buffets that are tastier/cheaper/hotter/better replenished than we did here so it will be a long while before we come back here to try our luck again.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I'm sure every St. Louisan has driven on I-270 at some point, crossing from IL to MO (or vice versa) and spotting this old rusty bridge in the distance. I finally made a stop here and walked the short one mile across the bridge. The view of the water intake towers from middle of the bridge is amazing. The bridge is closed to traffic but open to pedestrians and bicycles. This is well worth a stop especially if you are into photographing "old things with character". My recommendation is to park on the Illinois side and leave all belongs out of sight. We went on a weekend afternoon and didn't feel unsafe. There were sporadic groups of hikers/bicyclists passing us.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Art Saint Louis; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: People come here for coffee out front, but the real purpose of this place is an exhibition space for local artists. This may not be a well known gallery but it puts on a ton of juried art shows during the year. I check their exhibits schedule every once in a while and swing by whenever something new pops up. The exhibits are always interesting, featuring a large array of artists/artworks using a wide range of media. it usually takes no more than 30 minutes to walk through the works but I have always enjoyed the stop here for a little jolt of inspiration.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saratoga Lanes; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This may be one of the only places in St. Louis that still let you smoke inside - not so good for me, a non-smoker, but I can look past it and still have fun here. It's a bowling alley/mini pool hall/dive bar all rolled into one. Crowd varies all over the place: you might see 8 years olds playing pool with dad and uncle in cutoff tees on a random week night after 11 pm, or you might see dressed up (to dress down) hipsters shooting pool and playing Tom Waits on the Jukebox. You get the idea. I can't recall ever having a bad time here. Drinks are always strong and cheap; bartenders are always very nice; Just beware that they don't have many lanes so better to go in with an open mind so you can do something else if the lanes are all taken.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zoya's Cafe & Catering; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Zoya's is a tried-and-true lunch spot near work. It has a large selection of soups/sandwiches/salads and daily specials with an European twist. You can get Borscht, a Russian soup, if you are feeling really adventurous. I especially love the cabbage rolls and the bread here. You can't go wrong with anything really.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gamlin Whiskey House; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Three times were not the charm. Gamlin has a decent whiskey list but really shoddy cocktails despite an extensive mixed drinks menu of concoctions with promising ingredients. Every drink I had here were sweeter than they should be. Just the other night I had my worst hot Toddy ever, essentially a glass of sugar water with barely (I'm being generous when I say barely) any hint of bourbon; there was zero complexity/ balance in this snooze fest and oh the nerve to charge $10 for it! Service had always been good so no complaints there.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Público; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: We stopped by recently for dinner on a rainy weekday. We had four tacos, one aerapa, one Ribeye Cap, and one alcoholic beverage. It took a fairly long time for the food to arrive and the ribeye cap was lukewarm. Nonetheless, everything had great flavors, with the perfect amount of smoke and fat in the meats. What knocked off a star for me was the price/portion ratio, more specifically on the ribeye cap ($16 for two small round slices). In retrospect maybe the problem was simply one of expectation. If I had known I was going to pay fine dining price (for the portion) when I had expected it to be a place for casual weekday bites then I probably wouldn't have walked out still hungry and a little confused. $70 later we officially ended our dinner by going across the street and splitting a sandwich from Which Wich.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Manchester Public House; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Friendly newish neighborhood pub in an old building. It's actually quite big and the interior reminds me of the Royale on Kingshighway, with less charms (yet) and without the hipster crowd. They have REALLY GOOD wings here! If you are going to eat anything, get those.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cleveland-Heath; City: Edwardsville, IL; Review: Did I eat at the same restaurant as everyone else?? I drove 45 minutes for brunch that didn't live up to its reputation. The Lomo Saltado was way too salty (Yes I know its in the name but this is still over the top salty), a pile of soggy fries mixed in with steak pieces (not strips like mentioned on the menu) with eggs on top. If a concept for a dish would involve potentially soggy fries, seriously just don't do it. My companion's biscuits and gravy had rock hard biscuits with hardly enough gravy to cover the entire surface area - not cool. The saving grace was the cherry pie (hmmm) and the side of sweet potato fries. Service was fine. Maybe we should have ordered off the regular menu but it was Saturday and they seemed to be really promoting their brunch. These brunch fares however were disappointing. I could name a handful of brunch places near me that do brunch better.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Pizza Story; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: This is a solid local pizza place. The pizzas are creative and priced just right for the portion. I enjoyed my duck with cranberry pie from last visit. The flavor combination was unexpected but harmonious. Our appetizer of eggplant and artichoke dip had a little too much oatmeal breading (whatever the flaky topping was) but the house bread that came with it was phenomenon. I think it was just pizza dough baked a bit longer but it was so perfectly crispy and fresh. The jar of sangrias was a great value but I must admit I like Guido's sangrias much better - may be a personal preference. The sangria here is more like a summery punch. Service was attentive and the place is lovely with a white picket fence and two tables out front - would make a cute low-key date spot.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Side Project Brewing; City: Maplewood, MO; Review: SPC is THE place to get sour beer in this town. If wild yeast is your thing, then you will love the place! I have been here no fewer than a dozen times and I must say their "Unlabeled # 2" is one of the best sours I ever tried (unfortunately they only sell by the bottle). Their own brews are actually superior than the selections from other breweries also offered there (beat any of the Jolly Pumpkin in my opinion). They have non-sour stuff also. But I think you pretty much missed the point if you go there to just drink the "other" stuff. The place can be "pretentious" depending on the crowd of the night. On a typical night it is a 30+ crowd. Weekends are busy here - can be hard to find table/chairs. They do close early (11 PM weekend nights) so it's not a place you get smashed in. You wouldn't want to either. These beers are not cheap. But the prices make sense considering the higher risk and longer fermentation period in the sour production process.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dogz - Brentwood; City: Brentwood, MO; Review: Hot dogs in a Home Depot! How brilliant is this business idea?! I have eaten no fewer than a dozen items from Dirty Dogz. My all time favorites are the Garden Dog (super fresh ingredients) and the Chili Dog. Also love their many choices of condiments. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I come here. If you like hot dogs, this is not to be missed!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pointer's; City: Richmond Heights, MO; Review: We (with help of friends) have consumed, over the years, no fewer than 30 Pointers' Pizzas, including the monsterous Pointersaurus. They are one of the few late night food options in our neighborhood and lucky for us the pizzas are always tasty and hot and the deliveries fast. These are not gourmet pizzas and I definitely wouldn't call them the best pizzas in St. Louis. But if you want fresh, no-frills pies that won't break your wallet, from friendly local folks (and likely late at night), Pointer's it is.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gioia's Deli; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Gioia's is by far my favorite Italian sandwich place in St. Louis. There is not an item on the menu that I don't like. My favorite is the Spicy Daggett that is basically a cured Italian meats overload, with hot salami, hot Coppa and Capicolla topped with Giardiniera. Just typing this out is making my mouth water. Come here for lunch and grab a sandwich to go. Your taste buds will thank you all afternoon at work.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Winslow's Home; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: A really cute space with a lot of random merchandise, rustic decor, and a lovely well-shaded front patio. Check out the witty post cards. I spent at least 15 minutes just browsing through them. The brunch food is only slightly above average. I enjoyed my raspberry pancakes - hot and fresh and very moist. But I didn't care for the others I tried: the salmon hash was overcooked (fish was almost chewy), the brisket was too sweet. Overall, there really weren't too many exciting options. Do come for the atmosphere. You will enjoy it if you are not expecting the food to knock you off your feet.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Morrison's Irish Pub; City: Alton, IL; Review: We loved this place! Friendly staff, friendly fellow drinkers. There was a fantastic live band doing Irish songs (with a few hilarious covers thrown in the mix). There were song lists with lyrics on the tables. Great beers on tap (a few local brews too). I loved the giant clock by the door. The atmosphere was home-y and felt very authentic. I am used to run-of-the-mill "Irish" bars that really have nothing Irish other than Guinness on tap. So thank you for making this place so much more special. I will return and excited to try the food next time.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mike Talayna's Juke Box Restaurant; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: It is impossible to describe Talayna's in words. It looks like an 80's strip club, complete with a bartender in camo hat and out-dated facilities (read tiny bathrooms that run out of TP early in the night). But on a weekend late night it is full of pretty young things swapping back sweat on a tiny, packed dance floor. People actually look happy. Even the people who absolutely don't know how to dance are shaking it like no one is watching (except you can always watch yourself in those tacky mirrors everywhere). There is no other dance place that is totally proud of its own trashiness by flaunting it with super bright lights. It's epic and absolutely the "Must-visit dance place" in our fair city, if you adjust your expectation accordingly.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hiro Asian Kitchen; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Man what happened to this place? Since my initial visit I came back twice and both were disappointing. The first time was for Sunday brunch. The house potatoes tots tasted like it came straight out of a freezer bag. There were no green scallions like other review photos showed. The shrimp cakes were decent but they were quite expensive considering you can get the same thing for much cheaper at one of the dim sum places in town. On my second return visit I got ramen again. The soup was still good but it tasted like MSG overload and the egg was beyond overcooked. Ramen eggs are supposed to be runny. These were not even close. Overall I might be back for ramen when the craving hits once in a blue moon.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lucha II Authentic Mexican Food; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: It's been a while since I wrote an one star review but this place deserved it. The tacos were very good (especially the tongue and lamb tacos) but management/service people are either dishonest or incompetent, or a mix of two, I can't decide. We went on Taco Tuesday (Any taco for $1 a piece + sangrias and margaritas two for price of one). Sounds too good to be true and boy was that the case. When we got our bill we realized they charged tax on the pre-discount price. So our bill of $81 had $21 in tax. That's almost 30% in taxes! It is completely illegal to tax on pre-promotion (we are not talking about any "manufacturer"/outsider coupons. Dollar Tuesday is the restaurant's own promotion) food/drinks total because this is considered a "price adjustment" in tax law, not a "discount after sale". Tax has to be levied on the post-discount amount. To add more irritation to the situation, charges on two credit cards were flip-flopped. We understand this happens from time to time. It isn't that big of a deal, except a week later, we noticed the restaurant had charged one of our credit cards twice, with different post-tip totals. It looks like they helped themselves to a double dipping. Not cool. Not cool at all. This is now one place I will never set foot in again in STL.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Robata Maplewood; City: Maplewood, MO; Review: Robata is officially the only place in STL that serves decent ramen (ok they need to work on their marinated egg). After shelling out at a whole string of disappointing ramen "pop ups" with outrageous price and bowls half empty (not even enough hot broth to cover half the noodles), I was leery of yet another place that flaunted "ramen" on their menu. Luckily Robata delivered where the others had failed: a basic ramen priced right under $9 (yes, a $15 ramen is ridiculous. Ramen is supposed to be quick, cheap, and cheerful), with steamy broth that has a bit more complexity than just hints of soy sauce, and enough of it to cover the noodles (imagine that! Something so basic but nowhere else seems to get this one thing right). The noodles were perfectly chewy. Over the course of three nights I tried the Tonkotsu, the Seafood ramen, and the chicken udon with shrimp tempura (which btw is my favorite, with very flavorful broth). I enjoyed all three. Yakitori items are priced a bit high imo but the meat were high-quality (The tongue was very gamey and juicy...delicious). Service was slow and they seemed to have run out of random stuff on each of the three nights I visited, but I am going to chuck that up to "growing pain" since they just opened less than a month ago. Once they take you order the food does come out fairly quickly so have some patience. Try to go during week days and avoid the prime rush hour. Anyway, Robata is a huge asset to the food scene and kudos for finally filling that much-needed spot of a late-night ramen/noodle shop in this town!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Piccione Pastry; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: On the day of my visit I was really not in the mood for their claim to fame cannolis. Luckily their other offerings were just as amazing! The ricotta cheese cake was the best cheese cake I ever had: thick wedges of fluffy, fresh, creamy fillings...mm mm. Must try!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grafitti Wall; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I am one of those people who look up graffiti walls in every city I visit. If you are like me, you will appreciate our own highly under-rated graffiti mecca right by the Mississippi river, under the I-40/64 overpass, south of the Arch. I have been here a number of times over the years. The highest concentration of high-quality art can be found right after the annual Paint Louis event, which is an organized weekend of mural-painting typically happening in August-September. The painted flood wall is more than one mile long, starting at the end of Chouteau and continuing south past the intersection of Victor and Wharf St. There is a paved path right next to the wall that may not be wide enough for big trucks. There is a dirt road further away that is of inconsistent width and at times take you right up against railroad tracks. For the most comprehensive view, your best bet is to park the car at Chouteau and Leonor Sullivan and trek south on Wharf Street. It is an industrial and barren environment. But as T. M. so wisely said below, it will feel like you are in a bad part of town, but you are actually nowhere near the bad part of town. With that said, you probably do want to bring a friend and if you park don't leave valuables in your car. Enjoy!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mango; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I can't believe I have never reviewed Mango, one of my favorite restaurants in STL! You must try the grilled beef heart on skewer, the Ceviche Mixto, and the signature Peruvian dish Lomo Saltado. Really you can't go wrong with anything here. Wash down your food with a Pisco Sour or its fruitier cousin Mango Sour. If you like ginger beer, get the Chilcano too. The restaurant is beautiful, airy on the inside, with some patio seating. It makes for a great celebration dinner destination. Service is not always consistent but the food makes up for it. Peruvian food is never cheap. Go to a decently-decorated Peruvian restaurant in any city, you will likely have people complain of high prices. But if I'm getting cold-cured fish, I would rather pay a little extra $$$ to make sure it's fresh and properly-prepared. Last but not least, I have been to Peru and have eaten at many Peruvian restaurants in my travels, this is still one of the best Peruvian places in the United States. For people who like to use qualifiers such as "good enough for St. Louis" or "good enough for the midwest", no, just no. Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to label an entire city or part of the country as having unsophisticated taste buds? Get off the high horses already, seriously.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fairview Lounge; City: Fairview Heights, IL; Review: Peruvian Food-Lovers Rejoice! We were tipped off by Peruvian friends about this place. I love Peruvian food. In the St. Louis area, I hit up Mango to get my fix. But the food here is equally excellent; some dishes are cheaper and the atmosphere is very unique. First of all, the restaurant is inside a typical rectangular-shaped gas mart next to some gas pumps (On Google, it is called "Raqqa Food Mart" - probably an out-dated business reference. Today it is still a Conoco gas station). On one end of the interior is the counter where you pay for your gas and cigarettes and an open kitchen, with occasional flames shooting up from the grill. The other end is a full bar, with around 10 beers on draft and many more in large gas-station style refrigerators behind the bar lining the wall. We came on a Saturday night. The place was quickly filling up with locals after 9 PM. A DJ was setting up for a night of dancing. I know for a fact that this is going to be the first and only gas station where I could get Peruvian dinner while listening to late 90's R&B hits (50 Cent and Nelly galore) and watching people get down. It seems they always have music on the weekends and the genre is all over the place depending on which weekend you go. Now the food. We ordered the traditional Peruvian fares - the fish ceviche, the anticuchos (beef heart on skewer) and the Papas a la Huancaina (potatoes with spicy yellow cream sauce). Everything was delicious! The skewers were tender; the ceviche tasted fresh and had nice citric balance. It wasn't the best ceviche I ever had but the price was fantastic for the portion. My only downside is the Pisco Sour. I don't know how I feel about it....a bit water-y. I'd say Mango has much better cocktails. Anyway, if Peruvian food is your thing, do come for a visit. You won't be disappointed. Oh and if you have no interest in Peruvian food, they also have fried chicken, cheese steak, and other "regular" bar food, and a shelf of Peruvian souvenirs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nami Ramen; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: The ramen we had today were disappointing. We ordered two baos and two soups (signature and black garlic). The baos were hot and delicious, although a tad pricey. Unfortunately, they were by far the highlight of our meal. Both ramen soups were incredibly bland and watered down. We had to dump a ton of salt and red seasoning flakes into our bowls to give the broth a bit more flavor. The pork belly slices were good but they need to seriously train people removing the twine that was used to tie the meat during cooking. We had pieces of twine in both our soups. My husband's bowl had a piece longer than 3 inches. Imagine chewing on that along with your noodles. Yuck! We wanted sake but the hostess had no idea what kinds they had. We picked a random bottle from the ice bucket. She pulled a colder one from the fridge for us but it was still not chilled enough (just so I am clear. This is not a knock on the hostess. I brought it up because it was clear that the owner/manager haven't thought through their adult beverage offering. Any Japanese-style restaurant should have a variety of sake, train their people on what the differences are, and can provide them at the right temperature). They didn't have sake cups so she gave us a pint glass, which was taller than the bottle. We ended up getting two smaller glasses, one of which was covered in dirty fingerprints. The little dishes on the table were also dirty. I don't think they replace these when it didn't look like the previous diner used them, but why have them in the first place? Why not just keep them in the back and take them out when people need them? Anyway, these are really random thoughts of processes that could be tweaked. The real issue was the broth being bland. We had visited Nami pop-up back in the summer of 2015. At the time they didn't have hardly enough broth per bowl and the eggs were cold. It seems they fixed both these problems, which is great. There is a lot of promise here and it seems management is listening, maybe just overwhelmed with the number of suggestions. I'll definitely go back in a few months. In the mean time, I hope they continue working more flavors into the broth.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Barnes Foundation; City: Philadelphia, PA; Review: Barnes is expensive and the set up is cramped (intentional) and controversial (Barnes had no intention of relocating his collection ever but the art were moved to downtown Philadelphia anyway). However, if you are a fan of Renoir, Cezanne, or Matisse (amongst many other impressionist painters whose works are shown here), you must not miss this museum. As a Cezanne fan, I loved my visit. In fact, I have not seen a more impressive impressionist art collection in the US. I even enjoyed the layout of artworks haphazardly hung in small rooms, jostling against each other, as it made for a very stimulating visual experience. I can see how this could turn some people off. It is best to understand this before going so you know what to expect and not let it ruin your visit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Yemanja Brasil; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I love this cute place. Over the years I have been here no fewer than half a dozen times but I have not yet ventured past the sausages with creamy beans and rice, the empanadas (fried deliciousness), and the beef kebobs (smoky and tender). I am not worried though. I'll be back plenty of times still. They make a mean caipirinha (hand-muddled lime and sugar + Brazilian sugar cane liquor Cachaça), refreshing and delicious but very boozy (the way they should be, just be aware as you wouldn't want to down three of these and try to drive home right after). On some special occasion days (check their events page), they set up fixed price "buffets" featuring several traditional entrees and sides, plus live bands that get the crowd up and going on the top floor. Impromptu conga line to the beat of Samba, anyone? The owners host the annual "Brazil Day" in the fall, featuring performances, Jiu-jitsu, live bands, and a couple of food vendors, including their own food truck. I always had a great time there as well.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: St Cecilia Mexican Fish Fry; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Getting fish fry at St. Cecilia is not for the faint of heart. If you are coming for fast food, don't even think about it unless you order on their website ($6 premium). But if you are coming for the experience and you are prepared for 2+ hours of delay without reaching a dangerous "hangry" state, then you should absolutely visit at least once. Grab a few friends and, as John mentioned below, it will be a night to remember. We arrived right around 5 (early enough I had thought) but the line was already out the parking lot long. Luckily it was a warmish 60 degrees and we passed the time with beer, margaritas, and tamales. There are separate and much shorter lines to buy these items so either take turns standing in the food line with a friend or make friends with the people behind you so you can leave to get snacks/drinks. The tamales were delicious (was it fish or cheese inside? None of us could figure it out). The gymnasium was packed with diners and entertainers (adorable children in colorful Mexican dresses and some dressed up adult dancers too). After ordering, we waited over an hour for the food while chatting and drinking beers. By the time our fried jack salmon (whole fish), chile rellenos, and sides had arrived, everything was barely lukewarm, which was a real pity as the fish was tasty (needed some seasoning/pepper) and the chile rellenos were delicious even cold so I could only imagine how much better everything would be hot. I also loved the mango sponge cake from the dessert table. I think we all need to remember this is an event put on by church members and volunteers. There are certainly things they can improve but these are not professional caterers (order runners are teenagers who were really trying and a few looked overwhelmed). If the church wants to improve the efficiency of the whole process, they should talk to the folks at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Central West End. We visit St. Nicholas' Greek Fest every year. They manage to meet the demand of just as big a crowd with much faster turnaround. I think the key is to give diners food as soon as they pay (instead of delivering later). Fish has to be fried in batches but by the time we paid there were piles of everything in trays behind the cashier's desk. If they had people serve the food right there, I imagine it could cut down on the wait time significantly. Tips: 1. Arrive before 5 PM or plan on spending at least 2.5 hours for the whole experience 2. Bring cash - much faster order line 3. Margaritas are made with generic mix - so if you wanted anything more "special" or do not like your margaritas too sweet, you may want to stick to the beer; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lou Fusz Buick GMC; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I have a somewhat rare GM car from the late 2000s that every once in a while needs programming services after my car-guy husband replaces the fault parts. Over the years I have learned the hard way that no other GM dealership repair departments can do the job without bogus costs/explanations. My most recent example involves having a brake sensor programmed and re-calibrated. We had purchased a replacement OEM part and had it installed properly. All it needed was the last step - GM programming. I took my car to the Weber Chevrolet Dealer repair department on Olive. After two days and $130, they told me they were unable to program it, that the part we brought must have been faulty or wasn't OEM. The only way they could make it work was for me to let them install a part from their own inventory, which would cost me more $$ obviously. I left without paying another cent more. Their diagnosis turned out to be total bullshit as I took my car to Lou Fusz Buick afterwards. They were able to get it programmed for cheaper with no excuses. One other time I brought in two new remotes to be programmed by another GM dealership after the one I had been using stopped working. At pick-up, I only received one back. The representative taking my case clearly misunderstood and thought the other one I had given him was the broken one. After I clarified and asked them to give me back and program the second one, he went back to the technician to "make sure" and came back in 2 minutes telling me they in fact tried to program both remotes but the other one was faulty. Even though I had no concrete proof, I was certain he had blatantly lied, based on how surprised he first looked when I clarified that I didn't give him a bad remote along with a new one. This seems to be more a review of other dealerships, but my point is not all GM dealerships are the same. I have been astonished by the level of dishonesty and incompetence displayed at some, so definitely do your research before you visit any of them.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Six Mile Bridge; City: Maryland Heights, MO; Review: A nice brewpub in a strip mall in an industrial part of town. I have been here twice now and enjoyed both visits. Get a flight and try a few! We just returned from a trip to Bavaria. Six Mile Bridge's Hefeweizen is great and seems to have better flavors/balance than some of the ones we had on our trip. They don't have food, but they do have a book of take-out/delivery menus and the Frankly Sausage truck is usually stationed out front. You may want to check their Facebook page if you definitely want food. It's BYOF if the truck isn't there. We had a giant bag of taco bell deliciousness last night. The lady working there was very sweet to get rid of our food trash after we were done. Make sure to catch a glimpse of the huge warehouse/facility behind the front room (there is a door with a window on your way to the bathroom). You will be surprised at how big the place is!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Standard Brewing Company; City: Maryland Heights, MO; Review: Yes it's part of a hotel by a busy highway but the place is huge (great for group), the waiter/bar-guy(brewer?) was hilarious and the vibe was chill on a Friday late afternoon. They had a ton of beers on tap, with a good variety (cider, IPA, shandy, stout, etc). We all had the $8 flights and enjoyed them. We didn't have food but the menu looked good. I would definitely come back here, especially considering this is one of very few places in that area that offers craft beers.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Midtown Sushi and Ramen; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: By now I have finally eaten at every place in town that offers ramen. Midtown Sushi is a clear winner for me. The atmosphere was no-frills with ample seating; the soup wasn't bland or overly salty; the egg was molten; the pork belly was legit (thank you for leaving me some delicious fat to chew on and giving me more than two slices of it); and the price was right for the portion and the quantity of ingredients. I do think this is the best ramen I had in St. Louis to date. I will return next time the craving hits.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing; City: Collinsville, IL; Review: Fairmount is the much cheaper, more red-neck version of Kentucky Derby and a perfect summer weekend off-the-beaten-path activity if you live in the St. Louis area. Races go from May to first week of September (Post times are usually either 1 or 7:30pm. Check their schedule). The entrance on summer Friday nights are $2.50 per person. Beers are $4 a pop. Food similarly reasonably-priced. Bets are at $2 minumum (How much you pay obviously depends on the odds. Check out their website for how to bet). On a summer weekend evening, you get the full gamut of participants: from teenage girls in flowery summery dresses to large families with excited toddlers to grandpa puffing on cigars in a corner. The horses are beautiful and well-groomed. You can check them out at the staples before start of the race. One you pick your favorite horse, there are plenty of machines inside to sell you a ticket. By all means, grab a few friends and go, especially if you have never been to a horse track. There are plenty of seats (inside and out) if you get tired of standing by the fence. It's fun to watch and it won't cost you an arm and a leg (unless you have a gambling problem...in that case don't read this review).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Robata Maplewood; City: Maplewood, MO; Review: A couple of weeks ago I went back to get my favorite, the chicken udon with shrimp tempura. It was a huge disappointment: the broth was so bland that I could only taste the slightest hint of chicken. I will not get this again. Since October of 2015, numerous other ramen joints have opened up. I no longer feel Robota is the best bang for your buck. Try Midtown Sushi instead.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Byrd & Barrel; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: I hate to rain on the parade here but the meal just wasn't great. My fried chicken was overcooked. The skin was so tough I couldn't break it with my fork alone (had to really push down on the knife to cut into the breast). The chicken took some time (while drive-through people were coming and going and getting their orders before we did) and we got all our appetizers (including the pickles) after our entrees. We ordered these to munch on before dinner. If I had known they were gonna take so damn long I would have skipped them altogether. On top of that: - Pickle Plate: Not a fan of the kool-aid pickle. I had that overpowering artificial sweetener taste in my mouth all meal long. - Special of the night (week? month?) were chanterelle mushrooms hand-picked by the chef (either stir-fried or grilled) and laid on a bed of cheesy (blue cheese) street corn with green beans and tomatoes. Sounds amazing except the dish was barely lukewarm when it arrived. The mushrooms were overcooked - some pieces were hard. Rest of the flavors didn't come together. It was mushy and cold and just...weird. To end on a positive note, service was friendly, mac n cheese was fantastic, and the strawberry fields was a boozy refreshing summer cocktail. Others who had the nuggets seemed to have gotten better cooked (aka not burned) chicken pieces. If I come back, it would be for the nuggets (whatever they called these). But at end of the day, I don't find this all that appealing when I had better fried chicken at Lee's, juicy with consistently-cooked batter and a minimal wait (not even going into cost differences).; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Peel Wood Fired Pizza; City: Edwardsville, IL; Review: We stopped here for dinner during a long bike ride. The place was packed at 5 pm on a Sunday afternoon. I'm sure with the quality of food here, it is packed at all times, so expect a wait. Everybody in my party ordered a pizza and six wings (yes we were fat asses) so we could try as many items as possible. The wings were out-of-the-world! I especially loved the Thai and the Garlic. The meat was incredibly juicy and the ingredients of the seasoning were wonderfully complementary, almost surprising at the first bite, but in a very good way. I loved all the pizzas we ordered as well, especially the Creme de Brie (truly creative - don't see this combination) and the Wild Mushrooms (loaded with different types of mushrooms). I loved that they didn't skimp on the mushrooms or try to overpower their flavors like many other artisan-pizza places would. Thank you! I think in the St. Louis and Southern Illinois areas, this may be the best wood-fired pizza place (I like Dewey's too but these pies are better)! Great service and wonderful selection of craft beers. We will visit again!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken; City: Maplewood, MO; Review: I liked the chicken. They were juicy and spicy - but not to the point of being so hot that they were inedible. Service was great. Sides were nothing to write home about. What really irked me was the excess use of Styrofoam. I am far from being an environment-protection extremist. I can do alot better in my own personal life but we received so many Styrofoam items for two fried chicken meals and a shared appetizer of fried green tomatoes: 2 drink cups + 2 more for refills (without being asked) + 2 small plastic plates for the fried green tomatoes that came in a paper basket + 2 big plates for the chicken and sides + 2 more small plates (what are these for? no idea). It was EMBARRASSINGLY wasteful. I felt like if there was some sort of a divine figure specifically in charge of protecting our environment, he would look down from the clouds and spit on me. So....great chicken but man do they need to cut down on the Styrofoam usage. The restaurant is in my neighborhood and is always busy whenever I drive past it - I sure hope they can afford to upgrade to recyclable materials.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hot Box Cookies; City: Clayton, MO; Review: We came in late September during the Clayton art fair. I had an ice cream sandwich that literally melted as soon as the cashier guy handed it over. I had to ask for a SPOON to eat the damn thing (in foam-form after literally 30 seconds) from in-between the cookies. The melted ice cream dripped all over my hands and onto the floor as I walked out in disgust. News flash: if you are making an ice cream sandwich and you are going to put piping hot cookies on ice cream, you better make sure that ice cream is frozen solid. It took me so long to write this review as I had basically blocked it out of my memory until I was driving past the establishment recently. Maybe they have improved since then and I need to give them another chance, but as of September of 2016 it was a hot mess.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Gelato Di Riso; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: The Gelato here are as close to the real thing as I could find in our city. I do find them all just a tad too sweet and the lemon not tart enough. I also get a little sticker-shock when my tiny cup cost alot more than 2 euros at checkout. Even so, I love most of the flavors (not all, some definitely tasted artificially-flavored) and will come here for a Gelato fix.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Start Bar STL; City: St. Louis, MO; Review: Ok. I am not a gamer. When I was a kid, I sucked at Mario so bad that I never got to the second level (I have tremendous talents elsewhere). But I dig this place. Lots of machines yet rarely do you find people hogging any for a long time for it to be an annoyance. I hit it up last on a Friday about a month ago. There was a DJ with some fresh beats (Maybe he is there every Friday?). I never had food but the boozy milk shakes were fantastic and will do the job of getting you tipsy enough to walk down to the Wheelhouse after midnight to get your dance on. Ah the Wheelhouse...on some nights it's an eclectic mix of out-of-towners and locals; on other nights, it's just full of frat boys. Luckily the space is big and the dance floor is always hopping after midnight. Basically if you have a mixed party of boys and girls, you want to dance and pregame somewhere else without having to worry about logistics, Start Bar and WH are your winning combination on a weekend.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken; City: Maplewood, MO; Review: After waiting 50 minutes for our food on Monday night (They were not even that busy. Only two other parties came after us), we asked the waitress and found out apparently they had lost the ticket (or she was just blaming the kitchen after never putting it in in the first place). Unacceptable!; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Café Osage; City: Saint Louis, MO; Review: Cute place attached to a trendy garden shop but the brunch menu was uninspiring with small portions and everything was underseasoned. The eggs needed more salsa. The greens, eggs and ham came with almost invisible slice of prosciutto. The side of English biscuit is the size of orange juice bottle lids. To top it off I had possibly the blandest Chai Latte I ever had. After a long wait, we left hungry and had to get a second meal elsewhere. Nope. This brunch just wasn't up to par with so many other options in town (Brasserie, Scottish Arms, Southwest Diner just to name a few off top of my head). To end on a *somewhat* positive note, we ordered the egg dish because it had avocado. They ran out of it but didn't tell us when we ordered (or maybe they ran out while our order was pending, I don't know). To compensate they did slice up an entire unripened avocado for us. I appreciate the gesture to make it right but I wondered if even a ripened avocado would have saved that tiny, bland, egg thing.; Rating: 2.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: S.W.A.T. (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maid in Manhattan (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twister (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: John Q (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Patriot (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 4 (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Million Dollar Baby (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Browns (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ella Enchanted (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Johnson Family Vacation (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lilo and Stitch 2 (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Life Without Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence from Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too; Author: Visit Amazon's Jenni Schaefer Page; Review: was ok; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sleepy Kittens (Despicable Me); Author: Visit Amazon's Cinco Paul Page; Review: my nice loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Borderline Personality Disorder For Dummies; Author: Visit Amazon's Charles H. Elliott Page; Review: writers are to afraid to give full facts, they try to explain the condition with a lot of examples rather than knowledge.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Old Macdonald: A Hand-Puppet Board Book (Little Scholastic); Author: Scholastic; Review: my nice loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Opposites; Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Boynton Page; Review: my nice loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Doggies (Boynton on Board); Author: Visit Amazon's Sandra Boynton Page; Review: my nice loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: First 100 Words (Bright Baby); Author: Visit Amazon's Roger Priddy Page; Review: good , got it for my german nice to learn her first english words; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rick Steves' Pocket Rome; Author: Rick Steves; Review: small compact, good info, choices of 1,2,3,.... day trips; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Darwin Awards: Evolution in Action; Author: Visit Amazon's Wendy Northcutt Page; Review: one time easy read, making fun of other people stupidity; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rick Steves' Pocket Florence; Author: Visit Amazon's Rick Steves Page; Review: small , compact, tons of good info, highlights, and options for 1,2,3... day visits; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Simplicissimus (European Classics); Author: Hans Jakob Christoffel Von Grimmelshausen; Review: tough reading; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Sutton Place Hotel Edmonton; City: Edmonton Alberta; Review: High Class hotel at great price, centrally located in downtown Edmonton close to shopping and the bus depot.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mountain View Inn; City: Canmore Kananaskis Country Alberta; Review: Beautiful views of the mountains out the window. Centrally located in Canmore, older but still in great condition. The air conditioner makes a lot of noise. Lacks conveniences like a pool and breakfast. Otherwise a nice room and quiet stay.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Global; City: Morfelden Walldorf Hesse; Review: We had an adventure getting to this hotel, which we booked for a great price on Trivago.ca. The hotel is secluded in the town of Walldorf, about 30 km outside of Frankfort. The room was excellent and the breakfast (which we had to pay for) was awesome. The front desk service was good, however.... We called the hotel from the airport to get a shuttle. They told us it would be about 15 minutes. 1.5 hours later and after several phone calls, we found out the shuttle was sitting in the Departures area, while everyone was sitting in the Arrivals areas as you would expect. The driver was rude, he charged us 20 Euro - we should have taken a taxi! Who picks up passengers at the Departures level??; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Savoy Hotel Frankfurt; City: Frankfurt Hesse; Review: We stayed for a night in Frankfurt at the Savoy Hotel. It is rated as a 4-star, as it has a pool, sauna, fitness center, and nice breakfast area. The breakfast was AWESOME, the best on the trip, and was included in the price. Since we booked through Trivago and got a good price, our room was just so-so, looking out onto a noisy street by the train station. I'm sure the small TV was used by Betty and Barney Rubble at one time... The internet is extra, as is air conditioning. Many homeless people camp out just outside the hotel.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eden Hotel Amsterdam; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: We had a heck of a time finding this hotel, but once we did, it was great. The location is right near the Rembrandt Square and the varied nightlife. We walked everywhere. The breakfast was great, and included. Try Trivago for a great deal on this very expensive hotel. Rooms were very nice, though not much of a view.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Suites Calgary Airport; City: Calgary Alberta; Review: I rated this hotel higher than my wife (she saw dirt in the bathroom). The rooms are nice, there is a pool, and a great free breakfast. The staff do not give you the smile and welcome that the Sheriden Four Points did down the street, but that is fine.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hostal Don Suero; City: Leon Province of Leon Castile and Leon; Review: Walking the Camino, I usually stay in albergues or hostels. In Leon, I splurged to get my own room with bath ($38 Canadian). Excellent room but the best part was the meal. The Fruit Salad appetizer was the best I’ve ever had, followed by a wonderfully flavourful chicken dish. All for 10 euros. What a treat in a city known for it’s spectacular meals.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Arisen, Book Eight - Empire of the Dead (Volume 8); Author: Visit Amazon's Glynn James Page; Review: Michael Fuchs, absolutely one of the better writers out there. This book continues in the same fine tradition of very realistic situational writing that Fuchs does so well. Excellent character development; after the seven previous books his cast of characters are still fresh and interesting as they were when they were first introduced. This book of course continues on with the huge saga of the collapse of civilization and hopefully will continue on for several more books. If you haven't started the Arisen series, do yourself a favor and get going. You won't be disappointed.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Defiance: An American novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Oliver Lange Page; Review: I had read some very good reviews of this book, so I was expecting something that turned out that wasn't there. This is obviously a carefully crafted book with a style that is seldom seen much lately. So as good literature, this is a fine well written book. But it wasn't much for action or for a story that move from one point to another in an engaging way. I was disappointed. I doubt it was Mr. Lange's fault, but this just wasn't what I was expecting.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Infected: Jim's First Day (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Joseph Zuko Page; Review: This is old school zombie writing at its best. For a first-time author, Joseph Zuko, wrote an impressive zombie story. Great characters, super humor, enough horror to last anyone for a couple of hours, great action, and all done in that has me looking for the next book; well hopefully there will be a next book. If you like zombie stories, than get this one; you won't regret it. So Joe, get on it... we need the next book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The First Signs: Unlocking the Mysteries of the World's Oldest Symbols; Author: Genevieve von Petzinger; Review: A very interesting book covering a subject that is really unique, which concerns the meaning of symbolic writing that goes back to over 40,000 years ago. The author does an amazing job of taking a subject that has really no hard answers to it, and presents it in such a way that it comes across understandable, as well as very fascinating. A great presentation that unfortunately raises more questions that can possibly be answered. Would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in early man and early society. The book is well written and well edited, with a great selection of photographs that contribute to understanding the mystery of the earliest signs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Slide Rule, Simplified, Explained, and Illustrated for the Mechanical Trades; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Riddell Page; Review: This book was not what I was expected based on the title. Well actually you need to read the full title, which at the very end explains the entire premise of the book...'for the Mechanical Trades'. This is not a basic how-to-operate a slide rule book. Knowing your way around a slide rule is already assumed covered before you open the first page of the book. What the book does cover is pretty interesting however, i.e. using a slide rule to do all types of calculations involving the trades, mechanical, carpentry, construction, etc. There are practically no illustrations unfortunately, and the instructions given again assume you know what you are doing in general before they describe a specific set of functions to perform an operation. Again this book is a reprint from 1881, and things were certainly done different back then. All in all there is a ton of practical advice in the book, just don't expect that any of it will be helpful if you haven't operated a slide rule in the last forty years, or never.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beauty and Dread: Book Two in the Troop of Shadows Chronicles (Troop of Shadows Chornicles) (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's Nicki Huntsman Smith Page; Review: What an interesting book this was. Again like the first book, things pick up slow and after a bit the snowball effect kicks in and you have a story that is hard to put down and walk away from. Great, great characters. Excellent writing, editing was very good. Plenty of action, but the real meat of the book were the characters. The author clearly cared about the people she was building this world around them, and I for one appreciated it. A lot of twists and turns, about the time you thought you had a handle on how things were going, everything did a sharp ninety degree turn to the left and there you were. Two things to be learned from the book, never pass up an opportunity to kill a bad guy and never trust the intentions of a woman scorned. Great book, solid ending. Definitely would recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sunfall: Book 2: Advent (Volume 2); Author: Visit Amazon's D Gideon Page; Review: One of the best post-apocalyptic books released for 2017 in my opinion. Sunfall, Journey; was pretty darn good -- but Sunfall, Advent nails it. Great characters are what makes a really good book, and Ms. Gideon's characters are superb. In Journey, Ripley was your stereotypical young adult 'snowflake'. Nothing bad happens to good people, could had been her tag-line. Not quite let's hold hands and sing Kumbaya, but she was definitely humming it. This book changed all that. Bad, terrible things happen to good people, happens to Ripley. What makes this book so darn good is the story arc that Ms. Gideon takes once that happens. Hard choices can make hard people, they also make survivors. So waiting here with bated breath for Sunfall, Impact, to be released. Only hope there are a few more after that one, it is really a good series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Final Impact: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller; Author: Visit Amazon's Jack Hunt Page; Review: Wow, after all those 5-star reviews I feel like I'm reviewing something written by a former presidential contender. This book had a good enough premise, an asteroid strike and it's immediate aftermath. But it very quickly went off into the the world of all the bad B-movies out there, long on action and very short on realism. So somehow, the world governments build a large enough space station or something that can hold 100,000 of the world's elite to ride out a massive asteroid strike comparable to the K-T Event of 65 million years ago, while keeping its existence hidden from the rest of mankind. Most be some heck of stealth technology involved in all of that. Then you have this cast of characters, which by the way, are the highlight of the book, trying to make it from Las Vegas to Cape Carnival so they can join this mass of humanity getting on to space shuttles to get to this super secret refuge in space. So how many rockets would it take to move that many people in a shuttle that could hold maybe a handful at a time, probably a lot more than even Space X could fabricate. Then you have the main character, who ran away from her astronomer dad, who by the way was the discover of the extinction event meteor, to marry some guy but once that didn't work became a hard up hooker, convinced her band of broken misfits to drive to Florida to get a seat on a shuttle to the space station, that was taking just 0.0000138 percent of the world's population to safety; but surely there is room for an another prostitute, a homeless junkie, a washed up magician, a taxi driver, and a former cash register salesman - right. We won't take too much time dwelling on things like a .45 magnum handgun, a Black Hawk helicopter that makes two round trips totaling over 7,000 miles to find and bring them back, all apparently on a couple tanks of fuel, flown by one pilot and a miscellaneous lieutenant along for the ride. Big shootout at the end with bad cops, remember all good B-movies have that as the final act, and everyone lives happily ever after. So either I didn't read the same book as did the other 5-star reviewers or there are some fanatics left still loving really bad writing. Recommend a solid pass on this book. It is free though on KU, so there is that.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Paladine (Paladine Political Thriller Series) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Kenneth Eade Page; Review: Stilted, pedestrian, cartoonish...I could go on but you get the idea. I did like the thought that went into the idea for the book, but the author's execution was a bit of a hack job on the whole genre.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: A Time To Die (Turning Point) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Wandrey Page; Review: This is my second reading of this book, having read it when it first came out what seems years ago; and without a doubt this is one of the best zombie apocalypse books ever written. An extremely well-crafted story that ties several individual stories into a coherent picture of the end of mankind to an extra-terrestrial virus. Great characters, seat of your pants action, and a very realistic depiction of what the world would like if all of mankind as well as most life on the planet Earth turned into something of our worse fears. Highly recommended. Next book, A Time to Run, is due out in March, and can only hope it is half as good as this one was.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Knight Squadron: Book 1: Foundations; Author: Visit Amazon's John Chapman Page; Review: There's a really good story in here if you can get pass all the gun gear and equipment being described in amazing detail. For what it's worth, John Chapman knows his gear and clearly loves the good stuff. The nice thing is that this story hasn't been done a dozen times already, pretty original having the good guys, here the local police SWAT teams, organizing a defense of their small town with the full backing of the local government and some of the general population. Nice change to see that people can work together, pull together, and get stuff done. Apart from all the gear references, another complaint of mine is that there are a lot of main characters in this book. I couldn't begin to say who the real main character is, as everyone seems to get their ten minutes of fame before we move on to the next individual. Nothing wrong with that, but it takes a minute to go back and recall just who the heck is up to the plate whenever there is a scene change. All in all, something different, plenty of action and well written; but it does suffer a bit from character development and that fascination with product placement. Looking forward to the next book.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forgotten Forbidden America (Book 4): Revolution (Volume 4); Author: Thomas A Watson; Review: Going over to the Dark Side takes on a whole new context. Excellent writing, strong characters, always amazing dialogue, continue in the the fourth book of this series. Just as things seem to start coming together evil strikes at the heart of Nelson's family and their coalition of friends and neighbors in southern Missouri. A very powerful look at what happens to a man when there are no longer any rules that he is willing to follow. Highly recommend this series.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Psi-Mechs, Inc. (The Darkness War) (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Eric S. Brown Page; Review: Urban fantasy is not normally what I read, so this is probably only my second or third book Ive read in this genre. So therefore, I don't have an in-depth enough background to say if this book is typical or better than average in this category as far as what makes good urban fantasy. But as a new reader, I can say I enjoyed the story line, found the characters to be done really well, the writing and editing was outstanding, and it was a fun book. Not every day you go up against the Prince of Darkness himself. Eric Brown really did an outstanding job with his characters, all distinct individuals and all drawn really well. Tons of action, almost non-stop action truth be told, and it certainly held my attention. Definitely, the first book of a planned series; but no cliff hanger, thank goodness. I have to say in conclusion that the author is a darn good writer, and although Im probably not a convert to this genre, I will be looking forward to the second book.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Embers of Empire; Author: Visit Amazon's Mark Goodwin Page; Review: After a great first book, this second book was disappointing. Mark Goodwin shifted the entire focus from awareness and preparedness to something more akin to an old A-Team episode. I really doubt Ava and her group would have lasted more than a few hours given the modern surveillance state that we live in after they came to the attention of the authorities. Anything past that stretches the bounds of credibility to the breaking point. It's a shame as this series really started out strong. Another point is that the follow-on book to this one is only available as an audio book, never seen that done before and really not sure what drove that decision, so no e-book or hard copy, at least for now. So all in all, would recommend that it would be best to stop with the first book and take a pass on the rest of this series.; Rating: 3.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Los Alpes; City: Santa Teresa Caaguazu Department; Review: It is very well located nearby most malls, nightclubs, pubs and restaurants. Very good and complete breakfast. Beautiful swimming pool. Rooms were ok, not bad, they could be kept better. At night some noise woke me up, I think it was mice but I can't tell for sure because I didn't see anything.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Palmas Del Sol; City: Asuncion; Review: Not bad. Enough for the price. Best average-hotel in Asunción's downtown, since every other is terrible quality or already too expensive. Not much aroun in downtown at night or weekends, so recommended if you MUST stick around downtown.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Posada del Cielo; City: Asuncion; Review: Very well kept. Very good taste in decoration and style. Familiar environment, not meaning that it is a family house turned hotel, but that it's a comfortable place that gives the feeling of beeing at home. Breakfast also small but good, with everything necesary for a good breakfast.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Papillon; City: Bella Vista Itapua Department; Review: The jesuitic route is the one that leads from Asuncion (Paraguay's capital city) to the jesuitic ruins in the south. If hitting this road, but not spending the night in this hotel, at least stop by for lunch. It is VERY beautiful and well located between the ruins and the colonies of european migrants, which produce majorly "yerba mate" (Ilex paraguayensis). The yerba-mate industries can be visited in guided tours! It is also very near by the Parana river and the city of Encarnacion, which is a growing, blossoming city in the borderline with Argentina. The hotel's gardens are beautiful, the architechtonic bavarian style of dining room makes it classy. Awesome chimeney to enjoy in winter. The rooms are great and have much details in wood, which makes it a rustical, familiar environment. Definitely THE place to stay while visiting south of Paraguay; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel El Cabildo; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: If you're visiting Buenos Aires as a tourist and for a short time (a week or less) it's a great place to stay. It's located between two peatonal streets with lots of shops and bars. Just 3 blocks away from Puerto Madero, 2 blocks from Plaza de Mayo and 5 blocks from the famous Barrio San Telmo. You won't get bored to walk around. The hotel & rooms are not big at all, but the price pays for the location mostly. It is, thou, very neat, tidy and clean. Only a couple of things I would "warn" other travellers about are: -The minibar: there was a functional one in the room but it was allways empty (I stood for 3 days). I used it to keep the beverages I bought outside. -The breakfast (which is not in the hotel itself, but in a Cafe nextdoor -Los Inmortales-)is not a buffet. The waiter serves a glass of orange juice, a cup of cofee/tea/chocolate, two medialunas and two toasts with marmalade for each person. So if your apettite is great in the first time of the morning (like my husband's) this won't be enough. The room's walls: were very thin and you could hear doors oppening/closing and the stepping of other people from the other rooms. So also not recommended if you have a light dream. Anyways, the three items above bothered mostly my husband. For me, it was great place to stay, since I have the concept that an hotel is a place where you leave your lugagge, take your showers and sleep; and that's it. But I thought it would be fair to "warn" people that are a little more demanding when it comes to the place to stay ('cause my husband is...) As for me, and othe not-so-demanding people in the world: thumbs up!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gran Hotel del Paraguay; City: Asuncion; Review: My wedding was celebrated in this hotel. It was like fallen from heaven, very beautiful old architechture, totally restored, included EVERYTHING we needed for our dinner party and to a price that we couldn`t believe (because, seriously, when you call somewhere for budget and mention the word "wedding" they flip out and have no limits on how much they ask for the services, becoming ridiculous most of the times with the prices). Anyways, summarizing: The wedding dinner party came out super. Not only the salon is breathtaking but the people that organize the events are very well trained and seem to have a lot of experience. They had everything under control and knew exactly what to do in case an unexpected situation appeared. I could simply relax and enjoy my party and guests, no wedding stress at all for me that night, only fun! And the guests still remember till now the wonderful service, the delicious food and the artistic&cultural legacy of the hotel. We stayed 2 nights after our wedding in the hotel because our plane for the honeymoon didn`t departed right away. The nuptial suite was like taken from a fairy tale. Absolutely wonderful and lovely! I could have just spent the whole honeymoon there! The food happened to be just as tasty and great as in our wedding`s dinner. Even though it`s in Asunción`s downtown, it was a quiet and peaceful place where to relax and collect good memories. Totally recomended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Los Alpes Apart Hotel Villa Morra; City: Asuncion; Review: I stayed at this Hotel for one night with my husband. It's an Apart-hotel so the rooms have kindo of a kitchen included with everything (cups, glases, tap, etc) included for a great price. The garden is very green, pretty and relaxing with 2 pools (one of them with a cascade) and garden tables and seats to spend a while chilling out. The breakfast is served in a quincho (small room in the garden with panoramic windows). The good: excelent price for what it includes: the comforting and clean rooms with kitchenet, great location (malls, restaurants, grills, etc), spaceful and very well-furnished lobby (lots of big, comfortable couches!), relaxing gardens and pools, yummy breakfast! The bad: I stayed in a double rooms and there was only one towel in it. The fridge had nothig else than 2 bottles of water in it. The bar in the quincho was locked and nobody around to reach the drinks. They had no restaurant for lunch or dinner. The worst: when I arrived late that night to the hotel, the guy in the reception was laying in the lobby's couch watching TV as if he were at home. It was kind of funny for me, thou.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hostal Cusi Wasi; City: Cusco Cusco Region; Review: Excelent in so many ways! To feel at home, the people are warm and welcoming, very nice! They pick you up from the airport and are very friendly! It shows they also have a lot of experience with travelers and tourists of all kinds. If there is any tour you are interested in (including different Inka Trails), there is no need of contacting an extra tourism agency: these guys will arrange everything for you! As for the service: the breakfast is included, as well as the trasnportation from the airport at the arrival to Cusco. They have a delivery service to ask for food and beverages. The rooms are clean and tidy always, but not very spaceful. Also each room has an own bathroom, also not very spaceful. The location is great, only 3 blocs from the Main Square which is the heart of the tourism and activities in Cusco. Lots of Cafés, restaurants, bars, pubs, supermarkets.....everything is nearby. Definitely staying again here if I ever get to go back to Cusco!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Burglar VHS; Brand: Whoopi Goldberg; Review: Liked her in Ghost you will lover her in Burglar. She my generations Lucy. After this try Jumping Jack Flash.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Barbarosa VHS; Brand: Willie Nelson; Review: A real unknown gem. Gary Busey is very good. So much different then the crazy Gary Busey now. I want a movie he is in around this same time call foolin' around. Only on VHS.This was Gary Busey at his best roll just a good old country boy smarter them people give him credit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Taking Care of Business; Brand: James Belushi; Review: Just a good watch. James Belushi at his normal role. Big city sports fan out for a good time and a good game.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Barbarosa; Brand: Gary Busey; Review: A real unknown gem. Gary Busey is very good. So much different then the crazy Gary Busey now. I want a movie he is in around this same time call foolin' around. Only on VHS.This was Gary Busey at his best roll just a good old country boy smarter them people give him credit.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: They Live; Brand: Roddy Piper; Review: Hot Rod-R.I.P.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Due South: The Complete Series; Brand: Paul Gross; Review: was not as list NOT complete series got only season 1 and 1 disc from season 2. Also note there was NEVER a real 3rd season just reruns of 2nd season. Was Amazon warehouse deal 2nd time item was messed up. Got a PS2 game from Amazon warehouse deal and it did not work. Was cheap so never bothered to return it. I have bought like 20 items from Amazon and only their warehouse deals were bad.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Moonwalker VHS; Brand: Michael Jackson; Review: got it for my daughter. Delivery was 2 day. She opened it and said dad it is a Japanese disc. No wear did I see it was listed as an import. Put it in my DVD player worked fine. Started off with a lot of videos. I then thought this was not the trailer for the movie I seen on YouTube. Looked at other Amazon reviews then found movie was 35 minutes into DVD. Well good news it is in English and my daughter did like it. Since no USA copies are available and I never seen it do not see are know where there is any missing parts of the original release in the USA.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: CatEye Reflex Bicycle Rear Safety Light TL-LD560-R; Brand: ; Review: I LOVE this light. Cateye does a great job with their products. This one is just another example. It is really bright and the flash pattern is crazy.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: CatEye Reflex Bicycle Front Safety Light TL-LD560-F; Brand: CATEYE; Review: Again, just like the rear version of this light, super bright. Tons of different display modes. Very cool.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Mountain Products Resistance Band Set with Door Anchor, Ankle Strap, Exercise Chart, and Resistance Band Carrying Case; Brand: Black Mountain; Review: Just workin on my fitness! These bands and the various anchors work great. I like being able to double and triple the bands depending on how much resistance I want.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Berkley 5 Gal Floating Bait Bucket Bag; Brand: Berkley; Review: This was a gift for my father-in-law. He wanted something low-tech to keep bait while fishing from his sail boat.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: White Lightning Chain Lubricant; Brand: ; Review: Are we still talking bicycles?I've used a bunch of different chain lubes and this is my go-to favorite. I don't like the stuff that stays "wet". It picks up ALL of the road grime and then sprays it all over the cassette, chain, bike frame, your hands, and anything else that even comes close to touching it.I also don't like the Cat 5 Fred Badge on my calf if I brush against my chainring. You neither? Get White Lightening's Clean Ride, you won't be sorry.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments); Author: Visit Amazon's Cassandra Clare Page; Review: I found it to be entertaining, containing elements from many different stories - yet it had its own twist. However, I did not find it to be as well written as some other series - "A Wrinkle in Time", "Harry Potter" or "The Chronicles of Narnia". I'm also not sure why it was called "City of Bones". I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Divergent; Author: Visit Amazon's Veronica Roth Page; Review: It is interesting and certainly will attract young adults, and yet is a good read for adults, too. Looking forward to reading the second installment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Giver Quartet Omnibus; Author: Visit Amazon's Lois Lowry Page; Review: This is a great series. I have read it twice. First time I didn't read them one after the other - there were other books in between. This time I read them as if they were all one book - which gave them a new (and better) interpretation for me. I think they are best read this way.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: To Kill a Mockingbird; Author: Visit Amazon's Harper Lee Page; Review: A book everyone should read. This was Harper Lee's only book and it is probably in the top 3 all time best books.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grace (Eventually), Thoughts on Faith; Author: ANNE LAMOTT; Review: Anne Lamott's spirituality is very human and down to earth.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: InterDesign 3-Drawer Storage Organizer for Cosmetics, Makeup, Beauty Products or Kitchen/ Office Supplies, White; Brand: InterDesign; Review: I am excited to order more of these to hold many things that you just do not want the dust in everyday life to get to.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterDesign Linus Coffee Supply Organizer for Filters, Beans, Sugar, Creamer, Tea Bags - Clear; Brand: InterDesign; Review: This is not only great for the kitchen but I use it on my vanity for my over size compacts and large makeup pallets. I will purchase more of these for later.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Clara Clark 1800 Premier Series 4pc Bed Sheet Set - King, Camel Gold; Brand: Clara Clark; Review: LOVE LOVE LOVE these sheets and the price is just GREAT!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ikee Design Acrylic Jewelry & Cosmetic Storage Display Box 9 3/8" x 5 3/8" x 4 3/8" H; Brand: Ikee Design; Review: These are perfect for keeping and displaying your important jewelry and make up. I purchased 4 so far but more to come later.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterDesign Clarity 4-Drawer Cosmetic Organizer for Vanity Cabinet – Perfect Storage Box for Makeup, Beauty Products, Eyeglasses, Clear; Brand: InterDesign; Review: I love these I can not wait to be able to purchase more for other products; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chezmoi Collection Micro Suede Patchwork 7-Piece Comforter Set, Queen, Black/Brown/White; Brand: Chezmoi Collection; Review: I love this bedspread. It looks so chic and classy and elegant in my new home against pale gray walls with white crown molding; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Home_and_Kitchen |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Mata Rocks Beachfront Hotel; City: San Pedro Ambergris Caye Belize Cayes; Review: Great place for a couple, or young family. Staff is very helpful and Dan [the manager] is able to pick whatever tour you want to go on and book for you. All you have to do is wait on the dock for the tour boat to come pick you up and you are off!!! Palapa bar for breakfast in the morning and Happy Hour at dusk is a great way to meet other like-minded travelers. Pool is a little chilly but very refreshing on hot days. Free bike rental and complimentary breakfast is a big PLUS. We stayed at a higher priced resort on Caye Caulker but this was much better overall.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Alvear Palace Hotel; City: Buenos Aires Capital Federal District; Review: This is our third BA hotel for our honeymoon trip and has already blown the others out of the water. From the time we entered we knew we had mad a good choice switching from a smaller boutique in Palermo. Service, health club, spa and not to mention the room! We will be discovering more of Recoleta in the next couple of days, but we feel lucky to have this as our home base. Oh, and we entered our room to champagne in a chilled bucket after our workouts. Amazing.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grace Cafayate; City: Cafayate Province of Salta Northern Argentina; Review: My wife and I arrived here for a couple nights during our honeymoon. The room was great, restaurant was great but the service was lacking, in multiple instances. The hotel loaned us a golf cart to go to the spa/health club (about 2kms from the hotel) and the pgiven the golf cart if they thought it wouldn't make the round trip journey. A couple of other incidences like this occurred, so we would recommend the place solely on the room/restaurant alone. Don't expect much outside of that.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge; City: Seward Alaska; Review: The Wilderness Lodge stay is definitely worth the trip/$$. First you go on a great hour long Kenai Fjords tour out of Resurrection Bay and are dropped off on Fox Island. They parse you and whoever is staying at the Lodge [capacity with the cabins is 16 or so] to a different eating experience altogether. The main lodge dining room feels like you are sitting in the bay in front of Fox Island and the food is FANTASTIC. We only stayed 1 night [wish it was more], got some sea kayaking in and had a couple great hikes on the island. Amazing service throughout and we loved the rustic cabins that feel like they are very secluded even though they are steps from the beach front. When your stay is done, the same tour boat that dropped you off, picks you up and you go on another 3hr tour farther out of the Bay and into the Prince William Sound. Highly recommended!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sea Ranch Lodge; City: The Sea Ranch Sonoma County California; Review: My wife and I brought our 2yr old Golden Retriever up to Sea Ranch for our 2nd Anniversary. It is a phenomenal setting, with dog friendly hiking trails galore and even your own personal beach [it felt that way, only accessible when the tide is out]. Everyone at the Sea Ranch was great, very friendly and you could tell they cared about our stay and experience. The Room - Although kind of small, they made the most of the space and the fireplace was AMAZING to have to dry our wet clothes/dog. We stayed there for 2 nights and on the 2nd night there was a pretty big rainstorm and a leak sprung above our window. It was dripping all night but we put a towel down to minimize the damage [minus 1 star]. Other than that, our stay was fantastic. The Restaurant [Black Point Grill] - Great setting and relaxed atmosphere with some very interesting, locally sourced dishes. We had heard the previous Chef [Sea Ranch needs to update their website with the new Chef, Alex I think?] had left recently and we were able to meet the new one showing us some Porcini Mushrooms that they had just foraged in the morning and were going to add to the pasta special that evening. Well, we had to try it that evening and it was out of this world [and this coming from two people who don't eat veggie pasta that often]. The new Chef and GM [Tom] of the Black Point Grill have the place trending in the right direction. Breakfast was excellent too! All in all, great stay, outstanding service and food, the rooms just need a bit more TLC and updating.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite; City: Fish Camp California; Review: Walking into the lodge you definitely feel like you are in for an epic weekend. Great rustic lobby with a huge fireplace. We lucked out and were there when it was absolutely DUMPING outside, so much so that we didn't want to go back to Oakhurst in fear of being stranded there by closed Hwy 41. So we hunkered down and went to Jackalopes Bar and Grill and saddled up to the bar [insider tip - if you sit at the bar at Jackalopes, you get to order off both Jackalopes AND Sierra's menus, boom!]. The bartender was very busy but she was both attentive and helpful, along with the general manager who was assisting her during the busy dinner rush. The service was GREAT and the food was pretty dang good as well, better than we were expecting to tell you the truth. The next day we rented snowshoes and went on an EPIC snowshoe trek, breaking trail for half of a 4mi out and back. Tried to get to the waterfalls but came up short. Next time! That day, as well as the next, we had nothing but great encounters with the Tenaya staff. All in all, an amazing trip highlighted by a beautiful lodge and wonderful people employed there. Recommended for sure!; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Home Again, Home Again; Brand: Ryans Room; Review: We love this house, it's very neutral and so different. A child can access in on both sides or the front. It is huge, we have furniture for each section and it occupies kids for hours upon hours. It is perhaps the most sturdy dollhouse we looked at, in tip top shape after 4 years. The Plan toys one is pretty sturdy but I liked the more traditional design of this one. We have the garage piece at the bottom, which is perfect with it. The top comes apart from the bottom for easy transport. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone that's looking for one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Melissa & Doug On the Farm Jigsaw (12 pc); Brand: Melissa & Doug; Review: Overall a great product but I wish it had an image of what the puzzle should look like on the puzzle board so that younger kids can have a guide. Also the puzzles sticks tightly together so we have to constantly help our almost 2 year old take it apart (and she's proficient at breaking stuff apart).; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Plan Toys Breakfast Menu (Solid Wood Version); Brand: Plan Toys; Review: The tray became deformed (misshaped and warped) after a few weeks. It is unstable now because the front is raised and the back is lower. I will not purchase again because we are an all wooden toys family and have never had this issue...where the wood becomes misshaped and useless.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Green Toys Dump Truck, Pink; Brand: Green Toys; Review: Our daughter loves this truck. It's a very large truck for the age range recommended, 1 to 5. They can carry it around easily and it's very durable even if it does fall. The tray (?) is large and comes in handy for pretend deliveries. Toddlers love packing and unpacking stuff, and this toy encourages that. Our daughter has a lot of fun dumping her cargo also. It's very easy to clean. Don't take it to the playground, because every kid, including your own, will fight to borrow it!! haha Of course our daughter does not need a pink and lilac truck but it sure is cute to have that option!I love to support Green Toys as the products are great quality, and you can't go wrong putting money back into our economy. A few people complain that the toy is too small, people need to take a step back and buy smaller and less, but more quality and American made.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Toys_and_Games |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Damai Beach Resort; City: Kuching Sarawak; Review: Stayed there for dad's birthday vacay and at the same time, there's a company having their family day. So imagine families and kids running around at the lobby. Good enough we were allow to check-in early. The king room is so huge, huge enough to put in 2 single bed. Bathroom was ok but the waterheater was not consistant. Sometime it became cold while you're in a middle of showering. Restaurant serves decent breakfast. Good spread. Lots of choices. Pool was ok but way to much chlorine in kids pool. You don't have to in the water to know. They smell pretty strong. Overall, the stay was great.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Payung Guesthouse; City: Cherating Kuantan District Pahang; Review: The area is nice and cosy. Beautiful trees and a nice hangout place. Look more like a small village. They have all the things you need. Waterheater, a fridge and a proper pantry with a sink, an air-con. and a fan, bed is ok with a mosquito net. They have a box TV, but why would you watch TV when you can enjoy your beer in front of the beach? The beach, pub/bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and sundry shops are a few walks away. Recommended to all and I will definitely come back!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Stable Melaka Guesthouse; City: Melaka Central Melaka District Melaka State; Review: Was pretty curious about the place at first and googled it up to get more info. The more I read about the place, the good review, magazine featured, the recommendation, the location, my urge to go and stay at least a night is a must. The interior is beautiful. I love the Malacca old map on the wall and the green colour walls. The brick walls in the bedroom is to die for. The place have facilities like espresso machine, mini fridge (with the amount of beverages like beers, wine (the last time I stayed) etc., mineral water and towels/toiletries. Having in-house movie (DVDs and player available) is great when you have nothing better to do..but in Malacca, there is not such thing as nothing better to do, eatery is just a step out from the door (Jonker Street) to enjoy which makes The Stable Melaka is a very convenient place to stay. Will definitely come again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tune Hotel klia2; City: Sepang Sepang District Selangor; Review: I love this hotel. It's huge and beautiful. I underestimate it at first due to most people would commented on how small Tune Hotel's rooms are. The lobby is huge and nice. Clean room, nice view because of the location of the airport, you can see the bright lights, WonderCafe interior is beautiful. They have an outdoor area to chill (near the Cafe). KLIA2 nearby to shop is unbelievable convenient with the connected brige. Last but not least, thank God for 7E! I will come again to stay regardless the distance from the city for no apparent reason. Great job Tune!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ipoh French Hotel; City: Ipoh Kinta District Perak; Review: The best thing about staying here is fact that it is located very near to some of the famous eateries. I went over during the Christmas holidays and due to the December pouring rain, I really have not worries about not able to go out for food because they have a cool cafe in the hotel itself (Jose and Deli). My room (Super Deluxe King) was nice. I was given a room right behind and it was pretty quiet. I know from what I've read through reviews, most are about the noise from the streets especially if you are staying on a lower ground. Overall, the hotel is highly recommended. Will come again but not during the raining season, to enjoy more food!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Yard Boutique Hotel KL; City: Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan; Review: If I am not mistaken, this boutique hotel is "related" to Courtyard @ Heeren in Malacca. It is really a hidden treasure in a middle of a buzy area (Alor - Changkat). Location is spot on as it is surrounded by lots of eateries, shops, clubs and pubs. The rates are reasonable. Rooms are nice and cosy but for the light sleepers, you will be having a bit of a problem because you can actually hear guests talking and walking at the corridors. Bathrooms (if I'm not mistaken) is a glass door, so if you are planing for a family day thingy, I'm not sure if this place is suitable, but do call and check with the reservation first to double check. For lone ranger traveller especially ladies...or man, do be careful at night...or even day because you need to walk in a dark alley just to get there from the main road.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: GTower Hotel; City: Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan; Review: A friend came to visit and stayed here for a night. I'm not sure about the rooms service but pretty sure about the reception service itself. I was there not to stay but just waiting for my friend for an early breakfast. So we actually asked the front desk, a chinese guy working that morning shift on 3rd Oct. if he can get a cab for us to the location we wanted to go, his respond was "of course, it's my job". I was stunned by the respond in a bad way. Then we asked again if he can assist us to inform the cab driver on the way to the place through the map, his respond was again "of course, it's my job". The respond was a bit weird for me because I feel offend for some reason. It sounded more like "duh" to me. If this is G Tower Hotel standard way of greeting and responding to their guest request, you guys need to go back to basic. A simple "my pleasure" or "certainly" responds goes the long way.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dorsett Singapore; City: Singapore; Review: Pros : Great location, near MRT, nice room and lobby interior and most importantly, they have a handy phone where you can make free international call and use it for internet hotspot. Cons : Breakfast needs to improve. More spread if possible. Highly recommended and definitely will stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Redang Pelangi Resort; City: Pulau Redang Terengganu; Review: Beautiful place to be. Blue sea, white sandy beach and the rooms are not too bad. Why spend time in the room when you have lots of activities to do outside to begin with. As for the bar, they should have more choices of drinks but maybe because they are closing due to the coming monsoon, reason to not stock up. Food wise, nothing to wow, however edible. Coffee and tea free flow tho. Overall, I highly recommend this place to first timer snorkeler like me because they have lots of wonderful things to see down there. Happy Holiday!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Rasah Seremban; City: Seremban Seremban District Negeri Sembilan; Review: A very convenient place to stay as it is very near to the train station. It takes 15mins more or less to reach. The cab driver charged RM8 flat rate. It is a decent looking hotel. Clean, my room have a balcony facing the road, flatscreen TV, coffee, electric kettle, hot shower (most important), hairdryer, clean towel, toiletries ie. toothpaste/brush, shower gel. Every floor have a hot & cold water dispenser. They also sell maggi hot cup just in case you are hungry in the middle of the night. For a short stay, Hotel Rasah is a good place to stay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sunset Beach Resort; City: Pantai Cenang Langkawi Langkawi District Kedah; Review: I love this resort. Great location, everywhere is walkable. Duty frees are just a few minutes away. Souvenirs shops are everywhere. KFC & Starbucks are just a stone away (if your into those common stuff). Overall, you don't have to be worry about where to get this and that. The room are just basic because I believed when you are in beaches and sun and sand, you will be out most of the days, but I really like the bathroom due to the natural light. They have basics like soaps, towels, beach towels, TV, mini fridge, coffee & teas amenities, air con, electric mozzies repellent and extra pillows. Way to the beach from the our room (which was very near to the reception) was awesome. It's like walking in a jungle-ly maze. Along the way you can see rock statues. It might be scary to some people but I like how they put an effort in decorating their garden. The beach. I love the private beach. I had the most beautiful sunset experience by far and really wish I could stay longer. They have great motherly staff. So loveable. I normally like to try different places and different hotel/resort just to experience new things, but if I wanted to come to Langkawi again, this is definitely the place, no doubt. See you guys soon!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anggun Boutique Hotel; City: Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan; Review: Beautiful boutique hotel. Perfect location. Cool decent bar/cafe. Great spa session. Everything you need for a stayaction. For rooms with views, I'm not too sure if they have it. Maybe they do but not much? So it would be good to check with the hotel before you assume.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: THE FACE Suites; City: Kuala Lumpur Wilayah Persekutuan; Review: We stayed in a modern and spacious 96 sqm 2 bedroom superior, I guess one of their selling point is the view, where you can see both Petronas Twin Tower & KL Tower from the infinity pool on Sky Deck at 51st floor. Other than that, the location of the hotel itself is very convenient especially if you opt for local cuisines (walking distance to Kampung Baru). The nearest train station (Bukit Nanas) and mall (Quill Mall) are just a few minutes away. Just be extra careful with your surrounding when you walk out for jalan-jalan outside the hotel because people are just weird, you know what I mean.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Luckiest Lady in London; Author: Visit Amazon's Sherry Thomas Page; Review: Wow... I like the story. It kept me riveted and interested. I recommend it as a download for a short, enjoyable read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, Book One) (The Maze Runner Series); Author: Visit Amazon's James Dashner Page; Review: What a twist! I heard about this book from some fellow reading fanatics. This book was better than I imagined.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maze Runner. Correr o Morir / Maze Runner, Run or die (Spanish Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's James Dashner Page; Review: What a twist! I heard about this book from some fellow reading fanatics. This book was better than I imagined.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kids Deserve It!: Pushing Boundaries and Challenging Conventional Thinking; Author: Visit Amazon's Todd Nesloney Page; Review: This book is a great reminder of why I went into education! There were so many times I found myself nodding my head and smiling.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Future Driven: Will Your Students Thrive In An Unpredictable World?; Author: David Geurin Ed.D.; Review: I have enjoyed David Geurin's blog, and he has been a valuable member of my PLN! His insights into education and leadership are inspiring and thought-provoking. When given the option to read his book Future Driven, I was excited, and it did not disappoint! "Future Driven" is a powerful combination of pedagogy and leadership. He challenges readers and educators to take inventory of what is going on in their classrooms and school culture while considering if what is happening is indeed future driven. For Guerin challenges, you are either working in a time-capsule or a time machine. Throughout the book, you will feel the passion he has for students, teachers, and leadership. The stories and advice from his experiences in life, teaching, and leadership are inspirational and insightful. This will be a new staple in my library and will be one I will often revisit to be inspired and challenged to continue to look to the future and make a lasting and meaningful change.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Green Nature Resort Spa; City: Marmaris Marmaris District Mugla Province Turkish Aegean Coast; Review: I have mixed views about this hotel, traveled on the 3rd oct to18th the food is always chicken, you have to run at 6am for the sunbeds and OMG if your hungry be ready to run for the food, the hotel is lovely there was a lot of wasps this yr me and my son both got stung so watch out for them, i think the British and German have no respect towards the Turkish people a please and thank you would have been nice, anyway over all it was an enjoyable stay couldnt fault the weather kids enjoyed the pool with the slides which only closed for 1 hour for lunch i would go back again so my attitude is make your own mind up about the hotel and you'll see for yourself .................. the annex isnt as bad as people say at the end of the day you have a bed with clean linen fresh towels everyday also its quiet we didnt hear any music or party's (room 231) what more do you need would defo go back .... in fact looking to book again for next year :); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rosemount Palace; City: Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Scotland; Review: I have not yet stayed in this hotel, but been there for Breakfast, and Dinner, The Catering staff are so welcome, the breakfast is really nice for the price you pay £4.50 its a self service all you can it, so I'm unsure where the last comment about waiting for breakfast? Lisa the Manager of the Cafe is a very nice lass and I'm lead to believe she gets told a Half hour from the receptionist how many people are for Breakfast so maybe give her a chance as she has only set up a few days WELL DONE Cafe Amour :D thumbs up from me and my family; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Siberia Hotel; City: Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Scotland; Review: I book this hotel every month or so just to have a relaxing time with my hubby, Staff are excellent Rooms are small but very clean Most of all the spa bath is brilliant Would recommend to anyone as it's central to any eat out places, night life and cinemas; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Euro Hostel Glasgow; City: Glasgow Scotland; Review: * you get what you pay for!, * No towels unless you have a TV in your room? * bedding was placed so we had to make up our own * no soaps in the dispensers * Free wifi, rubbish unless you paid money to get a better connection, didn't get onto anything * 1 socket which kept tripping .. don't accept room 511 too shabby; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Britannia Hotel Aberdeen; City: Aberdeen Aberdeenshire Scotland; Review: went for a nice one night break with my hubby, the hotel has been decorated and its really nice, the reception area is more welcoming now, the rooms are still the same but for a small price to pay we didn't mind the pool and sauna are good, glad to see the jets are working in the pool made my stay enjoyable ... also breakfast was included in the price; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: City B B; City: Liverpool Merseyside England; Review: Where do I start, when the taxi driver finally found it we was dropped off in which was like a derilict street, there was a note on the door saying reception was only 3 minutes walk to collect our keys, from a bar, I thought omg after around I'd say a lot more than 3 minutes we finally found it we was greeted by a very nice young man who gave us our keys and took our cash, we was asked if we took our own towels ?? Anyway he finally gave us 2 for 3 days .. we walked back to the apartment to find we was at the top of this building with creeky floors found our room with 2 single beds a 15inch Tv and a side cabinet for £55 a night I thought ok we can deal with this my husband pulled the beds together only to find 1 was higher than the other .. also a shared bathroom ..shower time the next morning oh me took us around 10 mins to find out how to turn it on (a string near the door) then downhill from there boiling to freezing within seconds ... tea and coffee was available in the lobby and B&B stands for bed and breakfast right! We are still trying to figure out where we could possibly get it as there was no kitchen lol never mind never again unless you want to party with the studios right across the road which lets ppl who are learning to play music instruments and for all the buildings around it being empty apart from THE STUDIO! It's a Main Street to the ferry for Ireland with no double glazing the traffic was unbearable it went on all night apart from a half hour between 3-30 then it was manic again .. I feel horrible for giving this review as the owner was a lovely guy but never again as we were on a high for a visit to Anfield hospitality football game to kind of being ruined with the accommodation; Rating: 1.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Batman Beyond: The Movie (1999); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Raising Helen (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: National Treasure (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: CSI: Miami: Season 1 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lilo and Stitch 2 (2005); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dogma (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Love Actually (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stuart Little 2 (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The 10th Kingdom (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Speed (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monkey Trouble (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fried Green Tomatoes (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Planner (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Man on Fire (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Look Who's Talking Too (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sleepless in Seattle (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Wedding (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The American President (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What Women Want (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aladdin: Platinum Edition (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Girl 2 (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: When Harry Met Sally (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Rundown (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Men and a Little Lady (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries (Fullscreen) (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Forever Young (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lethal Weapon 3 (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bad Boys II (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Finding Nemo (Widescreen) (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: An Officer and a Gentleman (1982); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rookie of the Year (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3 Ninjas (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Steel Magnolias (1989); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Erin Brockovich (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Overboard (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Gone in 60 Seconds (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Angels in the Outfield (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sleeping With the Enemy (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Money Pit (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pretty Woman (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Beethoven (1992); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Billy Madison (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cheaper by the Dozen (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Dolittle (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men of Honor (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fools Rush In (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Dancing (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Junior (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bridges of Madison County (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ladder 49 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Save the Last Dance (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Cocktail (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Turner and Hooch (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Iron Will (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: There's Something About Mary: Special Edition (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stepmom (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Daddy Day Care (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ghost Dad (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster-in-Law (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Father of the Bride 2 (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Pie 2 (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Runaway Bride (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Best Friend's Wedding (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bone Collector (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Now and Then (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Forrest Gump (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dunston Checks In (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Three Men and a Baby (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: For Richer or Poorer (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bring It On (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Two Weeks Notice (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: True Lies (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Air Force One (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The First Wives Club (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jerry Maguire (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Notebook (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stitch! The Movie (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Only You (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: French Kiss (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: You've Got Mail (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shrek (Full-screen) (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Notting Hill (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grease (1978); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Girl (1991); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ocean's Eleven (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Vol. 1 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Big (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Remember the Titans (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Friends: Vol. 2 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Beautician and the Beast (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kindergarten Cop (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Prince and Me (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Parent Trap (1961); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Will & Grace: Season 1 (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Titanic (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: When a Man Loves a Woman (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Days of Thunder (1990); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sahara (2005); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Clueless (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pooh's Heffalump Movie (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hitch (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beaches (1988); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shark Tale (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Maid in Manhattan (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jersey Girl (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Little Princess (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bridget Jones's Diary (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Pacifier (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Perfect Storm (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Annie: Special Anniversary Edition (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Training Day (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sixteen Candles (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fly Away Home (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Walk in the Clouds (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Freaky Friday (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Emperor's New Groove (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Hocus Pocus (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Pocahontas (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black II (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Patch Adams (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: While You Were Sleeping (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Mask: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Baby Geniuses (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tremors (1990); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Glory (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Taps (1981); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Stuart Little (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Son in Law (1993); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hope Floats (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Girl (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Tommy Boy (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mickey Blue Eyes (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gloria (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: At First Sight (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Other Sister (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mrs. Winterbourne (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bachelor (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Baby's Day Out (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Whole Nine Yards (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop II (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Flubber (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Phenomenon (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Picture Perfect (1997); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Scary Movie (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Adventures in Babysitting (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Something to Talk About (1995); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O Brother (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Antwone Fisher (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Object of My Affection (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Drive Me Crazy (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ice Age (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Troop Beverly Hills (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Best Man (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: G.I. Jane (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Goonies (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: As Good as It Gets (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shallow Hal (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Serving Sara (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fifth Element (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In Love and War (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: I.Q. (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: McHale's Navy (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Man in the Iron Mask (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bed of Roses (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Holy Man (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Simon Birch (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Friends: Season 1 (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Animal (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Home on the Range (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Never Been Kissed (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tarzan 2 (2005); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pitch Black (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tin Cup (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Toy Story 2 (1999); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Field of Dreams (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Man Walking (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: City of Angels (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pretty in Pink (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Heartbreakers (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: City Slickers (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde 2: Red (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Up Close & Personal (1996); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Space Jam (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Return to Me (2000); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Singer (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Corrina (1994); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anger Management (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Tuxedo (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: My Favorite Martian: The Movie (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: In the Army Now (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Milk Money (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saving Private Ryan (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clue (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Terminal (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coach Carter (2005); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rugrats All Grown Up: Interview with a Campfire (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mary Poppins (1964); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Graduate (1967); Rating: 1.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with businesses as follows:
Title: In-Motion RV Service; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: I've had Robbie fix my older RV a number of times. He is knowledgable, honest and reasonably priced. He has a facility off of West 96th which is great because I live in Zionsville. A great find.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Rexy's; City: West Collingswood Heights, NJ; Review: This Restaurant was a big disappointment on many levels. My mother used to be from this area and she highly recommended it. We had an inept waiter with no personality who kept making mistakes and we ordered premium drinks but received inferior well drinks. We were charged for premium drinks. The food was so so so I gave it 2 stars. I do not recommend Rexy's.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rush on Main; City: Zionsville, IN; Review: Really good food and beer. Great wait staff. Highly recommend. Try their Chicago inspired sandwiches. I especially like the combo Da Beef/Da Sausage.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Blue Crab Juicy Seafood; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Wow! A really neat place with great tasting food. I was born on the East Coast and I've always loved eating Blue Crab. The blue crabs were very tasty with their All-in seasoning. I couldn't have asked for a better taste. I would have preferred less crabs but bigger size because they were pretty small and it made picking out the meat difficult. They serve up the seafood in an inflated bag with all the spices mixed up in a juicy mix. They also include the corn and potatoes in the juice which was delightful. I have never seen Blue Crabs served this way but I can't wait to go back and eat some more. I also got the clams and they were very tasty. To start the meal we ordered 18 oysters. They were very fresh and tender. I could've eaten a bunch more but glad I saved some room. This is a great place for a larger group because you sit at picnic sized tables. Do wear the bib or you'll be wearing your dinner. You are also encouraged to write your name on the wooded walls. People had a lot of fun with that.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Zionsville Auto Service; City: Zionsville, IN; Review: Always do a great job and have fair pricing. Strongly recommend to anyone. You can't always get in quick but it's worth the wait.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Verde Flavor Of Mexico Ironworks; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Upscale Mexican perfected. The food was by far the best Mexican I ever had. Verde was gracious enough to give us reservations for 20 on a Saturday evening after our previous reservation with another restaurant cancelled us. I don't blame the original restaurant. They couldn't get enough staff to work. A sad reality. My son in law to be is Mexican and we've been wanting to respect his heritage. By the way, the son in law to be is a fantastic cook. He was able to get food that we normally don't find in regular Mexican restaurants and he was thrilled. The drinks were authentic and very tasty. Everyone, including the 5 kids under 12 lover their dinner. I had their version of a fajita with Steak. The meat was absolutely top notch tender and tasty with a generous portion. Serving 20 is no small feat and the service was awesome. The food came out quickly, freshly prepared and creatively presented. The servers were super attentive and very knowledgeable and explained the menu items in detail. This is our new favorite Mexican restaurant and we can't wait to return. Incredible!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Some Guys Pizza Pasta Grill; City: Indianapolis, IN; Review: Wow! Great every time. I've lived in Zionsville for the last 16 years and I didn't have much access to Some Guys. Oh how I've missed it. Tonight I just walked in and ordered a dinner salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette with Gorgonzola. It took them almost no time to put it together and it was phenomenal. Hands down awesome. Every freaking time I order from them it's heaven for my taste buds. Sometimes I sit in the dining room and have a pizza and every time it's one of the best I've ever had. They even have Gluten free options. They have been around a long time because they have earned it. If you are in the area, don't miss out. Great food, wonderful service and a neat dining room. I live only blocks away now and I'm very grateful that they persevered thru this difficult time. Tip them well. We need to support those wonderful restaurants that add so much value to the area. God bless them all!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | yelp |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Black Mountain Products Resistance Band Set with Door Anchor, Ankle Strap, Exercise Chart, and Resistance Band Carrying Case; Brand: Black Mountain; Review: This set of exercise bands etc. is a great buy. I use them often and they are handy and versatile enough to make adjustments.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Under Armour Men's HeatGear® Compression 7" Shorts; Brand: ; Review: This item fit me as expected. It is soft and a bit more stretchy, the tag at the back however was annoying. You just have to cut it off and problem solved.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Everlast Deluxe Speed Rope; Brand: Everlast; Review: This skipping rope is a great buy. The rope itself is heavy enough that it actually goes around with you swing it around.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SKLZ Quick Flat Rung Agility Ladder with Free SKLZ Carry Bag; Brand: SKLZ; Review: I didn't get into any long searching for something like this because they all seem to be the same type of construction. This particular one is a sturdy well made agility ladder. I am sure others are just as good.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Franklin Sports MLS 9-Inch Flexi Cones (Pack of 4); Brand: Franklin; Review: These cones does well on the volleyball court and grass for training like plyometrics. I would advise them because I don't think that there is much difference between other brands.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ergo Ear Plugs; Brand: Speedo; Review: These ear plugs are great. The edges look sharp, but they are so flexible that I don't feel it going in or coming out at time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Crosspaq Black Forget Your Pockets on the Go! CrossBody Bag; Brand: ; Review: I really like this shoulder bag, particularly when I travel because of the whole bunch of compartments. It really helps me keep my stuff organized, but most of all secured with zipper closures. I don't use it all the time, just when I travel, but it is all up to you.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Iron Kettlebells 5-100 lbs. Singles by Body Solid; Brand: ; Review: What else can I say...it's a weight. It 30lbs, it does what it's supposed to do. It doesn't need a glossy finish to to work. It's just a weight!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Sports_and_Outdoors |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Crowne Plaza Hotel Philadelphia Cherry Hill; City: Cherry Hill New Jersey; Review: Checked in really late at night and staff was not just agreeable but accommodating. Lobby was aesthetically pleasing and relaxing yet really big. They have a good sized restaurant onsite with pretty good food but a little understaffed. Waitstaff Jeanine was very accommodating and cheerful and made the wait for our food enjoyable by offering coffee while waiting. The room was clean and well kept with lots of great smelling toiletries to use and be pampered. The bed was very comfy and luxurious too.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Howard Johnson by Wyndham North Bergen; City: North Bergen New Jersey; Review: Parking is terrible... 2 separate buildings of rooms like motel but they call it hotel. Room was frigid cold on a 100 degrees day and room smelled of stale smoke. Non-smoking room at End of quarter next to the maids closet. Mind you the maids come at 7 AM and started banging around in that closet and proceed to try and enter your room to clean while you sleep of try to. A room cost of 170 plus tax was a rip off and I will never return. Hojo Newark Airport is so much better and nearly half as expensive. Staff doesn't care and it shows throughout bc it's gross. Found white stains on room items like chairs and linens etc. that told me they have a poor cleaning standard.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: DoubleTree by Hilton Fairfield Hotel Suites; City: Fairfield New Jersey; Review: We had a junior suite next to the Presidential and we loved our room. Wish we had more time to enjoy it bc we didn't arrive until nearly 2am. Breakfast from restaurant was self serve and adequate with healthy options but it was missing the ability to customize your meal bc everything was prepared ahead of time. The staff was pleasant and accommodating except for one waitress in the restaurant who seemed to be managing but was really rude and not friendly at all. The decor of the hotel was warm and inviting with fireplaces and seating areas and public stations for professionals to get online and work a little.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Madison Hotel; City: Morristown Morris County New Jersey; Review: We ventured to Morristown to find a great place to dine and enjoy our evening out together. We came across the Madison Hotel and we're amazed by its charm of yesteryear. We checked in and found that our room had a light out and I no sooner discovered it and there was someone to fix the bulb. We were pleasantly surprised by the large tv in the room inside a credenza bc all were well maintained and clean. We left the room and asked if we could stay a little longer than usual checkout and they were very accommodating. We went to our car in the lot and were leaving the property for downtown Morristown when we discovered their 2 onsite restaurants and decided to park and stay to dine at Rod's. Loved it the evening there. My only correction I would make is to allow guests more control over room temperature. Our room was toasty but as evening went on it got rather warm and it would have been nice to have easier adjustment.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn; City: Fairfield New Jersey; Review: We arrived on Friday night/Saturday morning at 2 AM and I booked two days at this hotel. I got up and went to this to get breakfast and bring some luggage in from the car to shower and change over. Upon returning to the room I looked at the bed with the white sheets and I saw something crawling and looked closer. I was alarmed to find that it was a bedbug crawling on the white sheets where I had just left the night before. Front desk staff was understanding and apologetic and refunded the night stay in addition to allowing me to not stay the second night. I have a feeling it was something they already knew about as the hotel was noticeably fragranced when we checked in and it may have been to cover for either the scent the bedbugs give off in infestation or it had just been treated with stinky yet powerful chemicals. It was a convenient location and appeared clean and I know sometimes you can't help getting these with travelers all the time bc bedbugs are the cheapest hitchhiker yet most costly to get rid of.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Westin Governor Morris Morristown; City: Morristown Morris County New Jersey; Review: We checked in late and a wedding was in full swing but we didn't hear the music in our room a floor above which was lovely. We heard it in the lobby which let us know a fun time was being had but we were able to sleep in peace until the maid came to knock in the morning. Everything was clean and well attended to. Only thing noticed was the blanket layer on the bed was a bit dirty on the inside as you looked through it in the light. It could have been feathers or fiberfill but not sure. We removed that piece of bedding anyway bc it was a very warm night. Very good stay and we would recommend staying again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Mt Laurel at Bishop s Gate; City: Mount Laurel New Jersey; Review: Stayed for weekend for family gathering and it was very comfortable and easy to access. Room was clean, tidy and well equipped if you needed to prepare food or drinks during your stay. Bed was comfortable and linens were clean and there were no residual odors detectable ie smoke, etc. I also felt safe in the building as it was locked up well. Would definitely stay there again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Emily Post's Etiquette; Author: Visit Amazon's Emily Post Page; Review: I bought this book for my mom as a gift!. She absolutely loved it and thanks me every day for it. So if your mom is dedicated housewife like mine and entertains quite a bit, this would be an excellent gift to her!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Addictive Organization; Author: Visit Amazon's Anne Wilson Schaef Page; Review: Oh boy....interesting analogy, but I believe that the cause of the woes of many organizations cannot be attributed to just this cause. For the sakes of an entertaining analogy it may entertain you.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Think and Grow Rich; Author: Visit Amazon's Napoleon Hill Page; Review: I loved this book and when reading you have to keep in my mind the time it was written in. I did think the author was reaching with his claims on communing with the "infinite intelligence" as he calls it. The great value of this book is definitely the last chapter. Anybody who reads will surely think differently in retrospect and will most certainly try to improve his/her life after that even if it is for three days. Very memorable and well written last chapter!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Personal Efficiency Program: How to Get Organized to Do More Work in Less Time; Author: Visit Amazon's Kerry Gleeson Page; Review: Apart from giving you the "ins and outs" of personal organization, the author gives you some important pointers, which in my point of view is "added value". It is clearly written, and easy to finish. The chapter summaries make the whole PEM programa easy to carry out and implement. If you want to get organized, buy this book!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Black Creek Crossing; Author: Visit Amazon's John Saul Page; Review: I loved this novel, it tok me two nights to finish, it is greatly written, the charcaters are well portrayed, though I would have liked another ending, it is a good ending, that makes for a good horror story.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Coleman Cable 01934 3-Feet Generator Power Cord Adapter, 10/4 Splitter Y Adapter, L14-30P to (2) 10/3 Lighted 5-20R; Brand: Coleman Cable; Review: Molded L14-30 male plug to dual 5-20 molded receptacles. Splitter junction is also molded. Each 20 amp plug is on a different leg of the 220VAC circuit (I tested to make sure) as it should be. 18-inch 10/4 cord between L14-30 plug and splitter. 6-inch 10/3 cords between splitter and 5-20 receptacles. The 5-20 receptacles are lighted when powered. The 30 amp plug locks into all the receptacles I tried it in (about 3). The 20 amp receptacles accept both 15 and 20 amp standard plugs.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: EATON L1430P 30-Amp 125/250-Volt Hart-Lock Industrial Grade Plug with Safety Grip, Black and White; Brand: EATON Wiring; Review: Medium quality L14-30 plug (would not recommend for industrial use) acceptable for home use. Comes with 3 sizes of jaws for the cord clamp. Uses clamp type terminals. If using with stranded cable bend the cable before striping it. It will go into the terminals much easier. I used it to make a custom cord to power my home from a portable generator. There's enough room inside for 10/4 stranded cable with a heavy jacket.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Linzer 5425 Plastic 5-Gallon Paint Can Opener, Orange; Brand: Linzer; Review: I bought this for lid removal for food grade buckets. It doesn't work on the buckets I have with short lids.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blue Sea Systems A-Series Toggle Double Pole Circuit Breakers; Brand: Blue Sea Systems; Review: I ordered this for a custom build load center for my 6KW generator. I needed a panel mount 30 amp breaker and this seemed to fit. I read the rating information on the side and is says it trips at 40.5 amps at 34 seconds (this is typical for thermo-magnetic breakers). This will work for short control, but not for generator protection (for that I need to trip at 30 amp instantly). Other than needing the next lower size for what I intended it seems to be a very good product. The load and line connections are stainless steel with stainless screws as most of the internals seem to be. If one side trips the other trip automatically. It comes with 2 types of screws for panel mounting. The description could have been more informative of the actual function. Overall, a quality product.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: DMT D2K 2.5-inch Dia-Sharp Diamond Mini-Hone Kit of C, F, E; Brand: DMT (Diamond Machining Technology); Review: I purchased these thnking the handle would be flat with the diamond surface. I could not find sufficient pictures from the manufacturer, Amazom.com, or any review on youtube. I found that the handle is slightly offset from the diamond surface, therefore I could not use them. I have found DMT products to be very good overall. I have recently discovered that they do wear out when used to flatten ceramic sharpening stones. Overall, I would recommend these sharpeners if they fit what you need. The diamond surface creates a good sharp edge quickly. It is much faster than wet or dry sand paper, natural stone, or ceramic.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Naturalight™ 7" Magnifying Lamp with Clamp, 3 Diopter, 28 Watt Bulb, White; Brand: Daylight; Review: I purchased this to add light to my desk and give a little magnification on small parts I work on. The magnification is low power, but the large lens gives a good field of view. I do wish it had a cover for the lens. The neck seems to be the weakest point and it comes with 2 warnings to loosen the knob before adjusting the head. The light is as described. It has not flickered on me yet and it seems to have a good color balance. I like that the switch is on the head of the lamp instead of the cord. That was the final deciding factor for me. Overall, I would recommend if you don't need the higher power lens. I could not find a higher power replacement lens from the manufacturer.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Safety 1st Secure Mount Deadbolt Lock; Brand: Safety 1st; Review: The deadbolt lock works as designed. My children could not figure out how to open it. Used it for about a year. We opened the lock with this protector 20-30 times per day easily. Started breaking down after 2 months. One of the springs that pushes the buttons out broke after 2 months. The other was showing signs of breaking when I removed it. The clear plastic bubble was wearing heavily on the white plastic base. Small shards of white plastic were showing in the bubble. We didn't use it for the next house we moved to. Pros: Easy to install (screwdriver required). Easy to remove. Kept my children from opening the deadbolt. Does not damage the door. Does not use adhesive. Does not interfere with use of key in lock. Cons: Longevity. Spring busted through after 2 months of use. Still usable but not as effective. Materials. The plastics started shedding after a six months of use.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Klein Tools VDV212-008-SEN Compact Compression Crimper, F-Connector; Brand: Klein Tools; Review: Does not fully compress popular PPC EX6 connectors. I had to add a spacer to get it to fully engage the connector. Mine also did not have the markings for the different types of connectors. Should work great if you are using connectors longer than PPC.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Triangle Bulbs Cool White LED Waterproof Flexible Strip Light, T93007-1 (1 pack) - 25 watt, 300"3528 SMD", 12; Brand: Triangle Bulbs; Review: Bought these to use outdoors on a project that should remain under cover for most of its life. They are acceptable, but not great. Whatever sealant used has a somewhat unpleasant odor. I am sure is will dissipate, but for may application it does not matter. The adhesive is very disappointing. I struggled to get the backing off without removing the adhesive. Fortunately this will not affect my application much either. Lights are bright white. What does affect my application is that no plug was included on the lead wires. The included instructions show that it plugs right in to a power supply. Now I get to fabricate a connection. You can't just cut it like it says in the description either. About every 30 LEDs is a soldered connection that cannot be joined without resoldering if you cut it (cannot use the plastic 8mm connectors). If you want to cut is yo will have to scrape off the sealant very carefully to use a 8mm flat connector. Overall, I can make it work for my application. Would have been nice to have a plug instead of tinned wires for power or this inconvenience explained in the description.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: uxcell 2PCS DC 5.5x2.1mm Male to Female Connector CCTV Camera Power Extension Cable 3Ft; Brand: uxcell; Review: Bought these as a replacement for the first one that didn't work correctly. The plug ends work with the Radio Shack type M plug (5.5mmx2.1mm). There is another plug that will fit the connector but may not work (the 5.5x2.5mm plug). Be aware of which you have. Took me a while to figure out why my connectors were not working properly. Other than the confusing connector sizes, they work fine.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Roybens E27 base 12W AC PIR Infrared Motion Detection Sensor Light Sensor LED; Brand: ; Review: Not happy with Amazon on this purchase. I ordered one fulfilled by Amazon, but was shipped from China. It was as described, but took several weeks to arrive. I bought this to use for my garage. There is no override function to keep it on that I could find. If I am out of its range or not moving enough it shut off, leaving me to find the switch in the dark with obstacles. I had to go back to the always on light. Seems best for areas that get traffic rather than occupancy.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: NT Cutter PRO Auto-Lock Stainless Steel Utility Knife (A-1P); Brand: NT CUTTER; Review: I really enjoy using quality tools. After fighting with a junk plastic cutter, I decided I wanted one that works. Mine came with 2 blades. Blades are sharp and snap easily for a new edge. Blade adjustment glides smoothly and locks into place without additional effort. I recommend.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: ELIKE 3266TA 600A Auto-Ranging Digital Clamp On Meter & Multimeter with NCV,AC/DC Voltage,Resistor,Diode,Continuity; Brand: ELIKE; Review: Don't expect much and you will not be disappointed. Does not read amperage fast enough to get reliable inrush current. The NCV sensor is not very sensitive. The slow auto-ranging, lack of beeping, and auto-off function make it annoying to use. Comes with probe cables and usable cheap nylon case.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rolled Mastic Duct Sealants Foils 3'' X100; Brand: hardcast; Review: The description (as I write this Sep '16) states UL 181B-FX listed. It is not marked on the tape or manufacturers data sheet with this UL listing. That means it is not usable in Florida for sealing flex duct. As far as I can tell it cannot be used to seal metal or fiberglass duct boxes either. I like the fact that it is butyl adhesive. The junk acrylic adhesives on the cheaper UL listed foil tapes last 3-10 years at best. I bought it for sealing flex duct and fsk fiberglass boxes but, if it is not code approved I can't use it. It has UL listed marking for flame spread, but not the FBC Required UL 181B listing.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: TORCHSTAR 4-inch UL-Listed Remodel Can, Air Tight IC Housing, E26 Socket Included, Recessed Retrofit Kit for 120V Line; Brand: TORCHSTAR; Review: Don't believe the instructions. Instructions say cut 4.5" hole. Template says cut 4.25" hole (which I didn't catch until after cutting the first hole). It barely fit in the 4.5" hole and was a perfect fit for the 4.25" hole. I don't know how these are called air tight. The cutouts for the spring arms are not covered or air tight. Other than that they work. I ordered 12 and 2 were not damaged in shipping. Four were damaged but still usable. Two were damaged and may be usable, and four were so badly damaged they were unusable. Sent back 1 six pack. I used Fiet 4" LED Recessed Lights with Trim 5000K from Costco. Couldn't find 5000K on Amazon. They work OK with the fixture.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 100PD Commercial Grade Pocket / Sliding Door Hardware (72"); Brand: Johnson Hardware; Review: Received door hardware as listed (mostly). My set came with the cheaper rollers for a lightweight door. Two of the pictures showed the more expensive ball bearing rollers. I purchased the soft close kit additionally which comes with rollers and door mounts. The track is extruded aluminum and very sturdy. Pay attention to the instructions as you will likely need to cut it to allow the rollers to be installed. The track design allows for accumulation of dust and dirt away from the rollers giving a long life before accumulation starts causing problems. The screws are gold colored for the silver track. The rollers that came with the kit have 3 wheels without bearings. Should last OK with a lightweight door. Rollers and hangers I received are gold colored and the screws are zinc plated. Not a problem if you trim the door as instructed to hide the rollers. The instructions require more than basic knowledge of doors and construction methods. If you are building your own pocket door you should have that knowledge anyway. The videos are helpful, but this kit is designed for making your own pocket door frame or replacing your existing junk hardware. Overall, I am very satisfied with the purchase. It was less costly for me to order this kit and the soft close/open kits (2 for both) than to piece it together from the manufacturer's or other websites that I could find. I have extra rollers and mounts left over. The 4 star rating is because the carelessness of screws not matching hardware color.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Leviton IPHS5-1LI Humidity Sensor and Fan Control, Single Pole, Ivory; Brand: Leviton; Review: I am very disappointed in this humidity sensor. I set it up on the counter in my master bath to see if it worked and fine tune the settings. It appeared to work OK. Then I installed it in the wall. It does not come on when showering. It comes on every time the AC comes on. I adjust the settings according to the instructions, then it never comes on. So far it is only good for the 10 minute (minimum) fan timer. Overall, it turns out to be a expensive fan timer and not so good as a humidity sensor. I do not recommend this product for a bathroom.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Soto Pocket Torch; Brand: soto; Review: I purchased this torch Jan 2016 after reading many glowing reviews. It is nice to have a torch that can use a commonly available refuel source (Scripto style lighter). I waited over a year for the torch to be available after first learning of it. To put is kindly, it did not live up to its reputation or hype. It looks nice, feels nice. The activation button is very hard to press and the piezo electric igniter is weak. It is very difficult to operate for more than 30 seconds (guessing intentional design). If you have weak fingers you will find it difficult to activate and more difficult to hold on. I had to play with the lighter flame setting to get enough gas to ignite (poor design/ construction). I had to play with the igniter wire as well to get it into a place to get a mediocre spark to ignite. When low on gas it is very difficult to get it to ignite. Once I ripped off the guard and turned up the gas over the highest lighter setting it seemed to work somewhat reliably. I have only used Scripto branded lighters in it. Remember, it uses butane which stays liquid around 32F. Which means you keep it in your pocket to make it work if you are in below freezing conditions. Overall, very disappointed, not recommended.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: KES SUS 304 Stainless Steel Garage Storage Organizer Hook Bathroom Toilet Single Robe Towel Coat Hook Rustproof Kitchen Utensil Utility; Brand: Kes; Review: When I first got these I was not sure they were stainless steel as described. I brushed the bottom of one near the tooling marks with rough sandpaper and ran it through the dishwasher several time. It did not corrode. I did not test the screws or screw covers. Good: Stainless steel as described, heavy steel not easily bent, screw covers, brushed finish, no rough cutting edges. Bad: Brush finish applied before stamping or forming into hook shape left noticeable tooling marks on the bottom and stamping marks on the edges. Missing Screws, got 8 for 10 holes. The tooling and stamping marks can be brushed out with rough sandpaper or a stainless steel brush (carbon steel brush will embed particles that will rust) if you want to put up with fixing the hooks. Overall, If you want a low cost stainless steel hook OK, but do I really want to fix the finish?; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ives by Schlage 230B15 Sliding Door Edge Pull; Brand: Schlage Lock Company; Review: This pull has a nice brass heft to it. Took me almost an hour to chisel the door frame to fit it. I recommend sharp chisels, slow pace, and much patience. I took my time and the hole turned out great. Be patient with the screws. They are #6 and need to be hand threaded during the long fitting process. The instructions were not much help. There is a clear coating over the entire pull which appears to be brushed nickel plated brass with a steel spring. It does not have a counter lever to push into to get the pull handle out. It must be grabbed by the tab on the bottom that sits inside a small recess. I had to bend out the lower tab to make grabbing the pull a little easier. Overall, it works as intended and has a nice heft to it.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Citiloc Round Bed / Bath Privacy Pocket Door Latch Satin Nickel; Brand: Citiloc; Review: I bought this style because the door I used for a pocket door was removed from another location in my house and had the holes for the lockset already cut. I preferred the way this brand works over the Stanley one. The lockset I received is as pictured with the thumbturn as shown. The instructions indicate that one side of the thumbturn is longer, but that is not the case with this model. It was easy enough to install and somewhat annoying to adjust. It fit over the 2-3/8" backset that was already cut in my door. It fit the hole, but did not cover the size of the previous lockset. Easy to fix, but be mindful you may need to fill in marks and paint. The bolt is not perfectly square to the housing which caused me some trouble. Additionally, I had to grind the back side of the catch (strike plate) because the door after adjustment didn't allow the lock pin to insert fully into the catch. A little grinding with the rotary tool and it works as it should now. It came with 2 sets of screws for different door thicknesses. It installed on my 1-3/8" door with the shorter screws. The thumbturn is a little hard to grab to turn. It leads to pushing on the door which can push to door out of alignment with the catch enough to keep it from locking. To fix this will require some creative millwork carpentry to reduce the door movement at the stop. We'll see how it goes. Overall, I am not in love with it, and it works for what I need it for.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Johnson Hardware Bifold 72" 1700 Closet Door Hardware; Brand: Johnson Hardware; Review: My biggest beef with this product is the fact it doesn't come in white. I couldn't find the aluminum version on Amazon. It works as advertised. It is better with great longevity than the junk hardware that came with the bifold door. I spray painted the track white to help hide it. The upper guide pin is rough (because I painted it) and rubs off the paint. I would have been able to hide it better with trim if I had installed it when putting in the closet. It leaves a small gap between the panels, but the panels are flush instead of turned into each other. It is also made to fit doors large than 18". I had to move the top pivot to clear the shallow clearance of my closet shelves. I also had to inset the lower support bracket int the wall. These were my doing and I fixed the problem. Be mindful that the installation instructions will require 2.5-3" of inside clearance. I found that the support pin snaps into the upper bracket and can be a bit difficult to remove. Because my door was so small (18") it was difficult to fit both upper pins in place at the same time. The best thing is that it is off the floor and allows for easier flooring removal and installation. Overall, I will likely purchase again for other closet doors I need to install or replace hardware.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Aeotec Panic Button, Z-Wave One Button Remote Control, Scene Trigger; Brand: Aeon Labs; Review: Bought this solely for the purpose of silencing an alarm from my bedside. Mine arrived with a dead cell (battery). So I put in the one from my 4 button Aeotec remote. I could not get it to work with Domoticz as a secondary controller. I am using an Aeotec Z-Stick so I thought it would be compatible. It would not receive the command to change mode from Setup to Use (Group to Scene). Following instructions to add it as a secondary controller to a Z-wave device removed at least one device from my system. It added and removed OK, but it would work partially on some devices and not others. If you can get it to work with your controller AND control software it will provide 2 buttons for you, short press and long (2s) press. Nice small size. Heavy weight frame. Not too secure cell compartment. Did not come with keychain like 4 button remote. The 4 button remote of exactly the same size has a hardware method to change mode from Setup to Use. Tried same method on this without success. It cannot be used as a secondary controller unless it is in Use Mode. My Z-Stick responds fine to settings commands from Domoticz. Not sure if this is a Aeotec problem or Domoticz problem. If you ask they will likely point fingers at each other. Domoticz is open source so don't expect help there. Could find anything useful to solve the problem. I was adding the button as encrypted and that may have had something to do with it. Maybe I should go to HomeSeer.......; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: ZOOZ Z-Wave Plus Toggle On Off Wall Switch ZEN23 (White) VER. 2.0, Works with Existing Regular 3-Way Switch; Brand: ZOOZ; Review: Strange device. The air gap switch works opposite of what the instructions say. Then you have plug in 20W to get the dimmer to work properly (according to instructions). That's a rather large load for LED lamps (about 130W equivalent tungsten). It ramps the dimming up and down depending on how you activate the toggle switches. The biggest plus I see is that you can use a regular switch for the slave 3 way setup (but it doesn't dim) instead of an expensive dedicated slave switch (like GE/Jasco does). Overall, I'd use it but it requires such a large load for LED lamps that it does not work for my situation.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Strategy of Satan: How to Detect and Defeat Him; Author: Warren Wiersbe; Review: Dr. Warren Wiersbe is a very credible, thought provoking writer of Biblical content and always gives me knowledge and motivational thoughts and concepts. Even though this book was written in the past, his treatment of the subject stands true to the Bible and he gives his readers a plan to realize and confront Satan and his never ending wiles in this world.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: O Worship the King; Author: John MacArthur; Review: what a breath of fresh air to listen to and read comments about hymns of the past. These are not sung and appreciated enough in our contemporary society. Thanks to these great Christians, theologians and concerned friends for offering a look into this almost lost genre of hymnody.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Twelve Extraordinary Women : How God Shaped Women of the Bible and What He Wants to Do With You; Author: John MacArthur; Review: Dr. John's MacArthur's book, Twelve Extraordinary Women - How God Shaped Women of the Bible and What He wants to do with you - has proven to be an ideal textbook used in two women's study groups. His writing style offers many clear and picturesque descriptions of each of his 12 subjects. Personal applications abound as each life is protrayed Biblically and from a human standpoint. I highly recommend this book for individual reading as well as a group study textbook.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What Jesus Demands from the World (Paperback Edition); Author: Visit Amazon's John Piper Page; Review: To those who are interested and want to know, Mr. Piper presents a clear, consice and above all Biblical account of the very words of Jesus throughout the gospels as he gave commands to His disciples and those who listened to Him from time to time. The book's introduction sets the stage to believe these words without a shadow of doubt. The chapters are small and each one highlights a demand. This book is being used as a text in a ladies' Sunday school class. Much is being learned and understood about these topics. I highly recommend the personal reading of the book as well as it being shared in a group setting.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul: Stories of Feline Affection, Mystery and Charm (Chicken Soup for the Soul); Author: Mark Victor Hansen; Review: The teen titles from Chicken Soup always hit the mark. These books represent so many titles and the interviews with real people really pack a message.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: [(Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul: Stories of Feline Affection, Mystery and Charm)] [Author: Jack Canfield] published on; Author: Jack Canfield; Review: The teen titles from Chicken Soup always hit the mark. These books represent so many titles and the interviews with real people really pack a message.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Quiet Place: Daily Devotional Readings; Author: Nancy Leigh DeMoss; Review: Ms DeMoss, so well-known for her women's ministries, has given us another window into walking with God. Her scripture references, insight and her own personal walk with the Savior comes across loud and clear and gives the ready knowledge, hope and an avenue of praise to God.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Risk Is Right: Better to Lose Your Life Than to Waste It; Author: Visit Amazon's John Piper Page; Review: Mr. Piper never fails to stir our minds and for me, to sit up and take notice of how God can supply needs when risk is taken.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Little Messengers of Comfort; Author: Carolyn Shores Wright; Review: Beautiful art work accompanied by timely comments to share with those experience loss of various kinds. Ms Wrights books are well worth the purchase.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The work of the Holy Spirit,; Author: Visit Amazon's Abraham Kuyper Page; Review: This subject is often overlooked or not included in Bible study and sermons. Mr. Kuyper will give you pertinent info from God's Word on this essential and important person of the trinity.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Prayers to Soothe Your Soul; Author: Sandy Lynam Clough; Review: Her beautiful art work along with the helping comments and prayers are soul refreshing. I have several of her books and am always pleased with the appearance and content.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Daughters Inheritance (Broadmoor Legacy, Book 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Tracie Peterson Page; Review: The events of the story were interesting and kept my attention. However, I was disappointed that Jonas' plot was not discovered. Also the ending left me hanging. Wanted to know about Fanny and Michael's life together.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dear Leader: Poet, Spy, Escapee--A Look Inside North Korea; Author: Jang Jin-sung; Review: I became aware of Mr. Jang through the English language editions of chosun.com. Almost. Immediately I bought the Kindle copy of his book. I am very interested in all things Korean, both north and south. His escape and exhilarating flight to freedom was so encouraging to know that people are seeking and receiving freedom from that heinous state. Mahalo for the account. And I pray for him and his family many years of peace and success.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deja Vu Bride; Author: Visit Amazon's Debra Ullrick Page; Review: The mix of terrible beginnings and happy endings kept my attention to the end. A great confirmation of God's sovereignty and love!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Centurion's Wife (Acts of Faith, Book 1); Author: Janette Oke; Review: The Glorious fact of Jesus' resurrection was the highlight of this profound story. Mr. Bunn' s knowledge of scripture and his research gave this novel a life of truth.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Innocent Witness (Protection Specialists); Author: Visit Amazon's Terri Reed Page; Review: Attention grabbing with each turn of a page. The action speed was a bit overwhelming, but over all an exciting read.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Girl in the Gatehouse; Author: Visit Amazon's Julie Klassen Page; Review: Even if my interest waned a bit, I could not desert this intriguing story. So many matrimonies in the end was proof of the great story web she wove.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Seeing the Unseen: A Daily Dose of Eternal Perspective; Author: Visit Amazon's Randy Alcorn Page; Review: This book remains on my 'daily reads', having read through it many times. Mr. Acorns Scriptural, spiritual incites bring refreshing starts for each day.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Bid For Love; Author: Visit Amazon's Rachel Ann Nunes Page; Review: A suspenseful 'nail biter'. The plot' s twists and turns were intriguing. Thanks to the author for acknowledging God early on in the story'; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Against the Tide; Author: Visit Amazon's Elizabeth Camden Page; Review: Thanks many times over for Ms Camden's theme, plot and arduous details to uncover the horrors and addiction to opium use. The characters in her story wove these details into a late night page turner. Thank you for your awesome talent and for your faith in a delivering God!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Damascus Way, The (Acts of Faith); Author: Janette Oke; Review: The trilogy these outstanding authors have offered are both Biblical in content and added are the other gifts of their collaborations providing the reader historical backdrops and sweet romantic appeal.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Messianic Jewish Epistles: Hebrews, James, First Peter, Second Peter, Jude; Author: Visit Amazon's Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum Page; Review: Having listened to this noted outstanding Biblical scholar many times over, so happy to replace this book that I have given away on several occasions. His verse by verse, almost word by word explanations of these Bible books are to a degree unequaled.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kate: Loyal Wife, Royal Mother, Queen-In-Waiting; Author: Jessica Long; Review: A rather short, concise detailed review of this lovely Princess. I assume the important details were convered. The writing was refreshing. The reader is exposed to the reasons behind her lovely genuine smile.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists; Author: R. Albert Mohler Jr.; Review: Another stunning rendition from this outstanding author. He leaves no stone in covering this topic. A wakeup call for Christians to be aware of how we stand up for our beliefs and the tenants of our faith; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Utmost for His Highest: Updated Language Paperback; Author: Visit Amazon's Oswald Chambers Page; Review: Yes, perhaps many others have read, reread, read, reread Mr. Chambers classic edition. The book is in my Kindle and when the Dec. 31 'chapter' is finished, Jan. 1 is read the next day, etc for another year. I highly recommend this man's Biblical knowledge, his passion to share God's word and his relentless reminders to the reader to stay the course. ,; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Christmas Bargain (A Victorian Holiday Romance); Author: Visit Amazon's Shanna Hatfield Page; Review: A sweet turn of events that were long coming. The author spun a lovely tale that held my interest to the end. Philomena became Filly. She escaped from being an abused daughter to become the wife of the town banker. Beautiful transition - almost a Cinderella story with a heart warming ending!! A highly recommended read; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dangerous Allies (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical); Author: Visit Amazon's Renee Ryan Page; Review: A precarious road well traveled thanks to the author's intriguing plot! Thoroughly enjoyed another Renee Ryan suspense filled love story as well as being educated and reminded of the perils of that terrible war!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NIV, Once-A-Day Walk with Jesus Devotional, Paperback: 365 Days in the New Testament; Author: Visit Amazon's Zondervan Page; Review: A short quick daily devotion. Has substance and makes good points; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The 1001 Rewards & Recognition Fieldbook: The Complete Guide; Author: Bob Nelson Ph.D.; Review: Not exactly what I thought. Thought it would give ideas and plans for volunteer banquets/luncheons. Didnot; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: How to Talk So People Will Listen; Author: Stephen W. Brown; Review: Have just begun reading this book, but look forward to the good leads; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prayer: Conversing With God; Author: Visit Amazon's Rosalind Rinker Page; Review: Appreciate this author. I was happy to review 'conversational prayer' in her book. An exceptional way to converse with God in a group setting!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Someone Like You; Author: Visit Amazon's Victoria Bylin Page; Review: That's the experience the reader can expect! Beautiful love story -God's love establishing human love! The reading came to a satisfied end at 3:45 am. Try it! You will enjoy to the max!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Once an Heiress (Gilded Promises); Author: Visit Amazon's Renee Ryan Page; Review: The leading lady hung in thru thick and thin. The author kept my attention for sure. A good read to the end!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Disillusioned; Author: Visit Amazon's Christy Barritt Page; Review: Yes, it is beyond me that an Arthur could conjure up so many mind tingling plots in one story!! But it takes place and kept me coming back to read how these unraveled. Her minds imagination was breathless at times. Thank you Christy Barritt for an exceptional read!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Elusive Miss Ellison (Regency Brides: A Legacy of Grace); Author: Visit Amazon's Carolyn Miller Page; Review: So impressed with the authors determined bold inclusion of Scripture and plan of salvation. Finished this book on a rainy afternoon in Hawaii. Mahalo many times for a great story including the triumph of Gods grace over evil!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Careys Manor Hotel SenSpa; City: Brockenhurst New Forest National Park Hampshire Hampshire Eng; Review: I would highly recommend Carey's Manor. Amazing spa and facilities, great staff, delicious food, lovely room.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Champneys Forest Mere; City: Liphook Hampshire England; Review: Food delicious, staff lovely, However, one word: shabby. No drinking water in rooms, no drinking water unless you ask at the bar, or go to have a treatment. Worn old gowns. No jacuzzi (just cold water whirlpool). Thalassotherapy unit not open unless you pay to have a treatment. Needs to have a complete overhaul - was probably lovely 10 years ago. Eating areas resemble cafes. Plastic plants all around - on tables in corridors.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Decks of Paihia Luxury Bed and Breakfast; City: Paihia Bay of Islands Northland Region North I; Review: everything A1. welcoming lovely Wendy and Phil bent over backwards to welcome us. Great location. i thought i did the best omelettes until I tried our hostess's! Pool amazing. We will make a point of returning; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 82 Fishbourne; City: Fishbourne Chichester West Sussex England; Review: Faultless service, faultless lovely clean room, nice touches like makeup remover wipes, shoe clean wipes. Delicious breakfast. Nik even gave us a lift to the station when we couldn't get a cab in time. Brilliant host - my preferred choice of destination for Chichester stays in the future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Villa Eden Leading Park Retreat; City: Merano Province of South Tyrol Trentino Alto Adige; Review: Great hotel, lovely location walking distance from Merano, lovely helpful smiley staff. Was disappointed they charged for water (even though nothing in room showed it was chargeable) having spent 3000 euros for six nights - thought this was a very mean of them because when I challenged it they refused to credit me. A long trek from the nearest airport. I wouldn't go again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Villa Padierna Palace Hotel; City: Benahavis Costa del Sol Province of Malaga Andalucia; Review: Rude staff, bad service, awful food. The hotel is still beautiful, best bathrooms ever, but this hotel has gone down the pan since last year when I stayed there. Never again. And they charge a daily rate for internet access.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Colts Neck Inn Hotel; City: Colts Neck New Jersey; Review: There were nasty hairs in the bed so they gave us another room. Carpet felt dirty, bathroom nasty plastic with rusty shower fitting. Whole place smelled of damp. Room was dark - insufficient lighting. I have never stayed in a worse hotel during any trip to the USA.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: The Corner House Hotel; City: Taunton Somerset England; Review: I only wish I'd known they had such a great selection of wines beforehand as we'd have arrived earlier and sampled some. Lovely breakfast, very helpful staff. Room 17 was too small, though, for double occupancy - one of us had to keep sitting on the bed to let the other one pass.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: NH Amsterdam Centre; City: Amsterdam North Holland Province; Review: This hotel is just basic. Staff are just okay. Room small and just okay. But when I came to check out they were insistent I paid an extra Euros 20 for breakfast - I said I had no breakfast! Then I had to find my reservation, say it was not included in the rate. She then said "you have to have breakfast". Hilarious. Definitely would never stay at an NH hotel again. Even if I wanted breakfast I'm not paying 20 euros from some fruit and bread!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Thalasia Costa de Murcia; City: San Pedro del Pinatar; Review: Stayed 10 nights in January - was brilliant. Lovely friendly staff. However, on a diet break the kitchen staff have a very limited menu for slimming food (steak or white fish every lunch and every dinner!). Breakfast buffet is lovely BUT the coffee at breakfast is the worst coffee I've ever had in any hotel worldwide! They need to change - apparently they keep being told to do this but ignore all customer requests.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ambasciatori Place Hotel; City: Fiuggi Province of Frosinone Lazio; Review: We stayed at two hotels in Fiuggi during our recent trip - the Grand Hotel Palazzo and this one. This is literally down the hill from the posh one - food much better, more friendly, right in the town. Fab breakfast. Our extras for two massages, 3 course a la carte dinner for two, one very good bottle of wine, was only 170 Euros. 2 poached eggs in the posh one cost 10 euros! Stay here if you're torn between the two.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Four Seasons Hotel; City: Limassol Limassol District; Review: Went there for a wedding - would highly recommend as a wedding venue destination. The staff there were amazingly lovely - was one of the loveliest places. The staff couldn't do enough for us, nothing was too much trouble. It is expensive but it is definitely worth it. Oh, and the breakfast buffet is sublime!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tryp Barcelona Aeropuerto Hotel; City: El Prat de Llobregat Catalonia; Review: Nice hotel, near the airport. Functional, clean, cheap and I would definitely stay there again the night before an early flight. I wouldn't bother getting up for the "breakfast" though - just pastries and nasty coffee.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Copenhagen Admiral Hotel; City: Copenhagen Zealand; Review: This was recommended by a local so I expected it to be good. However, I dropped my earring down the back of the fridge and the staff were so very lovely - they pulled the fridge apart while I was eating breakfast and delivered it to me at the table. They were polite, helpful, lovely, courteous and I would recommend anyone going to Copenhagen stays at this delightful hotel. Breakfast was absolutely delicious. Great value for money - go there.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Refinery Hotel; City: New York City New York; Review: Still here writing as so impressed. I will never stay anywhere else in Manhattan. Service room impeccable. I even used their shampoo. They left us a happy honeymoon card and cake in our room - so thoughtful for such a busy place. Stay here when you're in NYC!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Central Hotel Donegal; City: Donegal Town County Donegal; Review: Room dated and dark. Staff never smile even on arrival Receptionist to the point. Breakfast in canteen with push along trays white oven cooked bacon. Nasty tomatoes. Overdone greasy eggs. Awful coffee. Uncomfortable bed. Don't stay here there are lots of other hotels in Donegal - I can't remember what made me book this place!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Park House Hotel; City: Galway County Galway Western Ireland; Review: Two nights of faultless service. Beautiful room (and we had a standard one). Fabulous food both dinner and breakfasts. Staff couldn't do enough. Even valet parking. Felt like superb large city polished five star hotel. Stay at this hotel if you're going to Galway - cannot recommend enough!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Breakers Guest House; City: Eastbourne East Sussex England; Review: My daughter and boyfriend took our place because I had made a mistake with the booking. But I saw the room which was fantastic - so clean and with such a lovely outlook and balcony. The owner was really nice about my error and welcomed my daughter who said it was one of the best English breakfasts ever. Next time we are in Eastbourne we will stay!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Grand Hotel Eastbourne; City: Eastbourne East Sussex England; Review: We took our grandchild who is a baby to stay. They not only provided a cot but a changing mat, a bath seat and a rubber duck to take home. He ate breakfast messily in their lovely dining room and they couldn't have been kinder. Our room was five star fabulous. We will definitely stay again; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Suite Lisbon; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: We took four suites. Friends had the ine with courtyard and there was mould all over the bedroom wall. Here is a photo of our bathroom which was in a different part of the building. They charge to change the towels. The staff are very friendly but I would not stay again - none of the four of us who took suits would either; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hotel l Hospice Gantois; City: Lille Nord Hauts de France; Review: Beautiful. Bundles of character. It wold be a great place for a wedding. Very nice staff. We are very lucky to have found this adorable hotel. Ask for room 101 as it's on the ground floor next to the bar. The atrium is really beautiful. There's an actual church!!! Courtyard with champagne; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Residence Inn Cherry Hill Philadelphia; City: Cherry Hill New Jersey; Review: This was booked and paid for - we didn't choose it. There was a small kitchen which I imagine would be useful if you wanted to self cater. But the walls were a horrible yellow colour - they should have gone Nordic in their design. There was a smell of cooking in the corridor which I didn't like. The staff were lovely and helpful though. Don't expect your towels to be changed/bed made - we were there three nights and that only happens when you leave.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wagner at the Battery; City: New York City New York; Review: We had a room with a view of the Statue of Liberty. We had the best experience. The bed was FANTASTIC! did not want to leave. Room lovely, staff lovely - honestly I could not fault this beautiful hotel in such a lovely location. Even nice little bottles of water for free in the room. Happy happy memories of my last stay in NYC - will stay in this hotel again.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: InterContinental Wellington; City: Wellington Greater Wellington North Island; Review: Arrived frazzled after horrible experience when hotel booked did not even answer the door (called At Home - don't book it - check out all comments from the management when people give even slightly negative feedback) and while husband checking us in lovely concierge came over and offered me a drink as he saw how tired I was. We had a club room - really worth the cost. Great breakfasts!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Decks of Paihia Luxury Bed and Breakfast; City: Paihia Bay of Islands Northland Region North I; Review: Fabulous place beautiful location. Wendy and Phil are so welcoming. Our room amazing - jacuzzi bath and even bath salts! Really like a high class hotel rather than a Bed and Breakfast And the best breakfast we've had so far in New Zealand This was our second visit and they've only got better Photo is view from balcony of our room. STAY HERE!!"; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Lindrum Melbourne MGallery Collection; City: Melbourne Victoria; Review: We did have a few issues here at this beautiful boutique hotel but the Manager personally picked them up and told us what steps he was going to take. The thing about this hotel is that they really care that their guests have a great stay. It's in a really good location too. I would definitely stay here again on our next visit to Melbourne.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Grace Hotel Sydney; City: Sydney New South Wales; Review: Wonderful helpful staff Let us check in very early for free - check out late minimal charge. Lovely room. Really good location. Three downsides: Two mean bath towels (women need one for their hair too) and not good quality towels either; we paid for an upgraded room which was huge but had no bath but really good sized shower (maybe because we checked in early so happy to be wrong about that); thirdly breakfast not good. Congealed pre cooked fried eggs even though chef looked bored waiting for omelette orders and lots of tinned fruit - only small selection fresh fruit.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 30 James Street Home of the Titanic; City: Liverpool Merseyside England; Review: However!!! Room didn't get serviced. They put new bottle of prosecco in on ice and new towels but left wet ones on floor. Bed didn't get made Bathroom not cleaned. We had been out all day so they had 10 hours to do it. Breakfast just okay. Staff lovely though. And our room was cold - drafty windows; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel Palazzo della Fonte; City: Fiuggi Province of Frosinone Lazio; Review: If you're going for slick, don't go. If you're going for old fashioned charm, go. Lovely hotel. We've been twice for conferences. I would seriously highly recommend, although it is tired. The food was not good. Eat in the town. Staff are very nice.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ambasciatori Place Hotel; City: Fiuggi Province of Frosinone Lazio; Review: This was our third stay. We had a superior room which wasn't superior. Uncomfortable bed (two beds joined) horrible pillows Spa so crowded you could not get in the pool. Shower freezing then boiling - when we complained they shrugged their shoulders. And don't ask them to get you a taxi - 15 euros to go 2km. Never again Ambasciatori.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Excelsior Palace Hotel; City: Rapallo Italian Riviera Liguria; Review: I adored this place. The staff were wonderful. I thought I was in the 30s - crisp white uniforms serving drinks on the beautiful terrace. Amazing breakfast. However, would have got five stars but after dinner drinks on the terrace overlooking the med - saw a rat twice!! The staff said as long as it was outside it wasn't a problem - I think if you actually see a rat TWICE when people are around they have a plague. I think they need to retain a good pest control company!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel Beauvau Marseille Vieux Port MGallery Collection; City: Marseille Bouches du Rhone; Review: Our room was lovely, though we didn't pay for sea view. We were late arrival from the train from Italy and they were expecting us and very helpful with where we could find something to eat. I was unwell before we left (we stayed two nights) and they let us have late checkout until 2pm. The breakfast was very good. However, it was a bit of a shambles on Easter Sunday - too many people queueing for everything and very disorganised service, everything kept on running out.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel do Chiado; City: Lisbon Lisbon District Central Portugal; Review: We are three couples who booked three rooms with fabulous views following drinks on rooftop bar last year The only good thing was the view. Air conditioning rubbish. The pillows probably worst ever in any hotel I've stayed in. There was no plug in the bath - had to phone for one. Breakfast is a marathon: jug of lukewarm stewed coffee on buffet table but cup on place setting so run around to get refill. Minuscule juice glasses. Old scrambled or hard boiled eggs. Nobody serving anyone anything. And this was over 200 euros a night. Don't waste your money - there are other fabulous hotels in Lisbon for less than half the price. And two other couples totally agree that I should not have insisted on booking this place!; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Fairfield Inn Corning Riverside; City: Corning Finger Lakes New York; Review: The chap on reception went out of his way to help us (we stayed night 11 October). Rooms lovely beds comfortable bathroom and toiletries adequate (shower cap necessary Marriott!). We would stay again but it is away from the nicer restaurants so we had to drive to dinner; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sea Containers London; City: London England; Review: I've been twice, to the restaurant and had bar food. Great service, delicious food, good location, bit on the expensive side for what it is but it will definitely go again as it's ideally located for both work and home.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bond Place Hotel; City: Toronto Ontario; Review: Nasty reception area. Nothing to put our five suitcases on. Couldn't swing a cat in the room. Tiny bathroom No carpet in room. Smells of bleach. Filthy windows Don't stay here Exhausted and one night only or we would have left; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Prinsenhof Bruges; City: Bruges West Flanders Province; Review: It has everything. Lovely lovely staff. Fabulous location. Great room. Huge bed. If you want a huge bath and a separate huge shower ask for Room 51. Even toiletries supplied were lovely. Comfortable cosy wonderful Hotel Prinsenhof!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ravilious; City: Eastbourne East Sussex England; Review: Room 10 is spectacular. Free standing bath in room. The staff are EXCEPTIONALLY nice and helpful. Breakfast was pleasant. Only downsides: we were a bit chilly - no central heating and the room was huge for just one heater in December. And we were on the third floor and there is no lift. It is more of a very upmarket B&B than a hotel so unlikely we would stay again (but saying that I would recommend if you want a fabulous room you should book room 10); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Atlantic Hotel; City: St Brelade Jersey Channel Islands; Review: This is a truly lovely hotel with the best front of house staff - we felt they really could not do enough for us. The breakfast service is a bit erratic though. On the first day the breakfast took over 30 minutes to arrive but on the second day we got it within five minutes. It wasn't just us - friends staying same time had same experience as us - maybe they were understaffed or something. Rooms and beds were lovely. I'd stay again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Europa San Remo; City: Sanremo Italian Riviera Liguria; Review: We had the room with a kitchen/living room with a fabulous balcony overlooking the mediterranean, bathroom and large bedroom. The great thing about this hotel was the space we had, the price and the location opposite the casino. The rooms were VERY clean - great chambermaids. The staff was fantastic - very helpful, couldn't do enough for us. But beware of three things: (1) the breakfast is not very nice, don't order the scrambled eggs (2) the foyer smells of truffles which I think overpower everything, so fine if you like truffles but I don't :-) and (3) the decor etc is a little tired but you are definitely getting value in what you pay per night I would definitely stay at the Europa again if I could have room 328; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge; City: Kwandwe Private Game Reserve Eastern Cape; Review: LORDY IT IS FABULOUS. They do this safari thing amazingly Nico was a wonderful guide. We saw everything we wanted. They have hot towels when you return. Barbecue with any drink you desire out at sunset. Free yes free laundry. Amazing food. Free wine. Free drinks. Best. Staff. Ever. Anywhere Best money ever spent per night.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bay Hotel; City: Camps Bay Western Cape; Review: ... until our last day. Hence 4 stars. The hotel is beautiful and most staff are helpful. Flight not until late so offered to take our bags from sea view room to day room and charge us R900 - reasonable. Finished spa treatment and wanted to charge R2900 for 3 hours in windowless room! Spoiled an otherwise perfect stay. Bay Hotel please get Reception to make notes of stuff! Shame lovely Sedeck wasn't on duty; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Domaine de la Foret d Orient; City: Rouilly Sacey Aube Grand Est; Review: Served child only starter. Gave me cheese on burger. No apologies. Awful service. When I refused to pay for the child's meal the waiter chased me to reception and eventually the receptionist in absence of the manager agreed I should not pay 13 euros for half a bowl of salad. EAT HERE AT YOUR PERIL.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Chateau de Gilly; City: Gilly les Citeaux Cote d Or Bourgogne Franche Comte; Review: I honestly didn't know what to rate. We stayed 4 nights. The restaurant is superb. The lovely staff Alexandre and Charlotte were great. We had an amazing time. But Chateau Gilly you need to do a few things to make this place good enough for world travellers - my recommendations: remove finished drinks and bottles from rooms. Clean the bathrooms. Chambermaids' only job isn't making the beds It's not near a restaurant and on our last day we were told no lunch place available in the hotel's restaurant - we said could we have a sandwich on the terrace. "Non". No cabs. No lunch. Really???? It would not be difficult to make this place great. We had such a good time though I'm giving it a four when maybe it should be a three; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Gran Hotel Ciudad de Mexico; City: Mexico City Central Mexico and Gulf Coast; Review: Apart from its amazing location, the building itself is stunning. I have never met more helpful staff ALL OF THEM anywhere ever before. You get a happy dreams gift on your pillow. Roof restaurant is lovely too. Loved it; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Maya Tulum Resort; City: Tulum Yucatan Peninsula; Review: Well was really a very late breakfast. Service perfect, lovely view, great coffee and bagels, the best fruit plate EVER and the passion fruit jam was beyond delicious. In fact it's so good they sell it to take away; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Royalton Hicacos Varadero Resort Spa; City: Varadero Matanzas Province Cuba; Review: Lovely staff. One of the most stunning hotels I've stayed in. Beautiful room. However the food like Cuba generally just isn't nice. There is no wifi in diamond rooms. And this is the crazy part: the diamond member beach has no wifi and no toilets though the other beach does! Really not worth paying extra for diamond.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 17 Wilmington Square; City: Eastbourne East Sussex England; Review: Really lovely sea view room - Room 8. The breakfast was fabulous - sausages definitely high end. Room huge. Scrupulously clean. Only criticism was duvet very high tog for August. I think a lighter one and a throw would be a better plan! I will be staying again xx; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Miramar; City: Vence French Riviera Cote d Azur Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: I am a top contributor so I take seriously giving a bad review. These people are the rudest ever - they do not deserve to have clients. I believe they have a huge problem with their hotel and they should seriously review how they treat their clients. I would never ever book this place again.; Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: NEGRECOSTE Hotel Spa; City: Aix en Provence Bouches du Rhone Provence Alpes Cote d Azur; Review: Great room fabulous shower lots of extras In bathroom. Great price good location The bed linen and bed were what I would expect in a 5 star hotel. Even the latest iPhone charger! We didn't have a good view but based on price and location it was 5 stars excellent value; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Grand Hotel del Mare Resort Spa; City: Bordighera Italian Riviera Liguria; Review: We were alone in the beautiful restaurant. Staff were really lovely and attentive. Food was divine. This place is on my go to again list. I would highly recommend it. We definitely will try their Sunday Jazz lunch; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Iris Crillon; City: Fiuggi Province of Frosinone Lazio; Review: Good price. Great location. Nice staff. Clean. Very basic though - scratchy blankets and very small shower But hey you get what you pay for and it's worth what we paid for the night when we hadn't booked ahead; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Silva Hotel Splendid; City: Fiuggi Province of Frosinone Lazio; Review: We were so pleasantly surprised. The spa and spa staff are fabulous and superb value for money. Delicious breakfast huge choice. We stopped staying at the Ambasciatori when they told us - widely travelled people - we couldn't work their broken shower!! Stay here instead - it is cheaper and nicer and the spa facilities are far far superior; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: De Vere Latimer Estate; City: Chesham Buckinghamshire England; Review: Best wedding ever. HOWEVER bar staff very unfriendly. We had a basic room and the bathroom you couldn’t move in. Our food when we ordered room service was awful. The egg mayo sandwich bread was hard. The bacon sandwich two over cooked rashers bunged in a roll. And then at breakfast there was only flora margarine. I was told you need to ask for butter and they bring it to the table!; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Chateau Corneille; City: Vieux Villez Eure Haute Normandie Normandy; Review: Really great value Lovely staff great location. Good bed and very good quality bedding and towels - for a 3 star it’s amazing value. Breakfast was high standard in a lovely room BUT no breakfast before 8.30am which is the latest I’ve heard of in a hotel and I’ve stayed in hundreds of hotels We will definitely return if in the area; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Styles Chalon sur Saone; City: Chalon sur Saone Saone et Loire Bourgogne Franche Comte; Review: Really nice evening receptionist. Great bed nice pillows. Very basic and very clean. As is usual in France no dinner served after 8pm and hotel in middle of industrial estate. I would recommend you don’t eat at the Buffalo Grill up the road. It’s really nasty and the food virtually inedible; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Europa; City: Bardonecchia Province of Turin Piedmont; Review: Very accommodating. Recommended amazing restaurant. Hairdryer in room. Very very clean. Haven’t stayed in 2 star that I can remember but pleasantly surprised Easy improvement would be two pillows each on the bed; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hotel de Seze; City: Bordeaux Gironde Nouvelle Aquitaine; Review: Really impressed. Room beautifully decorated. Lovely staff who served drinks interrupting their meal. The location is perfect. The only problem was the room and bathroom very tight squeeze. But I would stay there again if visiting Bordeaux; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sopwell House; City: St Albans Hertfordshire England; Review: Lovely room, lovely grounds. The spa does a lot of treatments but looks like you need to book in advance as nothing available when we wanted to go. The staff are extremely helpful. Had previously attended a conference here and stayed in the mews which was amazing. This time was a junior suite. Both are fabulous; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Idea Hotel Plus Milano Malpensa Airport; City: Somma Lombardo Province of Varese Lombardy; Review: Great bed. Very clean. Nice big shower. Very near airport. Good big car park. Polite staff. It is what it is - an overnighter. Didn’t eat but good has lots of vending machines and they were not overpriced. I’d stay again; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Luton Hoo Hotel Golf and Spa; City: Luton Bedfordshire England; Review: Absolutely amazing. Bobbi and Frederic and Jessica are amazing. Avoid Layla who seems to work 9-5 and pays zero attention to detail. We chose another hotel because of her awful arrangements last year. But hotel is so lovely we gave it another go. The staff are all fabulous. So helpful. Bobbi said to me he feels like he’s welcoming people to his home - how amazing is that?!! I so highly recommend the excellent Morgon they serve. We will run many more events from here (as long as Layla who doesn’t grasp detail isn’t involved - she had 2 chances!); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hotel Reina Petronila; City: Zaragoza Province of Zaragoza Aragon; Review: This place is really unusual. So you arrive in an empty off season car park and are told it costs 12 euros to park. Annoying after having free valet parking at same cost 5 star hotel in centre of Bilbao. Then room initially looks fabulous until you open the mini bar and it won’t shut again - has strange elastic band mechanism. Bath fabulous. But loo door doesn’t shut properly. And there are two lovely sinks but one is clogged up. The linen is good quality and the bed was huge and comfortable. WiFi is fast The hotel is not in the centre so it needs to change a few things. Fix what I just told you about. Don’t charge off season for an empty car park. So sadly I wouldn’t stay again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Novotel Clermont Ferrand; City: Clermont Ferrand Puy de Dome Auvergne Rhone Alpes; Review: Charming staff. Friday 9 November lovely male receptionist gave us refurbished room at my request. Dinner was just okay but adorable waiter so sweetly recommended what was good (he was going to London next day so he knows who he is). Room was perfectly good for just under a hundred pounds. But Novotel - come on -for nearly 100 you should include breakfast when it’s off season. I speak French and what the lovely staff here did was they responded in French - not try hospitality English which isn’t nice when people make an effort to speak in the language of your country I would stay again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Best Western Lansdowne Hotel; City: Eastbourne East Sussex England; Review: It is a 3 star and expected it not to be as good but was such amazing value. Stayed 3 nights. Really clean. Place has great character Very close to family so will stay every time we visit Eastbourne. We are really impressed they offer what they do for the money.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Devonshire Hotel; City: Hornchurch Greater London England; Review: Originally 80 but didn’t have bath. So had to pay to upgrade. No lift. Room freezing. Not allowed to put heating on (it’s on a timer apparently) but they brought me a fan heater! No bar. More like a B and B. I think on balance we’d never stay here again Stains on carpet and marks on wall. Light bulb not working Don’t know how it got four stars; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sea Containers London; City: London England; Review: Lovely staff. Fabulous breakfast. Great bar. Best location One tiny thing; I had requested a bath in the room and on checking in they said there was no bath but could pay 120 a night extra for our 3 night stay. Declined. But there was a bath in 808! Bear in mind Reception!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Silva Hotel Splendid; City: Fiuggi Province of Frosinone Lazio; Review: .... fabulous place. Great value. Lovely staff. Lovely spa (swim from inside heated pool to outside heated pool). This is amazing value. Roaring log fire in lounge area. Super strong showers. Place is super clean. Perfect location. Stayed in many hotels in Fiuggi (family in town) and this is by a long stretch the best and the best value We really love this hotel.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Pestana Porto A Brasileira; City: Porto Porto District Northern Portugal; Review: I have stayed in hundreds of hotels - and this beautiful place is up there in my top 10. Arrived and while checking in we were offered a glass of delicious port. The wonderful Pedro was so eager to tell us all about his beautiful hotel and city - this guy was born to work in hospitality. We rarely eat in hotels but we did and the food was AMAZING. Lovely lovely waitress Carla recommended great choices. Service was up there with Michelin star restaurants. Quirky take on typical Portuguese fare. Sounds weird but try the fishy thing mashed up with eggs and crunch stuff on top (sounds like baccala) - yum. And then she brought me a pastel de nata! Room lovely. Bathroom perfect. Pestana Porto I love you; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: the proposition; Author: Visit Amazon's Katie Ashley Page; Review: Written very well and good storyline left me with anticipation for the second part of the novel coming this spring.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Bad Boy Billionaire: What a Girl Wants; Author: Visit Amazon's Maya Rodale Page; Review: Nice little read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Fault in Our Stars; Author: ; Review: Heartwrenching book; good read.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Practice Makes Perfect: English Conversation (Practice Makes Perfect Series); Author: Visit Amazon's Jean Yates Page; Review: I'm very surprised this book received so many stars in other reviews. I expected something better coming from McGraw Hill. The book utilizes the same formatting throughout, but I do not find it pleasing. The matching exerciese are just bizarre. I doubt those sections will be used at all for my classes. It is packed with exercises, but I wish some of the sections gave an example with the first question in the exercises. It's very helpful to students when they have an example that can guide them through the exercise. Also, I would never teach my students the informal adverb usage of "like" as it is taught in this book. I may end up returnig this one if I can.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 1,000 Conversation Questions: Designed for Use in the ESL or EFL Classroom; Author: Visit Amazon's Larry W Pitts Page; Review: This is a great book to have when choosing discussion topics. Often I would look through magazines or recent newsarticles for discussion topics, but wanted to stay away from things that may offend or single out any of my students. This is a great book for those teaching conversational English.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fundamentals of English Grammar, Third Edition (Workbook); Author: Visit Amazon's Betty Schrampfer Azar Page; Review: Excellent book for advanced English learners.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: ESL Intermediate/Advanced Writing (English as a Second Language Series); Author: Mary Ellen Munoz Page; Review: Great exercises in this book. My students have learned a lot from this!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Katie Daisy 2017 2018 On-the-Go Weekly Planner: 17-Month Calendar with Pocket; Author: Visit Amazon's Katie Daisy Page; Review: This is the only planner you will ever want. It's absolutely stunning and just big enough. It easily fits into your purse, too. The format is perfect.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Kairaba Beach Hotel; City: Serekunda Banjul Division; Review: We booked for 10 nights with Gambia Experience in an upgraded room on the first floor ( superior deluxe) which turned out to be excellent although not really necessary. We had a good sized bathroom with seperate shower, bath with shower fitting and other usual facillities. Bedroom had twin beds, desk, easy chairs and a wrap-round balcony which was perfect for viewing the birds and monkeys. The hotel grounds are immaculate with good open spaces and a double pool (children's and adults). Evening entertainment adjacent to the pool was usually good with the African Evening being excellent. There were plenty of beds but these were taken by 8am by the towel brigade (chiefly Brits) and this situation pertained to the beach area also. We managed to get a bed in our usual spot on the beach at whatever time we decided to go down there but it was most annoying to find that our fellow Brits has put towels out by 8am and then only turned up at 4.40 pm for 20 minutes. This is condoned by hotel staff who, for a tip, will put out the towels for you. This was really our only grumble. Eating out was fine and better value than the hotel We particularly liked Avacado at Coconut Residence,Jo Jo's and Scala. There are bumsters around but we can honestly say that they gave us no problem and in fact enlivened our walk up the strip with their naive banter. The weather was superb all the time we were there with midday temperatures around 35c. We chose Gambia over Caribbean because of flight times and lack of jet lag and for me it proved to be the perfect winter destination as long as one selects the correct hotel as some seemed to be quite poor.The Kairaba was 9.5 out of 10 for us.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ras Kutani; City: Kutani Dar Es Salaam Region; Review: We find it extremely difficult to write anything negative about this wonderful place.It is surely the ideal location to relax for whatever reason, beit the end of a safari, a romantic honeymoon or just a crash-out.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mdonya Old River Camp; City: Ruaha National Park Iringa Region; Review: We spent 3 nights here at the start of our trip to Tanzania. It is a long way off the beaten track- a couple of hours by 14 seater plane from Dar then a 90 minute drive. But what a dream. Within 36 hours of landing we saw lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, kudu,baboon, zebra,impala, hippo and crocodile to name but a few. The staff team where superb, the camp was immaculate, the food excellent. Sorry but I have run out of of superlatives. We booked through Tanzanian Odyssey who gave excellent service.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel; City: Nungwi Zanzibar Island Zanzibar Archipelago; Review: We spent three nights here after our safari and found the staff and service to be of the highest quality. The position is on a superb beach with semi-detached cabanas which were extremely comfortable. Maybe we could have had more choices for the evening meals but I am a fussy eater and have no complaints. I don't think that this is the best place to rest before flying out from Dar (look at Ras Kutani) as it is over an hours drive back to Stone Town. We are concerned that someone is trying to unjustly malign this hotel as we cannot possibly recognise their criticisms.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The White Horse; City: Blakeney Norfolk East Anglia England; Review: Just returned from a 3-night stay . We were given the family room which meant going round to the back of the hotel but it gave us a pleasant lounge. Yes the lounge could do with cheering up but it was warm, clean and comfortable. The staff in the hotel bar couldn't do enough for us and the food was tremendous value, especially the Monday Night Taster Menu. Free wi-fi available.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Head at Middleton; City: Middleton Cumbria England; Review: We found "The Head" at Middleton whilst looking for an overnight stop close to the M6 at junction 37 Sedburgh. This is 7 minutes drive away and the most perfect stopover. The pub is a genuine delight with good food and beer, a pretty garden and almost level parking area for the motorhome. A cheery welcome from the very helpful owners. A must if going to / from Scotland. Its advisable to ring before arival.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sri Gemunu Beach Resort; City: Unawatuna Galle District Southern Province; Review: My wife and I have just returned from 12 days at Sri Gemenu and have had a wonderful relaxing time. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff. You could easily pay three times as much to stay in a plush resort which we have done in the past but it would be money wasted. This is a small resort with just 20 comfortable rooms and an abundance of loungers in a beautiful setting on a great beach. The place speaks for itself when there are so many repaeat guests, some staying for a month or more. If I must have a grumble the food could be better .; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 36 On the Quay; City: Emsworth Hampshire England; Review: A last minute night away was superb. Staff very friendly, room superb, food even better but what happened to the apple souffle served a couple of years ago. My wife rates it as the best pudding on the planet!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Coco Reef Resort Spa Tobago; City: Crown Point Tobago Trinidad and Tobago; Review: My wile and I returned home yesterday after a super all-inclusive week at Coco Reef flying non-stop with Monarch which was excellent albeit in a half-empty plane We opted to walk from the airport which took us 11 minutes.Before our holiday we wondered if the hotel would suffer from aircraft noise but we needn't have worried. We stayed in room 230 which was very clean and in a lovely position overlooking the lagoon. Meals were very good, maybe 8 out of 10;always a good choice and served by the friendliest of staff. The private beach and lagoon were ideal for a relaxing time and we strongly suggest a trip in Zoe the very comfy and fast speedboat. If provisions are needed there are shops just outside the gate. A hire car took us around the island in a day with plenty of stops en-route, the Caribbean side has gorgeous bays for photoshoots. On the negative side I don't think one should have to pay for internet use in the lounge and the furnishings are a little tired. We strongly recommend this hotel and the island of Tobago. If you want an anglised island then this isn't for you but we will not hesitate in returning.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cottage Hotel; City: Hope Cove Salcombe Devon England; Review: My wife and I have travelled very extensively but rarely to a more stunning setting . Good honest unfussy food served by friendly cheerful staff who clearly enjoy their work. Plans for improvement are in the offing, PLEASE DON'T DESTROY WHAT IS SO VERY SPECIAL... THE FRIENDLY and WARM ATMOSPHERE.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Deliades Hotel; City: Ornos Mykonos Cyclades South Aegean; Review: An excellent mid-priced hotel where the staff couldn't do enough for you and always with a smile. Seven minute walk to beach bars and restaurants and hourly bus service into Mykonos Town cosing less than 3 euros each.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Bragg Organic Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, Raw, 16 Ounce - 1 Pack; Brand: Bragg; Review: This is a fresh as apple cider vinegar gets. It's organic and full of health benefits, as well as cleans and helps with infections. This is an all-around good thing to keep in the home! Whether you use it for beauty or it's health benefits, you cannot go wrong with this brand. The mother is truly the secret to the health benefits.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Botan Calrose Rice, 15-Pound; Brand: Botan; Review: This rice is incredible! It's perfect sushi rice, and perfect for just eating. It absorbs water well and hold its firmness. Wonderful and clean tasting, and washed clean in three rinses. I found the smallest portion I can make in my rice cooker is 3/4 cup dry rice and 1 cup water, comes out great.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nagatanien OTONA NO FURIKAKE Mini #1 | Rice Seasoning | 37.6g ( 20 Pcs ) [ Japanese Import ]; Brand: Nagatanien; Review: Okay these were delicious and flavorful. One packet is enough for a cup or two of rice. The red (beef) is definitely my favorite. Perfect if you're not feeling plain rice that day. I bought these with the same brand Mini #2, and they are definitely the better of the two.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Marukome Organic Broth, Miso, 13.2 Ounce; Brand: Marukome; Review: Tasty. I regret getting reduced sodium, it kind of needs that familiar saltiness. Research suggests that the salt in miso doesn't affect the body like table salt does. (Look into this if you're curious, I really oversimplified it). I pour some just-boiling water over a spoonful of this in a bowl for a quick pro-biotic snack.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: GEVALIA Cappuccino K-CUP Pods and Froth Packets, 9 Count; Brand: Gevalia; Review: I like the coffee itself. I like the foam packet but it doesn't incorporate itself into the coffee fully. I always end up with powder at the bottom I have to stir in. I brew an 8 ounce cup and follow the instructions so it's not an error on my part. I like the flavor but it is very mildly sweet. My normal coffee has 2 tsps of sugar and 2 tbs of creamer, so understand that I like my coffee on the sweet side. I enjoy the idea of the coffee but the flavor and effort of the foam mean I won't be repurchasing this. I will however enjoy finishing off the box.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Gevalia Ground Coffee House Blend, 20 oz Bag; Brand: Gevalia; Review: Delicious standard coffee at a good price. I use this coffee in my keurig with refillable kcups and it works perfectly. Previously used Folgers and I think this is a nice step up.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stash Tea Premium Green Tea, 20 Count Tea Bags (Pack of 6) Medium Caffiene Tea, Japanese Style Green; Brand: Stash Tea; Review: I think I got the counterfeit tea. Weak, weirdly fruity, not pleasant. Not worth the risk for that premium price tag. Have asked for a refund. Don't know why I strayed from my Tetley, but I'm certainly going back to them with a big apology.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Tetley Green Tea, 72 Tea Bags, Packaging may vary; Brand: Tetley; Review: Tetley is by far my favorite green tea. The round bags are also my favorite style of bag. No strings, no staples, no fuss. You will have some sediment at the bottom of your cup, but this doesn't bother me. The flavor of this tea is strong without being bitter. I drink it plain or with honey/sugar and it's always a perfect cup. Shop around in stores before buying it online, one time I found this 72 ct. box for $4!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ajinomoto Soup Stock Hondashi; Brand: Unknown; Review: I'm new to the miso soup scene and was making possibly the biggest rookie mistake ever. I would just whisk a big spoonful of miso into hot water and call it a day. You can image why I thought I just didn't like miso. This changed my whole viewpoint, of course. A spoon of this, bring it to a good heat (but not boil), turn off the gas, add your miso, add your toppings, done. Delicious. Truly makes a world of difference.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Habanero Hot Sauce by Mr. Biscuits infuses Habanero, Jalapeno, Fresno, and Thai Chili producing HIGH; Brand: Mr. Biscuits; Review: This hot sauce was just not for me. There's something off that I don't like about it. Some weird flavor. The spice is definitely there though so that's a plus.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Crystal Light With Caffeine Variety Pack (40 Total Packets) Gluten Free - New 2016 Packaging; Brand: Crystal Light Kraft; Review: These are delicious and really keep me going throughout my busy work days. Plus they help keep my water intake way up. Of course they don't give you the hydrated feel that plain water does.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Bad Byron's Butt Rub Barbecue Seasoning, 4.5 Ounce; Brand: Bad Byron's Specialty Food Products, Inc.; Review: Delicious. I rub all my chicken and veggies with this stuff now. Definitely on the spicy side so stay away if you don't like jalapenos. I love em.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Grocery_and_Gourmet_Food |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: AT&T fined $60 million for throttling 'unlimited' data plans; Abstract: Unlimited should mean unlimited!; Category: finance
Title: Far-reaching snowstorm may take shape over US; Abstract: A winterlike pattern will continue to unfold across much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation into next week as a brutal one-two punch of bitterly cold air plunging into the United States will set the stage for another major storm.; Category: weather
Title: Dog Throws A Total Tantrum When She Realizes Mom Wants To Take The Stairs; Abstract: Aurora Angel Beste Nala has always been the friendliest dog, and loves going out on adventures and meeting new people.; Category: lifestyle
Title: State Trooper Stops Banana Car Driver, Gives Him $20 Instead of a Ticket; Abstract: Is it a crime to be this ridiculous? Not in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where a 1993 Ford F-150 4x4 was turned into . . . this.; Category: autos
Title: After Mormon Family's Terror in Mexico, a Message Emerges: No One Is Safe; Abstract: After Mormon Family's Terror in Mexico, a Message Emerges: No One Is Safe By Azam Ahmed LA MORA, Mexico Andre Miller saw the column of black smoke rising from at least a mile away.; Category: news
Title: College gymnast dies following training accident in Connecticut; Abstract: Melanie Coleman, 20, of Milford, was practicing on the bars when she suffered a spinal cord injury.; Category: news | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Gender Game (Volume 1); Author: Visit Amazon's Bella Forrest Page; Review: While an easy read, it did not hold my attention for very long. I struggled to complete the book and was bored with the characters.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Year One (Chronicles of The One); Author: ; Review: So different from many of her other books, but underneath it all a fabulous Nora Roberts plot (as always). Waiting impatiently for the next one.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ryan's Bed; Author: Visit Amazon's Tijan Page; Review: This book kept me enthralled throughout. There were so many spots the resounded with my own high school experience it felt surreal; however, a plotline that kept pulling me back to MacKenzie's world.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Prisoner B-3087; Author: Ruth Gruener; Review: The heart wrenching tales of the Holocaust have always pulled on me. This novel did not as much. Competing with Night had it taking a back seat and not really in the same league.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Throne of Glass; Author: Visit Amazon's Sarah J Maas Page; Review: Loved the story told through the assassin's eyes. Instead of the cold blooded killer the title implies, she came to life as a character that is flawed but searching.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Cutting for Stone: A Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Abraham Verghese Page; Review: One of the best books I've ever read in my life. Suggest it to all adults, especially if they have an interest in foreign cultures and medicine.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night: With Connected Readings; Author: Visit Amazon's Elie Wiesel Page; Review: Everyone should read this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Night; Author: Visit Amazon's Elie Wiesel Page; Review: Everyone should read this.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Little Engine That Could; Author: Piper Watty; Review: Classic book that reminds us to try hard all the time.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Horton Hatches the Egg Yellow Back Book; Author: Visit Amazon's Dr. Seuss Page; Review: This was my favorite childhood book and I still love it. It's a classic for your kids. A delight!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: All the Light We Cannot See; Author: Visit Amazon's Anthony Doerr Page; Review: Excellent!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Giving Tree with Gift Card; Author: Visit Amazon's Shel Silverstein Page; Review: Wonderful story that is thought-provoking for 7-8 year olds.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Where the Wild Things Are (Caldecott Collection); Author: Visit Amazon's Maurice Sendak Page; Review: Wonderful story and pictures, but not for the very, very little because the pics might be a little scary for them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings; Author: Visit Amazon's Shel Silverstein Page; Review: My second-graders laughed and laughed and loved the poems. I taught reading using it often. Excellent holiday gift.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale; Author: Visit Amazon's Verna Aardema Page; Review: Fun and happy! Makes you think; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation; Author: Visit Amazon's Michael Pollan Page; Review: Superb book that teaches you the history of cooking and makes you want to do it, yourself!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tikki Tikki Tembo; Author: Visit Amazon's Arlene Mosel Page; Review: Totally fun! You'll be thinking of it all day after reading it!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius; Author: Visit Amazon's Dave Eggers Page; Review: Someone told me it was the greatest book and I had to read it. I found it interesting and tongue-in-cheek but an awful lot of complaining.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Richard Scarry's Please and Thank You Book (Pictureback(R)); Author: Visit Amazon's Richard Scarry Page; Review: Teaches the values that are often neglected and in a happy way; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Light Between Oceans: The heartbreaking Richard and Judy bestseller; Author: Visit Amazon's M L Stedman Page; Review: Dark, serious but many things to make you think about what YOU would have done.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Chair For My Mother; Author: Visit Amazon's Vera B. Williams Page; Review: Beautiful values, both for boys and girls. I used to read it to my second-graders.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stone Soup; Author: Pictures By Nola Langner McGovern Ann; Review: My son and my classes just loved this and wanted to hear it over and over. It shows good values, as well. One year we even made stone soup in the kindergarten class after reading it. What fun!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Where the Wild Things Are; Author: Visit Amazon's Maurice Sendak Page; Review: Wonderful story and pictures, but not for the very, very little because the pics might be a little scary for them.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Quilt Story; Author: Visit Amazon's Tony Johnston Page; Review: good for kids. Interesting story that is quite different from the norm.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Love You Forever; Author: Visit Amazon's Robert Munsch Page; Review: such a sweet book; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Odd Thomas: An Odd Thomas Novel; Author: Visit Amazon's Dean Koontz Page; Review: This is less flowery than some of Koontz's other books but it is a thriller, that's for sure. Hold onto your seat!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Shanghai Girls: A Novel (Random House Large Print); Author: Visit Amazon's Lisa See Page; Review: Sent this to my mother because I thought she'd enjoy the good writing and fascinating story, especially since she'd visited there; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Stir: My Broken Brain and the Meals That Brought Me Home; Author: Visit Amazon's Jessica Fechtor Page; Review: I loved the bitter/sweet story and wanted to share the book with my friend who now lives a 5 hour drive from me. I sent a copy and am waiting to hear if she loved it too and will make any of the recipes.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Cabinet of Curiosities (Pendergast, Book 3); Author: Visit Amazon's Douglas Preston Page; Review: great, fast-paced read that will keep you on the edge of your seat!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: You Can't Make Me Angry; Author: Visit Amazon's Paul O. Page; Review: good way to look at problems; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scissors Skills, Grades PK - 1: Gold Star Edition (Home Workbooks); Author: Carson-Dellosa Publishing; Review: gift for a friend's grandchild; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Little Learners - Colors and Numbers: Coloring and Activity Book with Puzzles, Brain Games, Problems, Mazes, Dot-to-Dot; Author: Visit Amazon's Alex Fonteyn Page; Review: gift for a friend's grandchild; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Peerless PA730 Universal Articulating Wall Mount for 10-inch to 29-inch Displays (Black); Brand: Peerless; Review: This is a well built arm. It is intended to be mounted to a wall (just find a stud) and then your smaller monitor/LCD TV mounted to it. The arms swing nicely right to left. The 'tilt' on the monitor bracket is very stiff - a good thing if you don't want your monitor looking at the sky or the ground after a few hours! Just remember, when hanging a monitor you still have to deal with cables and power. It comes with mounting hardware (Screws, offset sleeves, and more.). I recommend it.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mediabridge USB 2.0 - USB Extension Cable (6 Feet) - A Male to A Female with Gold-Plated Contacts; Brand: Mediabridge; Review: Why would we want so short of extensions? We want the USB cable to wear out and not the port on the laptop. The laptops contently get moved about and thus have things plugged in to and out of the ports.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tripp Lite 6U Wall Mount Rack Enclosure Server Cabinet, 16.5" Deep, Switch-Depth (SRW6U); Brand: Tripp Lite; Review: These are well designed wall racks with plenty of removable panels and options including fans, among others. It is easy to get the size you want for the job you are doing (there are several sizes) and the features make it easy and one you have to "wrack" your brain over. Do know that you should make sure the depth of what you will be putting in the rack is a consideration. Full depth devices (Like 1 or 2U servers or full sized routers) might be too deep for the smaller racks.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Syba Connectland CL-ADA31002 DVI Male to VGA Female Adapter; Brand: Syba; Review: This is the right adapter for the job. It fits well on both ends (we have had some that did not) and is not expensive. If this does not work for you then you are probably trying to use it for the wrong application. This is a DVI-D. If you need a DVI-I then it will not work and don't blame the item. Caveat: The description of the item used by Amazon/Seller could be a little more clear about that.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Solo Active 17 Inch Laptop Messenger Bag, Black; Brand: SOLO; Review: This is a good solid bag for the price. Holds most 17" and smaller laptops with plenty of pockets and compartments. Nice padding for the notebook and a stout strap.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: OURLINK 600Mbps mini 802.11ac Dual Band 2.4GHz/5GHz Wireless Network Adapter USB WI-FI Dongle Adapter with 5dBi Antenna Support WIN VISTA,WIN; Brand: OURLiNK; Review: Worked! Win10 Pro 64Bit; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident; Author: Visit Amazon's Donnie Eichar Page; Review: If you like mysteries or are just inclined to want to know "what happened?" you'll probably like this book. After reading other reviews, I think the book warrants 5 stars on the Amazon scale. It really gets you thinking about the incident. Many reviewers who did not like Eichar's approach or his conclusions still highly recommended the book, and it certainly got a lot of people talking about the incident; 63 pages of reviews at this point. That says a lot. Eichar develops the book with three interlaced narratives: the story of the lost hikers, the subsequent search, and his own trips to Russia to investigate further. I found the changes in time and place a bit distracting, but some readers liked that approach. Fair enough. The author does a good job of carrying the narrative along. He spends considerable time describing the hikers' backgrounds and his own experiences researching the story in Russia, which put off some readers. However, on the whole, his approach adds valuable context to the story and gives life to the hikers as real people. It is important to understand the motivation and skill level of the hikers, as well as the author's own knowledge and perspective, to assess the described events fully. The book is a narrative and is well-written, but it's not a forensic analysis. Like other readers, I felt that more detailed information presented in a systematic and organized manner would have been helpful. For example, a scaled map of the final campsite area and locations of the hikers' bodies would have been useful. Eichar accepted much of the evidence and opinions of investigators and experts at face value, but one should maintain a healthy skepticism and open mind, even when considering the findings of official reports. I would really like to hear the thoughts of some experienced forensic investigators on this case. Eichar offers an explanation and scenario for the events that has some significant gaps. Among other things, several things could have caused the hikers to abandon their tent in haste, and his explanation for the injuries sustained by several of them seems implausible. Just the same, even if you don't agree with his suggested explanation, the author does a good job laying out the story and getting the reader thinking about what really happened, and that's what the book is all about. No one really knows at this point. I'm certainly intrigued now and I probably will have to learn more about the incident before I can put it to rest.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lost Languages: The Enigma of the World's Undeciphered Scripts; Author: Visit Amazon's Andrew Robinson Page; Review: Like Robinson's previous book, The Story of Writing, this is good reading. In the first part of the book, Robinson describes the various types of writing systems people have developed over time. Many of the ancient writing systems are no longer in use. He explains the techniques used to decipher three of them, as well as some of the dead-end approaches which led nowhere. These chapters are interesting in their own right, but also provide an excellent foundation for the subsequent chapters. In the second part of the book, Robinson describes a number of unsolved scripts. He provides enough information on each script for the reader to get a feel for the writing system and to understand the challenges involved. He also describes various attempts to decode the scripts. Throughout the book Robinson describes the sometimes eccentric and obsessive personalities who have worked on deciphering the various scripts, along with some of the more far-fetched explanations offered up by some researchers. The book is full of excellent graphics. I don't agree - on either a technical or substantive level - with Robinson's thought-provoking comments in the introductory and concluding chapters that deciphering lost scripts is on a par with cracking the genetic code and other great scientific discoveries. The topic of lost scripts is fascinating, but let's not overdo it! This is a minor quibble because he spends only a few pages on these ideas. The book will be of interest to people who are curious about things or who like to solve puzzles, and would be a good starting point for getting into further research if you are so inclined.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Unfolding of Language; Author: Visit Amazon's Guy Deutscher Page; Review: A fascinating and well-written book. Deutscher describes how languages change over time, and he offers some explanations for the changes. And he does this with some flair; it's more Bill Bryson than textbook. He shows how the slang of today becomes the formal, proper language of tomorrow. This process has been occurring for millennia. It's interesting to hear the criticisms of ancient Roman commentators about the careless language of the day. He also gives some insight into how certain languages work. I'd always wondered about the various salaams, shaloms, and the like in Semitic languages. Why are they so similar, but not exactly the same? And what about Latin case structure - what is that all about? Deutscher explains some of these potentially tedious topics in an interesting and informative manner. After reading this book, you'll never hear language quite the same way again. Essential reading for grammar Nazis!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Memory: A Very Short Introduction; Author: Visit Amazon's Jonathan K. Foster Page; Review: This book is one of the Very Short Introduction series. Accordingly it is fairly short, but it covers the topic well. It provides a concise but comprehensive introduction. It's clear and well-written. It is not a textbook, nor is it intended to be. Foster covers the topic in an orderly way, describing: 1. The various types of human memory systems. 2. Inaccuracies resulting from normal memory function. 3. Impairment of memory resulting from injury and disease. 4. Ways of improving memory function. Like other skilled writers on technical subjects, Foster provides apt examples and analogies to describe all of the key points. Foster does not focus on the story of how (and why) memory evolved or the physical structure of the brain, but he does allude to them at times to assist in explaining the main topics. I found the discussions about inaccuracies in legal testimony and the practical effects of injuries to memory quite interesting. The book is a good introduction for anyone interested in psychology and memory in general. I think it would be excellent reading for people in the legal, education, and medical care fields who want to understand the topic but don't need a comprehensive textbook.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Unfolding of Language : An Evolutionary Tour of Mankind's Greatest Invention; Author: Visit Amazon's Guy Deutscher Page; Review: A fascinating and well-written book. Deutscher describes how languages change over time, and he offers some explanations for the changes. And he does this with some flair; it's more Bill Bryson than textbook. He shows how the slang of today becomes the formal, proper language of tomorrow. This process has been occurring for millennia. It's interesting to hear the criticisms of ancient Roman commentators about the careless language of the day. He also gives some insight into how certain languages work. I'd always wondered about the various salaams, shaloms, and the like in Semitic languages. Why are they so similar, but not exactly the same? And what about Latin case structure - what is that all about? Deutscher explains some of these potentially tedious topics in an interesting and informative manner. After reading this book, you'll never hear language quite the same way again. Essential reading for grammar Nazis!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Station House Hotel Letterkenny; City: Letterkenny County Donegal; Review: Some problems. The room was not clean. Car park is very small, so expect to park elsewhere. A request for toiletries was fulfilled, but only when I was asked if I really needed the them. Fire alarm went off three times in the room during the night, no indication why. Was there a fire? I don't know. Broken window frame held together with tape. Luckily, I was no where near the hen/stag rooms. It should be made clear to other guests that the hotel welcomes such groups, so that we can book elsewhere. I'm sure it's possible to exclude stags/hens and not breach the Equal Access legislation.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The River Lee; City: Cork County Cork; Review: I stayed for one night in Jury's and was very impressed. The room was spotless, the staff were friendly and helpful and when I asked for a quiet room, I got a quiet room. Would definitely recommend and will return.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Apartamentos Villa Canaima; City: Puerto Del Carmen Lanzarote Canary Islands; Review: I stayed in this complex in December 2006 and will stay there again this year. The apartments are nice and clean with great sea views and the staff are very good. You can book excursions at reception. I have no complaints.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fanad House; City: Kilkenny County Kilkenny; Review: Afraid I cannot agree with the reviews posted here. I give credit where credit is due (see my other reviews), but unfortunately not here. Make up your own mind.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Clayton Hotel Cork City; City: Cork County Cork; Review: Stayed at the Clarion for one night, the room is certainly somewhat dated for a new hotel, however, I did get a good night's sleep for a very reasonable €79. I was in a room designed for wheelchair users, so no bath unfortunately. Also, there is no shelf to place toiletries while having a shower, not a problem for me, but may be for someone with mobility restrictions. Hotel toiletries in this room also need to be replaced, they may be past their BB date (wasn't using them anyway, so not a big deal). The employees of this hotel are superb, very friendly and efficient at reception, the bar and room service. I would stay here again.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Farset International Hostel; City: Belfast Northern Ireland; Review: Slept no problem Friday night, got no sleep Saturday night prior to a long drive home next day. Crowd came in at 3.30 and decided that their need to continue the party outweighed anybody elses right to be able to sleep. Not much point in asking them to quieten or at reception for that matter. If you don't mind, fair enough, otherwise it's too hit and miss and therefore not much value for money.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Castlemartyr Resort; City: Castlemartyr County Cork; Review: I sent this review to the resort at their request, but be aware, they are selective re publication of reviews on their own website. And they didn't respond. Mine did not appear, so I have posted it here instead. Positives: Knights Bar - food, drink, ambience and service superb. Home from home. Comfort of the beds. The morning porridge - a revelation. Room service - polite, efficient and friendly. Not so positive Reception efficient, but rather distant. Flies in the room - one live, six dead. No morning paper delivered to my room. Eggs benedict - dull. Tea - dull. Don't know if it's Irish. Walkway to village unlit. No remote control for air\con heating. Waffle - not as presented on menu. No internet radio, even though this is shown as available on tv. (Wanted NPR) Irish television stations of poor visual quality. Cannot check bill on tv. No indication of valet parking upon entry to hotel - parked and carried my bags myself. Mobile telephones not to be used outside of rooms - but not indicated until you read the hotel info. in the room. I don't mind the policy, but would like to have been told earlier. No hairdryer in room. No handles in bath - a rubber mat is not enough to keep steady. The "not so positives" are standard expectations of any hotel, five star or not. I don't know if Knights Bar is open to the public, but I would definitely go back if it is, great place to read and enjoy a coffee or pint. Very relaxing. But I would probably overnight elsewhere.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Temple Bar Hotel; City: Dublin County Dublin; Review: The hotel is dated but is due a refurb in 2016, it's fine for a night's sleep in Dublin city centre. Bring earplugs and you'll be fine. I was given a free executive upgrade on arrival which was nice, but was then asked to pay for it the next morning. It was the hotel's mixup and really disappointing. I don't expect something to be given on the one hand and demanded back on the other. The matter was not handled well by the hotel (I dedected a note of sarcasm) and needless to say, I did not authorise any further payment. Not a nice end to an otherwise ok stay.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spring Acre Bed Breakfast; City: Knightstown Valentia Island County Kerry; Review: ; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Wynn s Hotel; City: Dublin County Dublin; Review: I stayed here for two nights the room was very clean and comfortable. Of course it's not overly big, but why would you stay in a hotel room for the evening when you are right in the middle of Dublin? The staff were very friendly and efficient, breakfast was good. Do take ear plugs if you are a light sleeper, there is some tram noise, but the upside is a tram stop right outside the hotel. Straight run to Heuston Station. Will be back.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: 7800300 Industrial 56-Inch Three-Blade Indoor Ceiling Fan, Brushed Nickel Finish with Black Steel Blades; Brand: Westinghouse; Review: Expected more no reverse I guess it is better than nothing?; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dremel 423E EZ Lock Cloth Polishing Wheel for Rotary Tools; Brand: Dremel; Review: As expected; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Dimplex DGWH4031G Garage and Shop Large 4000 Watt Forced Air, Industrial, Space Heater in, Gray/Black Finish; Brand: Dimplex; Review: Works better than expected after having pipes freeze in a southern cold snap I installed this product. Only had to use it a few times however it heated over 500 sq ft in less than one hour. Also has a nice appearance for those whom are concerned with garage dcor. Very easy to install but the electric outlet needs a professional.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: NuTone PB7LWH Wired One-Lighted Door Chime Push Button, White; Brand: Broan; Review: Works well; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Nighthawk Plug-in Carbon Monoxide & Explosive Gas Alarm with Digital Display KN-COEG-3; Brand: Kidde; Review: Works well good product; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ernst Manufacturing Gripper Wrench Organizer, 7 Tool, Red; Brand: Ernst Manufacturing; Review: Works well; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ernst Manufacturing Gripper Wrench Organizer, 15 Tool, Red; Brand: Ernst Manufacturing; Review: Works well; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Tools_and_Home_Improvement |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Nylabone Healthy Edibles Dog Chew Treat Bones for Small Dogs up to 25 Pounds; Brand: Nylabone; Review: Out dog loves these. They have a notable bacon smell & these hold his attention until they are gone. I wish they would last a little longer, our Shepard can get through one in less than ten minutes. But they work wonderfully as a crate treat when he goes to bed at night.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: PetFusion Elevated Dog Bowl Stand in Premium Bamboo (responsibly sourced). U.S. FOOD GRADE Stainless steel bowls; Brand: PetFusion; Review: Decent quality for the price, my only concern long term is the bowls are secured into their slots by stick-on padding. It will be easily replaced when it fails, but I would prefer they be attached in a more permanent fashion so replacement would not be necessary.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mighty Paw Tinkle Bells, Premium Quality Dog Doorbells, Housetraining Doggy Door Bells for Potty Training; Brand: Mighty Paw; Review: The strap and bells are well made & function well for our Shepard. The hook is fairly flimsy plastic & partly snapped after a short time. It still functions, but you should probably buy a separate metal hook & just plan on using the bells from this product.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Vetoquinol Enisyl-F Lysine Treats 6.35 oz Re-Closable Pouch (180gm); Brand: Vetoquinol; Review: Cat would not eat them, so I'll never know.; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: 4Knines Dog Seat Cover with Hammock for Cars, Trucks and SUVs - USA Based; Brand: 4Knines; Review: Very durable, easy to install, and adjustable enough that it should fit in most vehicles. We have a Kia crossover and it fits our needs perfectly. We even have a carseat base install through it, which is very easy to do. It does accumulate a lot of dog hair with regular use, and while it is machine washable, we find it somewhat difficult to get all the hair off. It has prevented any signs of wear on our car however, which is the primary purpose.; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Pet_Supplies |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: DSYJ Channel USB External Sound Card Audio Adapter; Brand: DSYJ; Review: thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sony 8GB Micro Vault M-Series USB 2.0 Flash Drive, White (USM8GM/W); Brand: Sony; Review: thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: SanDisk Ultra Plus 256GB SATA 6.0GB/s 2.5-Inch 7mm Height Solid State Drive (SSD) With Read Up To 530MB/s- SDSSDHP-256G-G25; Brand: SanDisk; Review: thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-7TE250BW); Brand: Samsung; Review: thank you; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Swarovski Optik EL Swarovision Binocular, 10x42 mm; Brand: Swarovski Optik; Review: Great glasses can't get enough of them; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Satechi Aluminum Bluetooth Wireless 26-Key Smart Keypad and Calculator Keyboard Extension - Compatible with 2017 iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook,; Brand: Satechi; Review: I like it!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: High Sierra Powerglide Wheeled Laptop Backpack, Great for High School, College Backpack, Rolling School Bag, Business Backpack, Travel; Brand: High Sierra; Review: thx; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: 3.5mm Auxiliary Audio Cable APXX 2-Pack 3 Feet 3.5mm Male To Male Stereo Gold Plated Connector P503D; Brand: APXX; Review: thx; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Electronics |
Given the interaction history of a user with movies/shows as follows:
Title: Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Cop (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: A Knight's Tale (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Stripes (1981); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tomb Raider (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bait (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dogma (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour 2 (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Moonstruck (1987); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: True Romance (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Mummy Returns (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Rush Hour (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Driving Miss Daisy (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Blade (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Annie Hall (1977); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Boogie Nights (1997); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monsters (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Battlefield Earth (2000); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Blade 2 (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Men in Black (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Crow (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Waterboy (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Full Metal Jacket (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tootsie (1982); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Rat Race (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Crossroads (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghost (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Miss Congeniality (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: GoodFellas: Special Edition (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1972); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Rock (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Office Space (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Independence Day (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Big Lebowski (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Parenthood (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Vacation (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Planes (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wayne's World (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Nicky (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Half Baked (1998); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: History of the World: Part 1 (1981); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Armed and Dangerous (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beverly Hills Ninja (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sneakers (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Vegas Vacation (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Great Outdoors (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tommy Boy (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spaceballs (1987); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Trading Places (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Caddyshack 2 (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Royal Tenenbaums: Bonus Material (2001); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Roxanne (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spies Like Us (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Little Shop of Horrors (1986); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Volunteers (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Canadian Bacon (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Brewster's Millions (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Caddyshack (1980); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: L.A. Story (1991); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cool Runnings (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Airheads (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Who's Harry Crumb? (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Groundhog Day (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Scrooged (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dragnet (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sgt. Bilko (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Jerk (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Home Alone (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Funny Farm (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Delirious (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters 2 (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Man with Two Brains (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bowfinger (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Uncle Buck (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Three Amigos (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Osmosis Jones (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What About Bob? (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Big Daddy (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Fletch (1985); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black Sheep (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blind Date (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Nothing But Trouble (1991); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Cops & Robbersons (1994); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Wedding Singer (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kingpin (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Out-of-Towners (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ghostbusters (1984); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Coneheads (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Beauty (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 48 Hrs. (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Say Anything (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: 1941 (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: High Fidelity (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Chasing Amy (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke (1978); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Liar Liar (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: BASEketball (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Absolutely Fabulous: Series 2 (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Emperor's New Groove (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Heathers (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Godfather (1974); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spy Kids (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Toy (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Sixth Sense (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Porky's (1981); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: See No Evil (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rocky (1976); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Nutty Professor (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Joe Dirt (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Ghouls (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Sister Act (1992); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Absolutely Fabulous: Series 1 (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Armageddon (1998); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mrs. Doubtfire (1993); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Phenomenon (1996); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Cruel Intentions (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Predator: Collector's Edition (1987); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back: Bonus Material (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Goonies (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Exorcist: Restored Version (1973); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Weekend at Bernie's (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Absolutely Fabulous: Series 3 (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Road Trip (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Clockwork Orange (1971); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pulp Fiction (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: American Pie (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mallrats (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Coming to America (1988); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Backdraft (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Eegah! (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Never Been Kissed (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Total Recall (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Con Air (1997); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rambo: First Blood: Ultimate Edition (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Meet the Parents (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Lilo and Stitch (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Airplane II: The Sequel (1982); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Creepshow (1982); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Better Off Dead (1985); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 2001: A Space Travesty (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: When Harry Met Sally (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Earth Girls Are Easy (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: The Mask: Special Edition (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: My Cousin Vinny (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Soul Man (1986); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Cable Guy (1996); Rating: 1.0/5.0
Title: Peggy Sue Got Married (1986); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Secret Admirer (1985); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Airplane! (1980); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Batman Forever (1995); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Best of Benny Hill (1974); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Naked Gun (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: South Park: Bigger (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bubble Boy (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Grinch (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Me (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Class (1983); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Stir Crazy (1980); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Throw Momma From the Train (1987); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Risky Business (1983); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Unforgiven (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Princess Diaries (Widescreen) (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Hot Chick (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Wayne's World 2 (1993); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Original Kings of Comedy (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Reservoir Dogs (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Our Lips Are Sealed (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Old School (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fight Club (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Black Hawk Down (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Clockstoppers (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Out Cold (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Treasure Planet (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kangaroo Jack (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Eight Legged Freaks (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Blue Crush (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Snow Day (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Tuck Everlasting (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Charlie's Angels (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Orange County (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: National Security (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Just Married (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: What a Girl Wants (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Detroit Rock City (1999); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Agent Cody Banks (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Minority Report (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Identity (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Evolution (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Malibu's Most Wanted (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Run Ronnie Run (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bringing Down the House (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bulletproof Monk (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Boat Trip (2003); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Along Came a Spider (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Little Vampire (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: You're Invited to Mary-Kate and Ashley's School Dance Party (2000); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Show: Season 2 (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Movie (1992); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Powerpuff Girls Movie (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Major League (1989); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Black Adder (1983); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Black Adder IV (1989); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: American Pie 2 (2001); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Kim Possible: The Secret Files (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Show: Season 1 (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holes (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Upright Citizens Brigade: Season 1 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Matchstick Men (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Stitch! The Movie (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Clerks (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Freaky Friday (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: David Cross: Let America Laugh (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Absolutely Fabulous: Series 4 (2001); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde 2: Red (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Legally Blonde (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Underworld (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Deeds (2002); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Beetlejuice (1988); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Mighty Wind (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Special (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Punch-Drunk Love (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Beavis and Butt-head Do America (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Hot Shots! (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Absolutely Fabulous: Gorgeous Little Things (Bonus Material) (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Pleasantville (1998); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Robin Williams: Live on Broadway (2002); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Rugrats Go Wild (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Baby Einstein: Neighborhood Animals (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Green Mile (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Best Bits of Mr. Bean (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Thomas & Friends: Thomas & His Friends Get Along (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: An Evening With Kevin Smith (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fawlty Towers: The Complete Set (1975); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Hellcats (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Wild World of Batwoman (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Timechasers (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Overdrawn at the Memory Bank (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Girl in Gold Boots (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Beginning of the End (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Space Mutiny (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: I Accuse My Parents (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Hamlet (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Catwoman (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Starsky & Hutch (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: 50 First Dates (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Along Came Polly (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Red Zone Cuba (1994); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: SpongeBob SquarePants: Season 1 (1999); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Scary Movie 3 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hellboy (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Touch of Satan (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Baby Galileo: Discovering the Sky (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Cheetah Girls (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Baby Neptune: Discovering Water (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Reno 911: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Wiggles: Space Dancing (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wiggles: Top of the Tots (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wiggles: Whoo Hoo! Wiggly Gremlins! (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wiggles: Toot Toot! (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wiggles: Cold Spaghetti Western (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1991); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Manos: Hands of Fate (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Show: Season 4 (1998); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Show: Season 3 (1997); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Special Edition (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: National Lampoon's Animal House (1978); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Strangers with Candy: Season 3 (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Strangers with Candy: Season 1 (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Strangers with Candy: Season 2 (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Terminator 2: Extreme Edition (1991); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wiggles: Wiggly Playtime (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Arrested Development: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Teenagers from Outer Space (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Blue's Clues: Blue's Big Band (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Attack of the Giant Leeches (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gunslinger (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Mr. B's Lost Shorts (1993); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: A Cinderella Story (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Garfield: The Movie (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: In Living Color: Season 2 (1990); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Van Helsing (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Wiggles: Wiggle Time (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blue's Clues: Shapes and Colors (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fletch Lives (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Shrek 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Kids in the Hall: Season 1 (1989); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Kids in the Hall: Season 2 (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Mr. Bean: The Whole Bean (1990); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Spider-Man 2 (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell 2 (2004); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sesame Street: Elmo's World: The Street We Live On (1962); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Villain (1979); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Super Size Me (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Elf (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Ladies Man (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blue's Big Musical Movie: Blue's Clues (2000); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Bad Santa (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Saved! (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Billy Madison (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Dora the Explorer: Catch the Stars (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Baby Einstein: Baby Noah (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Happy Gilmore (1996); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Kids in the Hall: Same Guys (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Baby Newton: All About Shapes (2002); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: MADtv: Season 1 (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Blazing Saddles (1974); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: That's So Raven: Supernaturally Stylish (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ella Enchanted (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Shaun of the Dead (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Tick: The Entire Series (2001); Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Mean Girls (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Napoleon Dynamite (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Bruce Almighty (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Matrix: Reloaded (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dora the Explorer: Super Silly Fiesta! (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Dora the Explorer: Pirate Adventure (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Daddy Day Care (2003); Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: The School of Rock (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004); Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: Dead Like Me: Season 1 (2003); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Eddie Murphy (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Steve Martin (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Rock (1992); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell (1995); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler (1999); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Incredibles (2004); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley (2000); Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Absolutely Fabulous: Series 5 (2003); Rating: 5.0/5.0 | netflix |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: Hotel Mabi; City: Maastricht Limburg Province; Review: We stayed at the Mabi for one night. It has an odd "Hollywood" theme, but the hotel itself is quite nice and the staff were very helpful. They provided us good directions to different areas of the city and great directions out of town the next morning. The rooms were comfortable although we had some dope smokers from the nearby coffee shop under our window for awhile but that was not a big deal. Breakfast was included and consisted of a large buffet containing both Euopean and American style breakfast items. Overall, a nice hotel in a good location.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: The Orleans Hotel Casino; City: Las Vegas Nevada; Review: I come to Vegas once per year and always stay at The Orleans. This is a fantastic hotel with great staff and probably the best values in Las Vegas. The restaurants are great and reasonably priced compared to some of the overpriced restaurants on the strip. The rooms are huge, clean, with great houskeeping staff. The casino games are fair and I have been very lucky there over the past couple of years which always makes the trip that much more fun. Note that this hotel is well off the strip but they have a very efficient shuttle bus that will get you to the strip free of charge. I would recommend this property to anyone and everyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aloft Phoenix Airport; City: Phoenix Arizona; Review: This hotel is OK. We have stayed at another ALoft and did not care for the design or amenities. We needed to stay at a place near the airport for an early flight and used the SPG cash and points option to get this hotel for one night for $45. The fron desk staff were quick and efficient including giving great directions to get into their parking lot. (If you ever stay there, you'll know what I mean). They also offered great suggestions for dinner about a ten minute drive away on Mill St. The hotel was an exact copy of the one we had stayed at previously. The main lobby layout and rooms were identical. The rooms are the real issue here. They are small with not great seating areas. The fit and finish are not up to Starwood standards and the lack of closets and drawers is a bit odd. It was fine for us as we were there for one night, but any longer stay would probably be annoying. I think the design of the overall hotel was meant to be industrial-modern and they have in fact accomplished this. But you have to like that style. As it was a Starwood property, it was clean and well maintained as expected. Again, fine for an overniter at the airport.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Holiday Inn Express Grand Canyon; City: Tusayan Arizona; Review: This hotel has a great location five minutes from the main entrance to Grand Canyon Park. The rooms are quite spacious and were clean. It did have the smallest bathroom I have ever been in but everything functioned well. Great shower head. The tub probably needs replacement as it was looking scrubbed out and the toilet paper holder came out of it's wall slot but these are not major issues. We were there in the second week of February so the hotel wasn't too busy. Our check in person seemed fairly indifferent but our check out person was quite nice. We asked the fron desk for a dinner recommendation as the hotel does not have a restaurant and we were sent next door to the Best western which was a great choice. The included breakfast was OK and par for other Holiday Inn Express'. There was a notable lack of fresh fruit (this is an issue with all hotels in the US) and the eggs were a bit frightening but that is a function of not having a full service restaurant on site. Overall there was enough to eat and other travellers seemed to be enjoying it. A decent reasonably priced hotel close to the Grand Canyon.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Merrill House; City: Picton Prince Edward County Ontario; Review: We stayed at the Merrill Inn over the July long weekend and it was worth every penny. The common rooms are well kept and a very comfortable place to relax and enjoy some of the complementary ice tea and cookies they serve every afternoon. The guest rooms are nicely furnished with nice bathrooms and amenities. We opted for a package that included room, breakfast, dinner in their restaurant on one night of our stay, a picnic lunch, and a wine tasting at one of the local wineries. Breakfast was amazing with a well stocked buffett and a hot entree. All were delicious and the restaurant staff were friendly and accomodating. Our dinner consisted of three courses and was excellent. I won't discuss what we had as I believe that the menu changes but we tried different things and they were all delicious. Overall, both the Inn and the Restaurant were first rate and I can see why they are rated #1 in the region.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Ibis Santiago Providencia; City: Santiago Santiago Metropolitan Region; Review: This is a new hotel in the Providencia district. It has a good location. While the room we had was small by even European standards the price was incredible low and the room was comfortable despite its size. Breakfast was OK and was always very busy. The staff was helpful and everyone was very pleasant. This is an ideal hotel if you are planning to be out all day. It is close to many amenities and the subway.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: A Em Signature Hotel; City: Ho Chi Minh City; Review: This hotel is described as new but it definitely has an older feel to it. This is not a negative. The hotel is clean with excellent air conditioning and the breakfast is adequate with Eastern and Western choices available. The front desk staff were helpful with any requests we had and we appreciated their restaurant recommendations. It is in a very good location in District 1 between the main market and the Presidential Palace. Recommended.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sheraton Hua Hin Resort Spa; City: Cha am Phetchaburi Province; Review: We had originally checked into a different hotel but after one night we decided to switch to the Sheraton. We had a lagoon access room. The swimming pool is made to look like a lagoon and meanders around the property. Our room had a deck with private access to the lagoon which was really nice. Room was large with a king bed and a sofa. Bathroom had a tub and seperate shower stall and there was fresh local fruit left for us daily. Breakfast was included and the choices were endless. We also ate at the restaurants on site and they were very reasonably priced for a Sheraton and the food was excellent. Some people have complained about the noise from parties, but we were there on Chinese new year weekend and we didn't notice any extraordinary noise. I hope to come back to this resort in the not too distant future.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Victoria Xiengthong Palace; City: Luang Prabang Luang Prabang Province; Review: Very nice hotel close to everything interesting in Luang Prabang. The monks pass right by the back entrance of the hotel every morning when they are collecting their alms. The rooms are nice and there is an excellent turn down service. It was a bit strange that we shared a balcony with the room next door and when we went out, we could see right in. But I don't think the room was occupied when we were there. Their restaurant overlooks the Mekong river and while we only had breakfast there, the views were nice. Speaking of breakfast, this was the best breakfast we had in 4 weeks in Asia. No buffet here. Everything was cooked to order, excellent omeletes, nicely prepared fruit plates, and a bread basket containing white and whole wheat toast, banana bread, regular croissants and chocolate croissants. The only complaint I had was that there were some broken tiles in the shower. I provided feedback to hotel management and they assured us that this would be fixed. Hope the next guest doesn't have broken tiles. I would certainly stay here again if ever on Luang Prabang.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: River 108 Boutique Hotel; City: Phnom Penh; Review: This hotel is right at the river and directly accross the street from the night market and walking distance to the Palace and some decent restaurants. Unfortunately, the King's funeral was taking place when we were there so that restricted our movements a bit. This is a tiny hotel jammed in amongst living spaces and restaurants. Our room had an interesting setup where the toilet was right by the entrance but the rest of the washroom was about 15 feet away. They served breakfast at the fish restaurant at the corner but I'm not sure for how long as they have sold that restaurant. The desk man said that they would be serving breakfast in the lobby when they had to. They should start now as the breakfast the fish restaurant was not great. As we were in Phnom Penh for anly one fuill day, I'm not sure if the location was good or not. This was an OK place but I think I would try something different iof i should find my way here again.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sunway Hotel Hanoi; City: Hanoi; Review: This hotel met all of our requirements. Nice clean rooms, nice washrooms, extremely helpful and attentive staff and a reasonable happy hour in the lobby Jazz Bar. Although there are some good restaurants within walking distance the area that the hotel is in seems a bit dodgy although I'm sure it is fine. There are a lot of tour groups so try to avoid the elevators at around 8:30 as everyoone is leaving for their tours and the restaurant is nuts from around 7:30-8:30. The restauarant had a nice breakfast buffet. We also tried it for dinner and althought it was a bit expensive, we had a half off coupon which made it much more reasonable. I liked this hotel, but I think I would stay a bit closer to the central market area next time.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort Offshore Island; City: Nassau New Providence Island Bahamas; Review: Let's start by saying that the convinience of being on the beach 3.5 hours from home is quite enticing. This resort is nice enough although I think it might be more of luxury as a concept as opposed to luxury. Like Bellagio in Las Vegas. Room: We booked Club Service and I think we got the best room in the hotel.. I think it was 608 in the Balmoral Tower. Nice view of the ocean and past the pool, so no pool distractions. The bed was fine and the layout was very good. It had a very small balcony that basically had a bistro table set and nothing else. The mini bar was fully stocked and there were full bottles of liquor in the room although I have to admit that I have never heard of any of the brands. So much for top shelf. Check-In: Check in was easy and although we arrived before our room was ready, the concierge staff was very accomodating and after lunch we were shown our room and the amenities. Restaurants: It seemed odd to me that there were only a couple of restaurants open on any given evening. And I have never been to an all inclusive resort where the buffet was not open in the evenings. I guess that's luxury living? Casanova was overly salted but the dinners at The Crystal Room and Baccarat were excellent. Be sure to have breakfast at Baccarat as well. Lunch was neither exceptional, or memorable. Beach: Noisy at the resort beachfront but quiet and relaxing on the island. Go to the backside of the island and listen to the ocean without any drunken foolishness or loud music. Service: Extremely inconsistant. Some of the concierges were good and others were indifferent. The bartenders were uninterested to the point of being rude. The Maitre D's at most of the restaurants wouldn't even look at you but the wait staff as a whole were exceptional. They were professional friendly and helpful, especially Morel who was pleasant and friendly everytime we saw him. Overall I would say that this hotel was a nice getaway, just very overpriced.; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Royalton Hicacos Varadero Resort Spa; City: Varadero Matanzas Province Cuba; Review: This was our 4th stay at this hotel and it mostly met our expectations. We have noticed that over the years, the service levels at this hotel have improved and this year was no exception. We arrived at the front desk and were told that as returning guests we were automatically upgraded to Concierge Service. A nice touch. While it was nice to be upgraded, there really wasn't much that differenciated the service from a regular room. They made dinner reservations for us, but could not give us our preferred time. There was a fully stocked mini bar but that seemed redundant in an all inclusive resort. We did get a nice bottle of rum as a returning guest gift but overall, I would save my money if I wasn't upgraded. The beach has changed somewhat since our last visit in 2012 but I thionk that this is the case throughout Varadero. There appears to be a ldge of sand forming that lowers the shoreline to below eye level from the back of the beach. I guess that's nature! We found that the food was not as good as was in previous years. I don't believe that the quality of the food had deteriorated, but the quality of the cooking had. The drinks were poor, but they never were that great. The Concierge Cocktail party had a lot of high end booze so that was good. Stick with the mojitos or brandy in the cigar bar. It was nice to see some old friends there, Osvaldi at the egg station, JB in the lobby bar, and Carlos in the cigar bar. All provided outstanding service. Concierge service was hit and miss. Staff in general were more helpful and interested than in previous years. Housekeeping often made up the rooms well after noon which seemed a bit odd but this was a minor thing. Overall, our stay was fine and we will likely come back. The next few years will tell the tale for this hotel.; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
Given the interaction history of a user with books as follows:
Title: The Prophet; Author: Visit Amazon's Kahlil Gibran Page; Review: perfect!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Prophet; Author: Khalil Gibran; Review: perfect!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tides of War #1: Blood in the Water; Author: Visit Amazon's C. Alexander London Page; Review: just what we wanted and in great condition; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hitler's Secret; Author: Visit Amazon's William Osborne Page; Review: just right...our grandson wants to know all about good and evil; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tides of War #2: Honor Bound; Author: Visit Amazon's C. Alexander London Page; Review: great; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Beginner's Guide to Reloading; Author: Visit Amazon's Steven Gregersen Page; Review: Grandson loves this and came quickly; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Civil War for Kids: A History with 21 Activities (For Kids series); Author: Visit Amazon's Janis Herbert Page; Review: grandson loves this; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: No One Cares About Crazy People: The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Health in America; Author: Visit Amazon's Ron Powers Page; Review: Ron Powers has intertwined extremely important facts about Mental Illness, medications, politics, the still extremely lacking of Professional and Societal stigmas with his open and deeply moving personal life with his two sons who have mental illness. This is a book for professionals in all areas of responsibilities and it is a book for the families like ours who have deep stresses from trying to get the best help for their beautiful family members with mental health diagnoses. Thank you Ron.....You Are Making A Difference With deep respect Rosemary Richards; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_books |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: Cars 2; Brand: Larry the Cable Guy; Review: i really didn't like it that much but it was for my friend who really enjoys disney movies. she is the one who i help on here to get movies for.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: William & Kate; Brand: Camilla Luddington; Review: another great source that amazon is great for... the dvds are greatly priced too. what a great deal for this movie that was just made about over a year ago. i love this site.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Duke; Brand: Steven Weber; Review: excellent movie. i would recommend this to anyone... very touching. I would recommend this seller again to anyone. fast and easy service.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: American Gangster; Brand: Denzel Washington; Review: when i ordered the product it said i would get the bonus dvd with it. but when i got the dvd in the mail, it wasn't there. the dvd arrived quickly which was good but was very unhappy with the missing dvd. the seller posted one thing and it seemed to change later on. don't know what happened?; Rating: 2.0/5.0
Title: What's Love Got To Do With It? VHS; Brand: Angela Bassett; Review: great condition! no scratches and cleaned very very good! I would highly recommend this seller. thank u!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Perfect Murder VHS; Brand: Michael Douglas; Review: love this movie... thrilling; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Family Guy, Volume Ten; Brand: Seth MacFarlane; Review: excellent product.. no scratches... i love it. and fast delivery; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Monster-in-Law; Brand: Jennifer Lopez; Review: love the movie...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Karla; Brand: Laura Prepon; Review: scary and edge of your seat thriller.... you will enjoy this movie; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Fireproof [Blu-ray]; Brand: Kirk Cameron; Review: a must see Christian film.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Disney's A Christmas Carol; Brand: Jim Carrey; Review: the best Christmas carol made film ever. the way this was done was the best. they made this by the book by Charles dickens. exactly as he wrote it and left nothing out. thank u Disney!! this is the only true and factual Christmas story u will see ever!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: What If...; Brand: Kevin Sorbo; Review: wonderfully made film by purflix.. anyone must get movies from this company.. they are a Christian based company. and they are great. no violence, swearing . just Gods Love.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Christmas with a Capital C; Brand: Ted McGinley; Review: one of the best Christian movies ever... a must watch film...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Video Girl; Brand: Meagan Good; Review: this movie will have u on the edge of your seat!! u will sure enjoy this!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lifetime Movies-Triple Feature A Change of Heart, The Truth About Jane, Her Desperate Choice; Brand: Stockard Channing; Review: amazing... 3 stories that will touch your heart.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions Of A Marriage Counselor Digital; Brand: Jurnee Smollett-Bell; Review: so amazing.. tyler perry doesn't disappoint.. ever!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Definitive Guide To The Mob; Brand: ; Review: a must watch dvd.. very exciting and informative.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: My Baby's Daddy; Brand: Eddie Griffin; Review: funny!!; Rating: 4.0/5.0
Title: Triple Dog; Brand: Britt Robertson; Review: a wonderful dvd. it has a surprise ending..; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Lifetime Films: Passion & Betrayal; Brand: ; Review: suspenseful, terrifying and surprising...; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Brittany Murphy Story Digital; Brand: Jennifer Aniston; Review: so sad but an amazing and true movie... this is tear up your heart.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Courageous; Brand: ; Review: beautiful movie and must see!!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: The Encounter; Brand: Steve Sting Borden; Review: one of the best movies to watch over and over again.....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: God's Not Dead; Brand: Kevin Sorbo; Review: love it!!! must see!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: A Greater Yes; Brand: ; Review: beautiful movie... movie arrived way before time.... no problems.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Sarah's Choice; Brand: Rebecca St. James; Review: beautifully made movie.. i would highly recommend this movie to everyone.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Hope Bridge; Brand: Booboo Stewart; Review: amazing movie.. there should be more christian movies out there like this.. amen!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Secret at Arrow Lake; Brand: C. Thomas Howell; Review: wonderful christian movie....; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Anna Nicole; Brand: Agnes Bruckner; Review: amazing movie.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Aaliyah: The Princess Of R&B Digital; Brand: Alexandra Shipp; Review: excellent movie..; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with products as follows:
Title: True Grit; Brand: Jeff Bridges; Review: I enjoy this movie about how men with grit can work for justice.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Insidious; Brand: Patrick Wilson; Review: This was filmed in a beautiful home in a neighborhood of Los Angeles known as the Victoria Park Circle. Although a scary movie, it made me want to move to the Victoria Park neighborhood.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mad Max: Fury Road; Brand: Tom Hardy; Review: Much better than expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Mad Max : Fury Road - Edition limitée 3D - Coffret Voiture [Blu-ray]; Brand: ; Review: Much better than expected.; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Frozen (Mandarin Chinese Edition); Brand: ; Review: Good movie. I like the snowman; Rating: 4.0/5.0 | amazon_Movies_and_TV |
Given the interaction history of a user with news articles as follows:
Title: Singer stands up to heckler who told her to take shirt off; Abstract: After being heckled on stage and told to "free the nips" at a concert in Texas, singer Maggie Rogers voiced her anger about the harassment.; Category: video
Title: Nickelodeon Universe -- the largest indoor theme park in North America -- opens this week; Abstract: All your favorite Nickelodeon characters are coming to New Jersey.; Category: travel
Title: A 2,000-pound great white shark is swimming off the coast of Florida; Abstract: A great white shark that weighs over 2,000 pounds and measures 15 feet, 5 inches long has been swimming along the US East Coast.; Category: news
Title: These Brides Got Married in the Hawaiian Jungle, and There Was a Tiny Horse Involved - It Was Wild!; Abstract: Kaliko and Amanda got married at Sunset Ranch on the Hawaiian island of Oahu in this elegant tropical wedding.; Category: lifestyle
Title: New species found in whale shark mouth; Abstract: A whale shark's mouth might not seem like the most hospitable environment for a home, but Japanese researchers have found there's no place like it for a newly-discovered shrimp-like creature. The tiny inhabitants -- dubbed podocerus jinbe -- are a variety of gammaridea, a species known for their hardy ability to live in environments ranging from high mountains to the deep sea. But lead researcher Ko Tomikawa, an associate professor at Hiroshima...; Category: news
Title: Michigan apples being recalled in eight states for possible Listeria contamination; Abstract: More than 2,000 cases Michigan apples, including popular varieties like Honeycrisp, are being recalled due to potential Listeria contamination.; Category: health
Title: Angry octopus and human fight over camera; Abstract: Eight arms vs. one hand... do the math, human.; Category: video
Title: The 50 Best One-Hit Wonders of All Time; Abstract: Not every successful artist stays successful. Here are the best one-hit wonders from the 1950s all the way through the 2000s.; Category: music
Title: This Simple Hack Will Keep Spiders Out of Your House; Abstract: It's chemical-free! The post This Simple Hack Will Keep Spiders Out of Your House appeared first on Reader's Digest.; Category: lifestyle
Title: Rare deer spotted in Montana; Abstract: A Lakeside resident spotted a piebald deer, which represent less than 1% of the deer population.; Category: video
Title: Dean Foods files for bankruptcy; Abstract: Dean Foods, America's largest milk producer, is filing for bankruptcy.; Category: finance | mind |
Given the interaction history of a user with hotels as follows:
Title: The Hotel Minneapolis Autograph Collection; City: Minneapolis Minnesota; Review: This hotel is in a great location. The building that it is in (an old bank) is simply fantastic and the public areas are very well decorated. We were very happy with how quiet this hotel was as we were needing the R & R. We got our reservations by bidding on Priceline, so I am not sure if our "stay" was an average stay or not, but beyond the above mentioned, we were very disappointed for a 4 star hotel. The front desk and valet staff were not rude, but they were definitely NOT friendly. There was no effort made to make us feel welcome. The room was extremely small and the "supplies" were lacking. Only two of each bathroom towels. A very small bottle of shampoo and conditioner and a bar of soap. No coffee cups and only one "pod" to make one cup of coffee. Two bottles of water for $4 each. Our window looked out to a brick wall that was so close and so high that we could not see the ground or the sky. Only brick. Internet is $11. We called room service for a night time snack and could not decided between the fruit and cheese tray for $11 or the Hummus and crackers tray for $7. Not wanting fruit, I asked if we could have hummus added to the cheese tray. I was told yes, and that it would then cost $27. Go figure. $10 dollars more than if I would have just ordered both and thrown away the fruit. They did not seem to understand the error of their logic so we ended up with nothing. And they were perfectly happy to not find any alternative. I've stayed at much cheaper hotels and have received three times the amenities and service. Whether or not they "tagged" us as the cheap room because we went through priceline remains to be known. Either way, I will not stay there again. Which is sad, because it had a lot of potential.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Hampton Inn Suites Murfreesboro; City: Murfreesboro Tennessee; Review: I've stayed in plenty of five star hotels and this wonderful location beats a number of them. Amazing, simply amazing. First of all, it is extremely classy. Very well decorated, very well kept and extremely clean. The rooms are fantastic - spacious, richly decorated and full of little amenities. But most of all...the beds and bedding in this place were out of this world. Beautiful comforters and duvet covers, unbelievably soft sheets, comfortable beds and pillows - we had a horrible time waking up at 5am and crawling out of them. I just cannot say enough about the motel itself and the people that work there. Everyone that greeted us made a sincere effort to ask how we were doing and not one without a smile. Wish we lived closer so we could go there more often!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Comfort Inn Rockford; City: Rockford Illinois; Review: This hotel is "okay". The rooms have been somewhat remodeled, but are definitely lacking. Our bathroom had quite a bit of mold in it and the walls and doors were bubbled and peeling. The rooms were clean, the staff was friendly - it just needs a major overhaul and I think someone was trying to cut corners the last time it was updated.; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Ramada by Wyndham Marshall; City: Marshall Minnesota; Review: This hotel rates 5 stars in regards to friendliness of hotel staff. The front desk staff is extremely accommodating and welcoming. The morning breakfast crew is OUTSTANDING. I felt like I was in a five start hotel as they waited on us hand and foot at the free breakfast. The housekeeping staff were all very pleasant and seemed to be working very hard. The breakfast, which is held every morning in the restaurant, is good old fashioned cooking. The french toast (made with texas toast) really hit the spot and the sausage was like none other. The pool is FANTASTIC!!!! Big and very warm, which is wonderful if you have any health issues. Very nice family area around the pool. Loved it! The rooms are being slowly remodeled. I noticed some are done completely and some are half done (wondering if they will just stay that way???) We were in a half done room. The ceiling was full of mold, so if you have allergies, this is NOT the place for you. The air conditioner was horrible and so loud we had to turn it off to sleep. The water in the shower would change from extremely cold to scalding hot without warning. The only way we could shower was to keep it on cold so that when it went to hot we were not scalded. There were very few outlets in the room. In fact, we had to unplug the fridge in order to plug the microwave in and then change it back to keep the fridge cold. All in all, we had a very pleasant experience, but were not all that happy with the actual "room".; Rating: 3.0/5.0
Title: Old Rittenhouse Inn; City: Bayfield Wisconsin; Review: This was, by far, the best place we have EVER stayed at. The epitome and definition of hospitality at it's finest. Extremely accommodating, clean beyond even the best standards, beautifully decorated - there is not one point to which they have not excelled. We went here as an early Spring getaway and were snowed in by an April blizzard dropping almost 20 inches of snow. I can't think of a better place to be. These folks have spent their years wisely, making sure no stone is unturned. Every person we met was not only pleasant and eager to make our stay all that it could be, but they were all very interesting personalities. The rooms are amazing, the food is TOP of the industry and the hospitality is simply five star plus. I can hardly wait to go back to one of their events - I have heard so many good things. DEFINITELY worth every penny!; Rating: 5.0/5.0
Title: Edgewater Inn Cottages; City: Eagle River Wisconsin; Review: We are SO happy we stumbled upon this resort! Just can't say that enough. Fritz advertises that it will be just like going to Grandma's house and that is exactly what I kept saying the whole time we were there. Truly comforting. We have a huge family...lots of kids and grandkids that live nearby. This resort was about four hours from home (Star Prairie, WI) and was just what we needed to get away. First of all, our idea of a good resort is some place with character. This place is like going back in time, yet everything is meticulously cared for. Fritz works very hard to keep the old charm of the 20's, 30's and 40's - yet at the same time keeps everything in perfect working condition. The grounds are well kept, landscaped and plush with grass (don't know how he does that with all the tree coverage). The cottage we stayed in (#1) was absolutely perfect for two people and the closest to the water. It was clean, had everything we needed, was well decorated, and truly reminded both my husband and myself of experiences from our childhood. Our biggest dilemma was not wanting to leave the cabin!! Second, Fritz is everything you would want in a host. This is a dream come true for him and you can feel that love the minute you check in. His whole purpose it to make your stay enjoyable. I loved how he would occasionally come over to the cabin if we were outside and say hello, ask us how things were going and if we needed anything. While we were there a boat pulled up that was having trouble and he offered all the kids on board to play in the playground while the parents worked on the boat. AND he brought them tools. Just a sweet guy. This was just an all round great stay for us and we plan on making it a yearly or maybe even a bi-yearly event (would love to hibernate there in the winter months!!) If you are looking for a clean resort, true charm, a place that does not nickle and dime you to death and a wonderful host...this is the place for you! Small, personal, quiet and a beautiful location!!; Rating: 5.0/5.0 | hotelrec |
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