I've dined at a number of places. People ask me what places are good to eat. I have my review list below. As time goes on I will add to the list to new restaurants I will be visiting.

Alison at Blue Bell
721 Skippack Pike (Route 73)
Blue Bell, PA 19422
(215) 641-2660
www.alisonatbluebell.com
Alison Barshak returns to the area to open a mostly seafood restaurant. Located in Blue Bell, Pa; the restaurant is located in an office park right off Skippack Pike. We went to Alison on a beautiful Friday night in May; no wind and perfect temperature for us to sit outside on a park bench. It's BYOB. I looked at the menu and I had no idea what to get. So what do you do when you're with a group? Order a few appetizers and sample each of them. We had the Picu ribs (Didn't know fish had ribs) and the Shrimp with Black Bean cake and Advocado salad. The Picu is a Brazilian fish. The ribs look like a mini rack of ribs you'd see at a rib joint but with a lighter color. The fish was meaty and moist in texture and it tasted good. If you're a Shrimp fan, you'll enjoy the Shrimp and Black Bean cake. The Shrimp were a pretty big size and as fresh as it could be.

For my entrée, I had the Scallops with Gnocchi, Mushrooms, and Truffled Mushroom Sauce. You couldn't ask for a better mix of seafood and pasta that filled me up even though it didn't look like a lot of food. But don't worry, I always make room for dessert. And of course, with a group, we ordered a few items and split it among the group.

I selected the Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. It a heavy blend of Strawberry and Rhubarb under a layer of sweet, flaky crisp. The Sweetness of the crisp along with the tartness of the rhubarb and strawberry made it a great combo for the palate.

I tried the other items on the table - The chocolate with chili was surprisingly good with a nice zing of chili mixed in with the chocolate. There was a coconut custard dish that made me a fan of it and I am not a coconut custard fan.

And there's good old fashioned Chocolate Soufflé. What can I say? It was delicious! Alison at Blue Bell is definitely worth going back!

Monk's Café
16th & Spruce Streets
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 545-7005
www.monkscafe.com
If you love Belgian beer, it is mandatory that you stop by this place! Monk's is located on the corner of 16th & Spruce Street - across the street from La Viola, actually. There's a front bar and a back bar with a dining area in between. They have numerous beers on tap and a wide selection of bottled beers as well. I usually never get the same beers when I visit here but the one constant is that I will have a Hoegaarden (On tap) every time I'm there just because it's one of my favorite beers.

As for the food, their specialties are burgers, mussels, and pomme frittes. I'm not a mussels fan but they are popular here and friends of mine who like mussels rank this place as tops. 90% of the time I will order a burger. There are 7 toppings to choose from to complete your burger. I usually go for the Antwerp (Sottocenare cheese & shitake mushrooms) or the Brussels (Bacon & Cheddar) toppings.

Pomme frittes are a heaping basket full of shoestring fries along with a thousand island-like mayo sauce that's big enough to serve 2 to 3 people.

Monk's is so popular that the Monk's Café Flemish Sour is brewed in Belgium specifically for them. If that isn't enough to convince you to stop by this place, nothing will! There is another bar/restaurant called The Belgian Café that had opened in Fall 2007 by the same owners. It's located on 2047 Green Street in the Fairmount section. A review will be coming soon.

South Street Souvlaki
509 South Street
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 925-3026
Well, I made a return visit to South Street Souvlaki in the Spring of 2007 and I'm happy to say it's back to where it was before. The food is good enough that it takes me back to delicious food of Greece. Located amidst the hoopla and unusual world of South Street, when I step into the restaurant I feel like I walked into a restaurant in Greece.

I love their hummus with their generous portion of garlic and the warm pita bread to dip into. I recommend the gyro platter with Turlu (Steamed Vegetables). They do have Greek beer, Greek wines, and Ouzo to complement your meal. If you're not sure what to get they offer a sampler platter that includes Pastitso and spanakopita.

Ristorante Mediterraneo
303 Horsham Road
Horsham, PA 19044
They moved up the street and changed their name to Buona Via. I'll leave my comments below but will update it when I visit Buona Via in the near future.

When you look at it from the outside Risotrante Mediterraneo looks plain but do not let that fool you. When you enter this establishment you enter a well decorated Italian restaurant great for casual dining and romantic dates. This place has the best calamari in Montgomery County. It's the closest I've tasted to eating calamri in Greece. It's fried just right and melts in your mouth. Favorite entrees of mine include Shrmip in spicy marinara sauce over linguini, risotto with crab meat and asparagus. Please save some room for dessert. Their dessert tray is a magnet to your eyes. There's something for everyone. Beer, wine, and liquors are served.

Bell's
325 Union Street
Lambertville, NJ
About a mile down the street from The Lambertville Station there is a little restaurant that my brother discovered over 10 years ago. From that point on I never had a bad meal there until the early fall of 2001 when the quality and quantity of the food had declined somewhat. Months later my brother and sister-in-law returned to see how the food was and it is back on the top of their list. The food is like it was before and the portions are now big. So big that my brother could not finish his Yankee Pot Roast. This used ot be a house that was renovated into a bar/restaurant. They have a two page menu along with a blackboard listing 5 nightly entree specials. The specials are almost always never the same because everytime I go there I have yet to see the same special on the board more than once. On the blackboard there's always at least a meat, a pasta, and a seafood entree special. 9 times out of 10 I order my entree from the blackboard.

Angelo's
441 2nd Street Pike
Southampton, Pa
This Italian Restaurant has been a longtime favorite with the locals. I've been going there since I was a little kid. Their pizzas and strombolis are delicious! The key is their tasty sauce and the dough crisped to near perfection. They use fresh ingredients. Their hoagies are great as they toast their rolls. My favorite hoagie is the Italian Hoagie. Eat one and you'll crave for another one. No matter what you order you won't be disappointed. BYOB.

Dmitri's
2 locations
3rd & Catherine Street - BYOB
23rd & Pine - Serves alcohol
Philadelphia, PA
This restaurant is the closest thing to authentic greek cuisine dining to actual dining in Greece. I've lured many people to this restaurant and have come away with a smile on their face and wanting to come back again. Growing up in a Greek family with mother's cooking and eating food in Greece I get very picky when it comes to ethnic Greek food. I think Dmitri's technically is Mediterranean Greek/Italian cuisine but they sure know how to make Greek food. To get the most out of their menu order ala carte and split it all betwen your party. For starters I highly reccommend their Greek salad and hummus even though the hummus could use a little more garlic and salt. Entree highlights include Shrimp Scampi. Their seafood is fresh. They do have entrees but I usually pass on it going for variety.

Alexander's Kitchen Bar
1482 Old York Road
Abington, PA 19001
You're noticing a pattern here? Another Greek restaurant. The size of the restaurant has more than doubled re-opening after major renovations last year. It's a good restaurant if you live in Montgomery County and don't want to venture into the city for Greek food. They have a traditional menu highlighting Greek food. I was impressed by their Greek salad and the Dolmades is a nice added touch to the salad. Good Dolmades is hard to find at a restaurant. Most of the time I would order their Gyro or Souvlaki platters. A great added feature is the new and expanded bar area with an outdoor section during nice weather.

Brigid's
726 N. 24th Street
Art Museum Area
Philadelphia, PA
This is one of my favorite small restaurants in Philadelphia. Located blocks away from the Philadelphia Museum of Art it's a great place to go after a visit to the museum or a casual date. Brigid's is known for their wide selection of Belgian Beers. Their menu is listed on a blackboard and low priced for Philadelphia Restaurant standards.

La Taquiera
301 E. Main Street
Norristown, Pa.
I entered this restaurant for the first time in March of 1999. My former co-workers told me about this place so I decided to check it out. Located on the corner across the street from a KFC - Kennedy Fried chicken. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a giant screen tv showing a soap opera on Telemundo. Since then it was closed for renovations in early 2003 and it has completely different look. The dining area has a southwest/mexican town atmosphere and the bar is bigger. The food has not changed and is still has the best authentic Mexican food. Not sure if we're charged for it or not but the waiter/waitress will bring out a basket of very crispy tortilla chips with three different kinds of salsa. Try not to eat too much of that so you can eat your entree. I loved their chicken enchilada with green sauce. You get 5 enchiladas with a side of refriend beans and rice. Regular beverages, sodas imported from Mexico, and alcohol is available.

Porterhouse Restaurant and Brew Pub
5775 Lower York Road
Lahaska, PA 18931
Formerly The Buckingham Mountain Brewery, the place still looks the same except for the name change and better food. When you walk into this establishment the first thing you see are large beer vats behind glass. After 2 sharp right turns you enter the bar and the downstairs dining room. It's got a relaxing and casual feel. There is an upstairs dining room for a more intimate feel with a nice view of farm land and Buckingham Mountain. Their freature beer is River Horse brewed there and in Lammbertville, New Jersey. My friend and I split an order of Spring Rolls and a crab cake. I ordered the Porterhouse Burger. It's a burger topped with mushrooms, fried onions, and red peppers. The burger was pretty big, cooked to my liking, and delicious. This is a great place if you're taking a break from shopping at Peddlar's Village or Penn's Purchase outlet which are both within walking distance. This place is good for hanging with friends or dining upstairs for a casual meal.

Zoto's Diner
1100 Bethlehem Pike
Line Lexington, Pa 18932
If you love diners, this is one place to visit. When you walk in, you're treated like family with courteous service. I particularly enjoy breakfast. From eggs and bacon, to Hot Cakes, to Belgian Waffle, the food comes out fast and hot. My favorite is their Creamed Chip Beef on Toast with a side of crispy home fries to complement the meal. Lunch time brings out generous portions and a wide selection of delicious sandwiches that will fit anyone's tastes. I usually go for their Shrimp Salad or Chicken Salad sandwiches. When it's in season, their Cucumber Salad hits the spot on a hot day. Don't forget dinner! Their dinner menu is just as large a selection ranging from poultry, fresh seafood, to the old time favorites like open face turkey or roast beef sandwiches and chicken croquettes. The daily specials are posted in the lobby as you enter the establishment. They also have a banquet room for parties and other occasions. So stop by and you won't be disappointed.

Amada
114 S. 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA
It was the final weekend of 2006 and I was meeting my cousin and his wife for dinner in the city. We were meeting in Old City but couldn’t decide where to go so we figure to meet up first and then decide where to go. I went on the words of a couple leaving this restaurant and telling another couple how good the food was.

I quickly looked at the menu posted outside of Amada and liked what I saw. The three of us decided that’s where we’ll go for dinner. Although reservations are preferred we were able to walk in and get a table by the bar. Amada is a Spanish Tapas restaurant that’s been open for over a year. I heard a lot of good things about it so now it was time to check it out! We ordered about 5 or 6 different items and we were not disappointed. From what I remembered we had the spicy potatoes (two orders), Octopus, garlic shrimp which was really delicious, marinated anchovies, lamb meatballs in a cream sauce, and another item or two that I can’t remember. The potatoes reminded me of Spiced up Tater Tots. The calamari was fresh and not chewy. It ranks up there with Ristorante Mediterraneo’s calamari.

For dessert we ordered a cheese tray with various fruit spreads. It was a nice finisher from sampling numerous menu items. The price, which included a few beers, was reasonable for 3 people and it filled us up.

Tutti Toscani by Lamberti
In the Stop & Shop Center
1491 Brace Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
This restaurant is one of many restaurants under the Lamberti name. Located not far from where I am currently assigned at, I ate here twice for lunch and have come away very pleased with their food and wanting to go back a few more times before my assignment ends. Both times I ordered from the lunch menu. The first time I was there I ordered the Za Za Zigara; Penne pasta, tomatoes, olives, artichokes, mushrooms, and white wine sauce. The portion is more than enough for lunch.

The second time I ordered a sandwich because I was meeting a friend at another Italian Restaurant for dinner that same day so I didn't want to blow myself up with pasta and carbs. I ordered Zia Rosa's Panini; Grilled boneless chicken breast with arugula, provolone cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and red onions. The sandwich came with a choice of fries, side salad, or a half Caesar Salad. The chicken was tender and moist and the bread was fresh which made it a great sandwich! The fries were crispy and portioned so it wouldn't stuff you up.

I had dessert on both occasions and I recommend you make some room for it! The first time around I had a chocolate cake and the second visit I had the chocolate Chip Cheesecake. Can't go wrong with either one but I thought the Chocolate Chip cheesecake was the better of the two. I am very finicky when it comes to cheesecake. I hate dry cheesecake! This cheesecake was moist and the mini-pile of chocolate chips on top of the cake is a wonderful melting experience for your mouth.

NOTE: I had a slice of my co-workers Fiaschetto white pizza. It was a tasty combo of fresh mozzarella cheese and chopped tomatoes, artichokes, and black olives.

Melange Café
1601 Chapel Avenue
(Between Haddonfield Road and Route 38)
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Interested in Lousiana and Italian Cuisine? Come to this place! While on assignment in Cherry Hill, NJ a Tax Accountant took us to this Restaurant. On the outside it resembles an old run down house but inside the dining area was pretty fancy and good ambiance. The chef is also the owner (Joe Brown) and has a cookbook out (Melange Café Cookbook). I did see him step out of the kitchen and talk to a few customers. I wish I had a chance to talk to him and complement him on the great meal.

For starters I had a cup of the Soup of the Moment (Not "Soup of the Day" like all restaurants have). It was the Chicken Chili Soup. It was thick with chunks of chicken, lots of rice, and other vegetables with a nice chili zing to it.

For my entrée I had the Mixed Grilled Jambalaya. It was Grilled chicken, shrimp, and andouille sausage on a bed of Jambalaya Rice. It was a large portion for lunch but I did eat it all. The rice had a solid kick to it and the chicken, shrimp, and sausage mix made it an added pleasure to eat. It was spicy enough that my nose was running a bit with a twinge of a hot tongue.

Bistro La Viola
253 South 16th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
BYOB
GEZUAR! Looking for an Italian Restaurant that is run by Albanians? This is the place! My brother and I left the car show and decided on this place. The actually have two rooms that are across the street from each other. The room we were in was the small, tightly fit dining area. The one across the street is the larger room so if you need your space let them know you want the larger room when making reservations. Speaking of which, we got seated immediately despite seeing the long list of names for reservations.

For starters I had the antipasta salad of salami, prosciutto, dry mozzarella chesse, artichokes, and olives over a bed of lettuce. The salad was draped in olive oil which I sopped up with bread. The main course was Orichetti with sausage, chicken, and mushrooms. It was great mix and a light dish. The waiter, my brother, and I talked about each other's Albanian lineage.

The staff was courteous, hard working, and always around filling up your water glasses and taking away the dirty dishes.

There's still more reviews coming on the way including...
Los Sorapes - Chalfont, PA
Mesquito Grille - Doylestown, PA
Zorba's - Philadelphia, PA