Trader Jack's

I wasn't goin to write bout this place but i was irritated (to say the least) so here we go!
Trader Jacks Seafood grill/bar/family restaurant in Movie Towne's Fiesta Plaza.
The decor at Trader Jack's is so over the top that i swear Jack Sparrow would have been our waiter! The design team went all out with fish nets and pond and wooden bridges etc. Now what upset me wasn't the food we had cuz to be honest it was good stuff Grilled Chicken with Greens was well grilled but moist kebabs, lovely tossed salad and the Jerk Chiken with Linguini Alfredo was aight but what pissed me off was the fact that i could tell from the menu that their sister/partner stores were J. Malone's and Snappers! This menu was just a cut and paste of J malone's and Snappers menu with a couple "Caribbean Splashes".

Don't get me wrong I liked the minor alterations but would it kill u to at least change the font on the menu? And being a dessert hound i was especially peeved by the fact that the dessert menu is exactly the same at all three places. I understand that not every restaurant can make desserts from scratch and they try to save by buying the whole dessert menu from places like Hadco and Malabar farms all pre-packaged and ready to go but would it kill u to order something different!!!! Something that fits the theme of ur restaurant!!!! I mean seriously there are millions of companies making pre-done Key Lime Pie! Tonnes sellin Boston or Banana Cream Pie. Oh lord do i have to have Bailey's Cheese Cake, and Raspberry watever watever every single time !!! AHHHHHHHH!!!

So yeah Trader Jack was cool enough would recommend it for families and casual friend type limes, especially for the kiddies but screw you if u lookin for something original!

D Panyol Place

Wow dust of this page cuz I finally sat down to write. No one would believe that I visited this place in February and now bloggin bout it, but such is life i guess. The economic down turn was taking a toll on the journey! But we manage to get out there ever so often! Unfortunately I'm stickin to old favorites so hence not much to write about. However I got out the new Ins and Outs 2009 and happened upon Taryn's "The Panyol Place" on Mucurapo Rd. which boasts authentic Venezuelan cuisine in a cozy atmosphere. So when I was on the road and had the opportunity to stop for a quick lunch I gladly parked and tried their hand.

As I walked in I should have know better since it looked like a Spanish mini mart with snacks, groceries and what not. After walking down to the back I found the "restaurant" area which was very simple and homely. No menu, no menu board just a bain marie with a little shredded chicken,beef, black beans and Empanadas. I inquired about any other menu items and decided on a Pork Arepa (pork was in the back). While I waited I took a look in their drink chillers and for such a humble place they had quite a variety of foreign beers and specialty foods, even individual Tiramisu cups.

I got my Arepa and a piece of home made Carrot Cake, paid and left with lunch in hand. For $38.00 my bag felt real light but so are the times. Sadly I did not enjoy my Arepa.The pork was fried, chewy and tough cubes with lots of fat and the arepa was oily to no end. At the very least the cake was above board. So bad food in a shabby setting...... boo who!

I'm not sure if Taryn's was a shop turned restaurant or restaurant 1st and hard times hit so they converted into a pseudo mini mart but either way they should stick to one or the other cuz it looks like they are stretched thin and it's affecting the quality of their food.