Dave and Busters

These things DO exist! Living in Upstate New York for the majority of  my life I was bombarded with Chick-Fil-A, Sonic, Jack in the Box and Dave and Busters commercials thinking they were only a myth never seeing one, until now! Dave an Busters ahoy!

A circus of sadness

A chain is a chain is a chain is a chain, I have eaten at my fair share of them but they always have their 'famous' dish that allowed them to flourish into a chain IE: Applebees is to Burgers as as Pizzahut is to Pizza. But, I failed to see what allowed D&B to expand on the restaurant side of their food/arcade hybrid. The atmosphere was that of a party that had a billion invites and only 7 RSVPs. This place was MASSIVE and on a Friday at 6pm one would think this place would be poppin' [never going to use as an adjective again I promise.]  Then came the food? Right? No Sam Adams Octoberfest... zero dollars. No Bass... zero dollars. A $4 warm Dos Equis in a dirty bottle... disgusting.

What did I like? Well our waiter was very nice and gave us a free game card with 120 credits on it. I could end there... But, their cheesecake, yes cheesecake, was both massive and tasty. Nice crust, good vanilla flavor and the portion was worth the price which is rare for desserts in restaurants. And being a 9 year-old 22 year-old their arcade game selection was great! You have the option for ticket games [skee ball] and video games [Time Crisis]. A lot of racing games, a lot of shooters and a lot of flashing lights! [Hope you don't have epilepsy.] Another plus is the gaming card. You can load it with 'credits' and swipe it to play the games instead of clunking around with pounds of quarters or tokens in your pockets.

What would I change? I went there for food first, gaming second... as most people do when one is hungry... Cheese sticks are a staple for chains that pride themselves on greasy food. Fail. These inadequate sticks are not recommended. Why do you cut up green onions on cheese sticks? Anyone? I hear that's what they are teaching at the CIA. Double cheese burger, that's simple right? Yum, nope. Those frozen 'meat patties' would have been rejected by the Hamburglar. And the fries? I think they were fried? Burgers are the fail safe anywhere. At a fancy restaurant, at a fast food joint, at home for dinner. But, both the regular and double burgers were sub-sub-par. And what else in a menu option? Steak. Steak at $19.99 and up no matter the cut. Because when I want a juicy NY Steak with a high price tag, I want to eat it while a kid cries in one ear over his spilled soda and another screams over sharing tickets with his younger sister. Now that's classy dinning.

Inadequate Sticks... MMMMM

Recommendation? On the way out I spotted someone with chicken wings and they looked 'ok' so maybe I should have leaned in that direction. Don't order a mixed drink unless you want to take out a second mortgage. And DON'T get a burger. But, if you want to get nachos, watch some football and shoot some zombies this is a good place to go. It was nice to play arcade games and not feel like a sex-offender.  Entrees should be left alone at all costs. Speaking of costs, bring your cash A-Game because this place just loves to tidy up your wallet. This was a upsetting defeat.

Dave and Buster's Main Website: Dave and Buster's main page  

Shane's Rib Shack

So, not exactly 'Down Home' Southern cooking for my first piece on NC restaurants. But, this will have to suffice...

SHANIAC

When on the go or looking for some fast BBQ take out, Shane's should be the first thing that comes into mind. In two trips to the Rib Shack I sampled both a sandwich and a platter. First up is a beast of a burger known as the Shaniac Burger that was a limited menu item. Sadly it is now off the menu. 

What did I like? It was filling. It had a good grill taste and the price wasn't knocking me off my feet. Plus, I love the pulled pork and coleslaw combo [NC Style.] The restaurant itself has both a place to eat in and outdoors pending your mood and of course a few HD TVs with ESPN on. Take out or eat in, either way you won't have to wait too long. 

What would I change? All of Shane's sandwiches are good but the sides are extra to add on. And the burger needs some improvement. It was very obvious it wasn't hand made, too perfect of a circle, and the meat wasn't consistent with 'In-House' ground beef. 

Recommendation? Want borderline fast food that won't KO you 10 minutes after eating it? Then head to Shane's. Kid friendly and wallet approved. But, if you're looking for Southern BBQ, head elsewhere. Average price of a meal anywhere between 9-to-12 bucks. 

Shane's Micro site: Mecklenburg Shane's Rib Shack