Big Ed's Pizzeria [3/5]

I'd heard about Big Ed's for years and finally made it in when a group of mine decided to meet there. On that trip, I was focused on our meeting, but not too long afterwards, the hubby and I went in for a review.

The building is a single square with floor to ceiling glass windows on three sides. Those three sides surround the dining room, on the fourth, the bar separates the diners from the kitchen. Signed celebrity photos take up the available wall space and 3 flat screen tvs are hung around the room.

Chipotle [3/5]

My relationship with food has evolved quite a bit since college. My friends will tell you stories of the fancy Thai food I found too spicy to eat (I settled in miserably with a bowl of white rice); my brother used to laugh at my aversion to salsa as he downed bottles of hot sauce. In addition to appreciating what most people know of as "flavor", I've also developed a deep respect for local and sustainably farmed foods. So while college-me was not a fan of Chipotle, it seemed only fair to give them another chance.

Four Leaves Asian Restuarant [5/5]

Looking to catch an earlier dinner before our movie date, the hubby and I headed into Four Leaves one Saturday afternoon. I will never fail to be surprised by the well apointed interiors of restaurants in strip malls and Four Leaves was no exception. The plain beige exterior with a simple sign gave way to a dining area featuring a sleek, modern bar and deep booths. Behind the bar was a gorgeous mural and the light music was complimented by a fountain splashing merrily away. The wall near our table featured a motif of flowers and circles in relief.

We were quickly seated and given extensive menus to pore over. Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Thai dishes rubbed elbows with sushi, sake, and no less than four types of plum wine. We sipped our soft drinks as we deliberated the merits of sushi vs dinner plates.

Venice Pizza [5/5]

Located in a small strip mall just east of Bridge Street, just a small store front with a handful of tables and a counter to order at, Venice Pizza would be easy to overlook. Which would be a shame. They had burbled in and out of my consciousness, but after a reader mentioned them on The Dining Dragon's Facebook page, the hubby and I stopped in for dinner.

It was a Friday night which, I am convinced, is pizza night the whole country over. The staff was kept busy taking phoned in orders for delivery, but the scatting of tables was plenty for the slow trickle of eat in orders. The expansive menu was almost more than my Friday night feed-me-now brain could handle. Multiple varieties of pizza were followed by calzones, "stuffed bread", hot subs, cold subs, gyros, club sandwiches, pasta, wings, salads, fries, onion rings, fried dough, cheesecake...