Grub Burger Bar

Grub Burger Bar recently opened another DFW location in Plano, Texas.  Several friends and fellow foodies said that they really enjoyed the burgers and food at the other Metroplex location on Greenville Avenue.  Despite the recommendations, I had yet to make it down to try that location, but was pleased to see that another location had opened in Plano, which is a much closer drive for me.

Bacon Love #9

We arrived to a line about 10 deep, but it moved quickly and they were taking our order in a matter of minutes.  I ordered the Bacon Love #9, which includes applewood smoked bacon, American Cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and secret sauce #9.  The burger was extremely juicy, the bacon was crispy and flavorful, and the overall flavor was spectacular.  I upgraded my fries to include the bacon cheese fries (minus the jalapeños) and they were delicious as well, particularly the bacon.  My buddy had the Mac 'N' Cheeseburger, which was topped with macaroni and cheese.  He said the texture was a little unusual, but he liked his burger as well.

Bacon Cheese Fries

Since the venue was newly opened, they were serving small samples of milkshakes to customers and I had a chocolate shake sample, which was certainly above average in the shake department.  I felt the service was pretty good and they got our food to us within 12 minutes, despite the fact that the place was jam packed.  The restaurant also has a full bar and a patio, but I wouldn't recommend sitting outside in North Texas until at least October.  I was impressed with what I had and I will be back to Grub Burger Bar!

Grub Burger Bar (Plano Location)
http://grubburgerbar.com/project/plano-tx/
Livin the Good Life Rating=4
 

The Printing Press Bar and Kitchen

The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen is located on George Street and occupies the former home of Susan Ferrier, a highly acclaimed 19th century Scottish novelists.  Prior to traveling to Edinburgh, I did some research into restaurants, and favorable reviews of this restaurant kept popping up on several occasions.  The restaurant offers up modern Scottish cuisine in a casual setting.  

Sourdough Loaf

For  a starter, my wife and I ordered the Sourdough Loaf for us to share.  The bread and butter really hit the spot because both of us were starving.  Prior the entree arriving, I also had a Scotch Egg, which was equally delectable.

Mince and Tatties

For my entree, I ordered the Mince and Tatties.  Although I had never heard of this dish before, it was absolutely delicious and I was happy with my choice.  Both the minced beef and the potatoes were very flavorful and filling.  

Truffled Honey Chicken

My wife ordered the Truffled Honey Chicken, which was tender and flavorful.  She allowed me only a small bite, which tells me that she really liked it.  We also split a side of Roasted Parsnips and Carrots, which were both quite good.

Roasted Parsnips and Carrots

We finished off the meal with Cappuccinos and a Dark Chocolate Tart.  Both were enjoyable and were the perfect end to a very good meal.  The wait staff was friendly, but I felt they could have checked on us a little more.  The ambiance of the restaurant is very relaxing and would be a great place for a romantic dinner or a night out with friends.  I would not hesitate to return to this restaurant in the future.

Dark Chocolate Tart

The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen
http://www.printingpressedinburgh.co.uk/
Livin the Good Life Rating=4

Zizzi

In case you didn't know, it rains a lot in Scotland.  One evening my wife and I were walking around Edinburgh and taking in the sights, when it began to rain on us.  My wife was on the verge of a "hangry" attack, so we decided to grab a bite to eat and get out of the rain.  The first place that we came across was Zizzi, which is an Italian restaurant chain in the United Kingdom.

Garlic Bread with Mozzarella

We had walked close to twelve miles that day exploring Edinburgh, so we were both starving.  We started with the Garlic Bread with Mozzarella.  The bread had caramelized balsamic onions on it, which gave it some additional flavor, but this dish really hit the spot and was quickly gobbled up.

Prosciutto Verde Rustica Pizza

For our main course we decided to split a pizza.  We chose their seasonal special, which was the Prosciutto Verde Rustica Pizza. This pizza was a white pizza with mozzarella, ham, balsamic tomatoes, garlic cloves, spinach, and prosciutto.  I am usually not a big fan of white pizzas, but this one was terrific.  We both agreed that it was one of the better pizzas we have had in 2016.

Tiramisu

For dessert, we split the Tiramisu, which might have been the best item we ate at Zizzi.  It was certainly top notch and amongst the best pieces of Tiramisu that I have ever had.  While the food was really good, the service was a little disappointing.  They seemed to be under-staffed and we had to wait quite a while between visits from our waitress, which left us without drinks frequently.  Although she didn't check in on us regularly, our waitress was friendly and helpful with the menu.  Overall, we thought the restaurant was very good, especially considering the fact we had done zero research or even heard about it prior to this visit.

Zizzi
https://www.zizzi.co.uk/
Livin the Good Life Rating=3