First Impressions

In spite of the apocalyptic economic news, Red, White, and Brew was surprisingly busy.  The featured aspect of the restaurant is the semi-open kitchen counter, and the general atmosphere is fairly casual, in spite of upscale touches like a special-of-the-day card and an exhibit of desserts at the door.   Surprisingly, our party of six was seated immediately, in a large booth.  They also offer patio seating.

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First Impressions

Pastis took over from the now-defunct Oasian Noodle Bar, which in turn took over from the now-defunct China Lite.  The new owners went for a fairly minimalist decor, augmented with a few flat-screen televisions showing a Spanish soccer match and use of rough-cut mirrored surfaces to expand the visual mass of the place.  In the front is a large refrigerated cooler promoting their secondary purpose– a delicatessen and pastry shop.

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First Impressions

We’ve eaten before at the Mesa location, and found it consistently goes the extra mile.  In the last year or so, the franchise has seemingly taken a much higher profile, taking over another restaurant in Mesa, and opening a location in Tempe.

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First Impressions

The newly opened “I Love This Bar and Grill” has a pleasantly clean, modern vibe about its bar– with waist-height blue lighting, small televisions along the top walls, and a fairly open floor plan– along with a more rustic look in the restaurant-area furniture.  Our party of seven was seated immediately, again in an oversized booth that defies practical logic.

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First Impressions

A long time ago, there was Max’s, a small diner on University known for breakfast and cheesesteaks.  It shed its original home to relocate near Fiesta Mall, and dropped the breakfast menu.  Somehow, it’s endured all these years, although now under the name Best of Philly.

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