woodenpeople
Member Since: July 16, 2008Reviews
Baked Expectations
I've always found Baked Expectations to be slightly overrated. Despite the selection, I'm often underwhelmed by the quality of the desserts themselves. Many of my friends adore the place so I go fairly often, but too many times I've had an issue... +
I've always found Baked Expectations to be slightly overrated. Despite the selection, I'm often underwhelmed by the quality of the desserts themselves. Many of my friends adore the place so I go fairly often, but too many times I've had an issue with my dish that hasn't let the experience elevate beyond 'mediocre'. For example, a strawberry cheesecake where the strawberries were frozen solid, chocolate cake that was a little too dry, the sky-high apple pie that didn't quite pack the flavor I'd have liked (then again, my mother's pie has spoiled me). It's not a bad spot but I wouldn't say 'city's best'. The Oreo cheesecake is quite consistent in it's quality and the often overlooked entree menu boasts a really tasty cream sauce and sundried tomato penne dish. -
Urban Oasis Spa
The Urban Oasis mineral spa is one of the preferred spots in the city of the female members of my family, myself included! My mother, in his mid-50s, loves to tool arund in the small but lovely mineral pool and get her nails done, my sister... +
The Urban Oasis mineral spa is one of the preferred spots in the city of the female members of my family, myself included!
My mother, in his mid-50s, loves to tool arund in the small but lovely mineral pool and get her nails done, my sister (mid-30s) is a fan of the ambiance and the quality of the services and I (late teens) love the feeling of indulgence that every detail of the Clarion delivers. I can't wait to try a massage here!
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In Ferno's Bistro
I had the pleasure of dining at In Ferno's while my whole family was in the city for my high school graduation. The decor is a combination of rich woods and interesting and colorful modern art light fixtures on the ceiling. They also have a sizable... +
I had the pleasure of dining at In Ferno's while my whole family was in the city for my high school graduation. The decor is a combination of rich woods and interesting and colorful modern art light fixtures on the ceiling. They also have a sizable outdoor patio. It was absolutely PACKED when we got there, which we all took to be a good sign, but it was quite loud inside and cramped for our party of 7. Fortunately, our very sweet server ran over and set us up with an additional end table for more elbow room.
We were set up with menus which impressed me thoroughly with their multitudes of options. After a painstaking process of narrowing down dish after dish (which ALL sounded delicious), I chose the Penne Inferno's. (Everyone else at my table ordered a seafood entree, which I'm not much for but they all claimed them to be superb.) Our waiter was very good humored and knowledgeable of the daily specials, and he was very effective at keeping us comfortable and looked after in spite of the (at least) 10 tables he was serving.
Now; the bread. Oh. My. God. The bread. Make sure you ask for lots, and try to take some home. The breadbasket we were supplied with came with a bruschetta with a crust of tomato slices, fine Italian herbs and flavorful aged Italian cheeses. My brother ordered an appetizer of French Onion Soup, which was not only divine but made an ideal dip for the bruschetta. Also in the bread basket was a crusty pretzel-like option and a moist, delicious cornbread with jalapenos, which acted as a flavoring agent but did not add any excessive heat.
As tempted as I was to fill up on the bread (which, I'm told, is baked fresh in-house), my entree was fantastic. Be warned, if you aren't a fan of spicy foods, the Penne Inferno's is not for you. It was a wonderful array of flavors, including vegetables, cheeses, perfectly-cooked penne and peppers but beware; the cream sauce is very spicy. I personally adore spicy foods, but I required refill after refill of my ginger-ale glass. Despite being very hot, the dish never lost it's flavor. I was very satisfied and the portion was perfect.
Afterwards, my sister and I decided we had to see how these folks did dessert. I had been eyeing a chocolate item on the dessert menu but we ended up settling for a creamy strawberry pie on a shortbread crust. I was not at all sorry, and I was hard pressed not to finish it myself. I typically don't eat lots at restaurants, but In Ferno's bistro never stopped impressing and I look forward to my next visit.
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