Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Places to Eat (or not)


One nice thing about living in Provo is the wide selection of restaurants that are constantly opening and closing and reopening.  I like to try out new places, and I figured that I should share my opinion with you, my three faithful readers.  Here's the rundown:

1) Ultimate Broiler and Grill: Greek Food- I love this place.  There is perhaps nothing better than reconstituted lamb slow-roasted by electric heating elements and then served in gyro form.  Geoff and I stumbled upon this place over the winter and ate there almost every week.  The place is never that busy so we think that we single-mouthedly have kept the place in business.  As far as I know it's the only Greek place in Provo/Orem, so if you need your fix it's the place to go.  I'm sure most of the food is pretty good, but I've only ever ordered the gyro and I want nothing else.  The restaurant is located on the east side of State St. in Orem just north of the library.  Go there now.

2) Poor Boys Barbeque- These guys opened up a while back in the space of the former Smart Cookie just southeast of campus.  It's one of those places that only has one menu item in three sizes.  The item is the pulled pork sandwich.  Since that is my favorite form of pork, I was pretty excited, but it was only okay.  I think they're trying to be the new J-Dawgs.  I can't fully endorse this establishment, but it's worth a shot.  

3) Ninja Express- Do not be deceived: it's a chinese restaurant.  I think that the whole ninja thing is either an attempt to cash in on the perceived college student 80s-throwback-fascination with ninjas, or an attempt to highlight how speedy their delivery is (yes, they deliver).  Now, simply from the location, you know that this place probably won't be around long.  It's on the second floor of the building that houses the Thai Ruby, a space that has been occupied by such failed ventures as El Azteca, Gold Medal Pizza, and the Mitt Romney campaign.  I decided to dine in, lest I have to tip the delivery guy.  I could go into extreme detail about why I don't like this place, but I won't.  Suffice it to say that a)they don't serve any appetizer-type food (i.e. no egg rolls, no pot-stickers), b) the entree was tiny and the sauce and veggies tasted canned, c) the combo cost me $8.  The only highlight was the juice drink that had real fruit in it.  That was it.  Stick with Panda Express.  There hasn't been awesome chinese food in Provo since Munchies closed.  Final verdict: you wouldn't want to eat there.

5 comments:

Kate Nally said...

I think we'll definitely be checking out the Greek food! Thanks for the heads up in Ninja Express...we got a flyer from them a couple of weeks ago and now I won't be tempted by their ninja fast delivery :) By the way, how do you pronounce "gyro"?

Andrew said...

like "hero"

Enemy of Complacency said...

well said

gbulson said...

How great shall be your joy if you save even one Greek foodery.

Anonymous said...

Chinese food in Provo---Wa's Chinatown. Mmmm. Hole in the wall. Practically in Springville. Beats the heck out of any old Panda Express (at least, it used to). I also miss that amazing Indian food place, The Bombay House. To this day, still the best Indian food I've ever had, ever. Although, I'm going to fancy a curry while in jolly old England.

Nice write up, JAS!