Camas, WA: Non-Discretionary "5% Surcharge For Non-Tipped Employees" Is An Outrage

Feast At 316
316 Dallas Street
Camas, WA 98607
Phone number (360) 210-7498
Website: camasfeast316.com
Prices: $$$$

I do not usually write reviews of places I have not frequented, but I feel compelled on this occasion to do so due to this statement printed on their menus (posted online): 

"Please note that a 5% surcharge is being added to each check to ensure equal pay for non-tipped employees."

I will not be eating at Feast At 316 anytime soon because of this absurd policy. I have actually heard decent things about the food, but when you have to pay $25 for "Meatloaf" ala carte (no soup/salad) PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 5% FOR NON-TIPPED EMPLOYEES (in addition to 20% expected by the servers), you have lost my interest and custom.

Get a clue and pay your employees a fair wage as I am sure there is plenty of "fat" in the price of your $25 meatloaf, a $42.50 shot 12 year old whiskey, and other not-cheap dishes/drinks to pay your employees commensurate with their duties. Another possibility, having worked in the restaurant industry for many years, non-tipped employees could always be taken care of by servers out of their own tips. After all, with 20%+ "expected" these days for even the most mediocre service, servers are the ones who benefit from kitchen, bus and host/hostess staff's professional and efficient duty performance. Let them pay the 5% if you are too cheap to pay your employees properly. Employee pay is considered overhead and your responsibility, not the responsibility of your customers.

CombatCritic Gives Feast At 316 1 Bomb Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

One Bomb Equates To:

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Read Chris S.'s review of Feast At 316 on Yelp

 

Title: Camas, WA: Non-Discretionary "5% Surcharge For Non-Tipped Employees" Is An Outrage!

Key Words: Feast At 316, feast, at, 316, restaurant, menu, Camas, surcharge, non-tipped, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Yelp, YouTube, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, Wall of Shame

Translation for Civilians: FUBAR = "Fucked Up Beyond All Repair"

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Camas, WA: Hey Portland, Twilight Is Worth A Trip Across The River!

Twilight Pizza Bistro
1905 SE 192nd Ave, Stuie 101
Camas, WA 98607
Phone number (360) 833-1919
Website: twilightpizzabistro.com
Prices: $$$$

A good friend of mine recommended Twilight, having only good things to say about them. Being new to the area, we decided to give 'em a shot.

They changed the TV channel so I could watch my Dodgers versus the Diamondbacks (NLDS Championship Series) and our server was extremely friendly, helpful and efficient. She even told me about their 20% Military Discount, a generous savings and 10% more than most places offer ... HOOAH!

The garlic bread ($6) was pretty good, but overpriced by at least $2 and the Caprese salad  ($7.95) lacking enough mozzarella, but otherwise the food good and prices reasonable.

Garlic Bread $6

Caprese Salad $7.95

The place is comforting to the eye and the food good. What more could you ask for? My wife had the Baked Mac and Cheese ($11.50) with penne pasta in a rich, creamy Tillamook cheddar sauce, topped with breadcrumbs, then baked ... savory and tasty ... YUM!

I built my own pizza ... I'm so proud ... a 12 inch "The Cheese Stands Alone" with a tomato sauce and mozzarella base on hand tossed crust ($11.75), adding Italian sausage for $1.60 ($13.35 total). Excuse my French, but there was a shitload of sausage on the pizza. Big slices of whole sausage covered the pie, probably 1 1/2 - 2 sausages in total. Can you say sausage fest? This pie was pretty damn good! 

Draft beers are $4.75 to $5.50 for a pint and my IPA was cold and frosty, making me extra hoppy (get it?). For two appetizers, two meals and a draught beer, the total came to around $47 with tax, but the 20% military discount brought the total to just under $37 plus tip ... whatta bahgain!

They even have Happy Hour Sunday through Thursday from 2 to 6PM and Friday and Saturday from 2 to 6PM and 9PM to close (dine-in only-available throughout the restaurant). You can save $2 on an appetizer or glass of wine and all draught pints are $1 off.

The only reason I deducted 2 Bombs was because of the overpriced garlic bread, much more tomato than mozzarella on the Caprese, and a total lack of salami. No salami in an Italian joint? Salami pizza is my favorite, so add some damn salami to the topping menu and mozzarella to the Caprese, and maybe I will upgrade my rating ... CAPISCHE?

CombatCritic Gives Twilight Bistro 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

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Read Chris S.'s review of Twilight Pizza Bistro on Yelp

Title: Camas, WA: Hey Portland, Twilight Is Worth A Trip Across The River!

Key Words: Twilight Pizza Bistro, twilight, pizza, pasta, bistro, Italian, Vancouver, Camas, WA, Portland, OR, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato

Translation for Civilians: WTFO! = "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

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Vancouver, WA: EARTH TO JORGE - MENUS HAVE PRICES ON THEM ... GET A CLUE!

 Jorge’s Margarita Factory

14415 SE Mill Plain Blvd, Suite 110B

Vancouver, WA 98684

Phone number (360) 882-8262

Website: jorges.com

Prices: $$$$

Wierd vibe. We were ignored at the entrance for over five minutes before I found someone to seat us and the decor looks more like a cheap diner than a Mexican restaurant.

The drink menu has no prices ... hey geniuses, how many times do I have to say this, MENUS ARE DESIGNED TO LET CUSTOMERS KNOW HOW MUCH STUFF COSTS! I am so sick and tired of restaurants that think they can trick people into paying $10 for a "house margarita" by not posting prices. I should not have to ask how much everything costs, so publish the damn prices for f***ks sake!

Speaking of prices, their food prices were quite a bit higher than any Mexican restaurant I have been in lately and looking at the plates of food around us, it did not look worth what they were asking. So with that being said, along with a "priceless" drink menu, we left. I will not eat at restaurants that refuse to put prices on their menu ... non-starter folks!

CombatCritic Gives Jorge's Margarita Factory 1 Bomb Out Of 10 And A Spot On My "WALL OF SHAME" ... More Bombs Are Better!

One Bomb Equates To:

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Read Chris S.'s review of Jorge's Margarita Factory on Yelp

Title: Vancouver, WA: EARTH TO JORGE - MENUS HAVE PRICES ON THEM ... GET A CLUE!

Key Words: Jorge's Margarita Factory, Jorge's, Jorge, margarita, factory, Mexican, restaurant, menu, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Yelp, YouTube, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, Wall of Shame

Translation for Civilians: FUBAR = "Fucked Up Beyond All Repair"

"CombatCritic", "TravelValue" and "BOOAH" Are Protected Under U.S. Copyright Laws And Are Exclusive Property Of 3rd Wave Media Group, LLC and CombatCritic

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Vancouver, WA: Bueno, But A Weak Margarita And Bad Guacamole Ruined The Meal

Lindo Mexico Restaurant and Cantina 

316 SE 123rd Avenue, Suite D-11

Vancouver, WA 98683

Phone number (360) 433-2296

Website: lindomexicovancouverwa.com

Prices: $$$$

Decent food, weak margarita. I even ordered The Bomber ($6.75 / 17.5 oz) with "extra tequila" and it still barely gave me a buzz.

We got a side of guacamole ($2.75) because we did not want to order the larger Table Side Guacamole ($7.99) for just two people. It was mostly tomatoes and chopped onions, making me glad we went with the side order because my wife is allergic to tomato, Why do so many Mexican restaurants use tomatoes in their guacamole? It pisses me off because they are much cheaper than avocados, that is the reason why, so it always amazes me how they get off charging $8 for "guacamole". It should be called "tomato, onion and avocado salad" instead.

My wife ordered a Beef Quesadilla ($3.99) and Shredded Beef Flauta ($4.29) ala carte. The quesadilla was small, but good for the price and the flauta was tasty even though the same tomato, onion and avocado salad came on the side along with some pico de gallo (I actually could barely tell the difference).

Quesadilla

Flauta

I had a Combination (3 Items with rice and beans - $13.99), selecting a shredded beef taco, cheese and onion enchilada and shredded beef chimichanga. THe taco was actually pretty good, coming in a fresh fried corn tortilla, not the "pre-fab" variety most lazy places try to get by with. The enchilada was also very good as was the chimichanga. This was the the best Mexican plate I have eaten out since arriving in Portland. Bravo!

Combo

The service was excellent and the free chips warm and the salsa homemade.  The owner (or manager) makes the rounds checking on tables and helping the servers out, even comping a table of regulars with tequila shots as we were leaving. Too bad he did not toss one of those shots in my the weak margarita because that and the tomato-guacamole ruined the experience. I am still looking for my "Go-To" Mexican restaurant in Portland/Vancouver.

Margarita

Regular Salsa

Hot Salsa

CombatCritic Gives Lindo Mexico 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Five Bombs Equates To:

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Read Chris S.'s review of Lindo Mexico Restaurant and Cantina on Yelp

Title: Vancouver, WA: Bueno, But A Weak Margarita And Bad Guacamole Ruined The Meal

Key Words: Lindo Mexico Restaurant and Cantina, Lindo Mexico, lindo, Mexico, Mexican, 
123rd, taco, tacos, Vancouver, WA, POrtland, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato

Translation for Civilians: Charlie-Mike = "Continue Mission"

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Vancouver, WA: "I Know Nothing" Except That Sergeant Schultz MIght Even Like Gustav's

Gustav’s Pub & Grill
1705 SE 164th Avenue
Vancouver, WA 98683
Phone number: (360) 883-0222
Website: gustavs.net
Prices: $$$$

With three locations in the Portland area (two in Oregon and one in Vancouver, Washington), I had no idea that the cuisine was Hungarian/German from the name until we gave them a try. They places look modern and nondescript from the outside, but have warm wood tones and German decor inside. This one is more "German" than the Tigard location with high, beamed ceilings, German state flags, even a mini German street scene in the back of the entry as you walk in.

With Happy Hour, a Portland tradition, Monday through Saturday from 2 to 6 PM and 9 PM to closing and all day Sunday in the bar, two can eat and drink quite well for under $30. They have a nice selection of eats from $4.75 (e.g. potato pancakes or Bavarian pretzels) to $7.75 (e.g. cheeseburgers or schnitzel clubs). Two German biers (Paulaner Oktoberfest and Warsteiner Dunkel) are $4.75 for a .5 liter stein and all other draughts are $1 off.

HAPPY HOUR (See Translations Below If You Don't Sprechen Deutsch)

"Original" Fondue $6.75 ... Sehr Gut! (Best value in the place)
- Decent size cast iron pot (bowl) full of hot, creamy cheese served with plenty o' cubes of pumpernickel and other breads.

Bavarian Pretzel $4.75 ... Gut 
Soft and hot with spicy mustard. $5 is the standard price at most places for similar pretzels, so not a super Happy Hour value - make it $3.75.

Sausage of Your Choice $5.75 (Nürnberger Brat) ... SoSo (Tasty, but very small for price)
- Thinner than a hot dog, but longer, this sausage tasted good but was unsubstantial for almost $6. $4.75 should be the max price for this weiner.

Potato Pancakes (3) $4.75 ... Sehr Gut!
- Thin, crisp and yummy, served with small sides of apple sauce and sour cream.

Shepherd's Pie $6.75 ... SoSo
- An English staple, not German, this atypical dish is small with cubes of beef in a goulasch-style sauce then covered with mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese (?) and baked.

Cabbage Roll (2) $6.75 ... Gut
- Cabbage stuffed with ground meat, rice and spices, then baked in a savory sauce with chunks of tomato, carrot and onion.

MEALS

Hungarian Veal Jäger ($18.95) ... Gut, but not a stupendous value
- Could be served with a salad, cup of soup, sauerkraut and/or red cabbage for this price and be perceived as a much better value. The veal scallops were small and the mashed potatoes underneath almost imperceptible. The sauce was delicious and topped with an abundance of fresh sauteed mushrooms.

Pork St. Moritz ($15.25) ... Sehr Gut!
Kinda like cordon bleu, but with the ham and cheese on top instead of inside. The two large, pounded and breaded pork scallops were sauteed then topped with Emmentaler cheese and Black Forest ham, served in a delicious Madeira sauce with creamy mashed potatoes and vegetables. A good value, adding a house or Caesar salad for an additional $3.95 makes it a meal at just over $19.

1. Sehr Gut! = Very Good
2. Gut = Good
3. SoSo - So-So
4. Nicht Gut = Not Good
5. Scheisse = Shit

We have tried both the Tigard and Vancouver locations. The buildings and decor are slightly different, but the menus and food seem identical. The service has been friendly and efficient on all three visits thus far.

My sole complaint was the Oktoberfest I ordered last night (above) that came looking like someone had taken a huge gulp out of it with well over an inch missing from the top of the mug. German (and English) bartenders take pride in filling glasses to the brim, either with beer or a head rising to the rim. This one had either been sitting for quite a while (so the head disappeared) or was a short pour. In any event, it should have been repoured or at least topped-off before being served.

CombatCritic Gives Gustav's 7 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Seven Bombs Equates To:

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Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

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... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Read Chris S.'s review of Gustav's Pub & Grill on Yelp

Title: Vancouver, WA: "I Know Nothing" Except That Sergeant Schultz MIght Even Like Gustav's

Key Words: Gustav's Pub and Grill, Gustav's, Gustav, pub, German, Hungarian, Portland, Oregon, Vancouver, WA, OR, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato

Translation for Civilians: S&G = "Shits & Grins"

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