Lawrence, KS: Noodless To Say, We May Not Be Returning To Noodles & Co

Noodles & Company

8 West 8th Street

Lawrence, KS 66044

Phone number: (785) 841-4300

Website: noodles.com

Prices: $$$$

Noodless to say, our experience this evening was less than stellar. OK, we are talking about Noodles & Company, a chain, so this review will not be as detailed as usual, but I need to comment.

The place is clean, standard Noodles & Company layout, lots of poor KU students eating big bowls of noodles. You get the idea. The staff we are friendly and helpful and the food decent, with one major exception. More on that soon.

We ordered the Korean BBQ Meatballs ($5 for 10) as a starter, I the Spicy Korean Beef Noodles ($9.25), and my better half the Steak, and I use that term loosely, Stroganoff ($9.25). The meatballs were pretty good and a decent value. My Korean Beef Noodles had barely a trace of beef, so I tossed in some of the meatballs, but otherwise it was pretty good although lacking enough broth (and meat).

The BIG problem came when my wife started eating the beef stroganoff. There was more beef than in my Korean noodles, but she chewed and chewed and chewed and chewed. You get the picture. The beef was "cartilagine" (literally "cartilage"), she said in Italian. I said: "Huh?", not being familiar with this word. Oh, you mean gristly! Yes, that was what she meant. I tasted a piece and it had the texture of a large, thick rubber band.

A very nice young lady came by and asked how our meal was. I told her "gristly", so she offered to exchange the stroganoff for something else. Well enough, so my wife asked for the Wisconsin Mac & Cheese ($6.25), a $3 difference. The mac & cheese came quickly and tasted very much like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, a big bowl of it. The main problem was that nobody apologized, nobody offered a refund for the difference, to comp the meal, or even offer a free dessert. When I asked for the manager to leave my card as we left, three people pointed at each other (must have been Larry, Moe and Curly), so at that point I gave up. We left with a sour taste in our mouths ... or was that just gristle in our teeth?

Considering the fact that you can get a much better, quality sit down Asian fusion (Thai, Chinese, Nepalese) meal at ZZ's just up Mass Street for about the same price, Noodles & Company is not such a great value either.
CombatCritic Gives Noodles & Company 4 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Four Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie





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

Read Chris S.'s review of Noodles & Company on Yelp

Noodles & Company

Title: Lawrence, KS: Noodless To Say, We May Not Be Returning To Noodles & Co

Key Words: Noodles & Company, noodles, company, Lawrence, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mass, KU, University of Kansas, university, fast, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, 

Translation for Civilians: BOHICA = "Bend Over, Here It Comes Again"

Lawrence, Kansas: That's The Spirit ... Professional Ownership And Reasonable Prices

Spirit Party Shop & Liquor

600 Lawrence Ave

Lawrence, KS 66049

Phone number: (785) 842-8700

Prices: $$$$

It is a small store on the corner of 6th and Lawrence Avenue with a fair selection of beer, wine and spirits, fair prices, and friendly staff. However, they offer no military discount even though owned by a retired Army officer ... FUBAR!

Epilogue: After posting the review above, the owner sent me a comment, explaining why they cannot offer military discounts rather than whining and attacking my character for posting less than (5) stellar reviews like most owners and/or managers would do.

Turns out the Kansas ABC (Alcohol and Beverage Commission) will not allow discounts for one group if not offered to everyone else. That makes perfect sense considering the ABC is just another over regulated bureaucracy. Thanks for the message Paul!

CombatCritic Upgrades Spirit Party Shop And Liquor Store To 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie





... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube
Read Chris S.'s review of Spirit Party Shop & Liquor on Yelp

Title: Lawrence, Kansas: That's The Spirit ... Professional Ownership And Reasonable Prices

Key Words: Spirit Party Shop & Liquor, spirit, party, shop, liquor, Lawrence, Kansas, LFK, University of Kansas, university, Jayhawk, Jayhawks, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, store, service, review, Yelp

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

EDITORIAL: If You Claim "He's Not My President", Maybe You Are In The Wrong Country

I do not usually stray from travel and food related topics, but given the fact that the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States has caused such consternation here in the U.S. and abroad, I feel the need to address those anxieties here and now.

Many Americans are claiming that Donald J. Trump has said and done horrible things and that he did not win the popular vote, now stating "he's not my president". 

Got news for you assholes ... if @realDonaldTrump isn't your #president, you're in the wrong fucking country! #POTUSTrump #LoveItOrLeaveIt

— TravelValue (@CombatCritic) January 21, 2017

I do not disagree with those that think Trump has said and done some terrible things, that is a widely known fact. However, Donald Trump won the electoral college as formed in Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States of America (1789) and as clarified in the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution (1804). 

If people chose to ignore the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments in this case, where does it all end? We cannot pick and choose those articles and amendments we will abide by and those we will not, so I think it's extremely arrogant and ignorant for people to say "he's not MY president". He is our president, like it or not, and the sooner people accept the reality of the situation, the sooner we can unite and start changing things for the better. 

This liberal divisiveness is only hurting the country, not helping and the sooner people start acting like patriots instead of sore losers and whiners, the sooner we can heal and start solving problems like homelessness, poverty, lack of access to affordable medical care, terrorism, inadequate education and underpaid teachers, and the many other problems we face as a nation. 

Has Donald Trump said and done things that I and many Americans disagree with? Yes, of course, but that doesn't change the fact that he was legitimately elected President of the United States of America and there is no doubt about that fact. Get over it and focus on making OUR nation, the nation I served 20 years to support and defend, a better, safer, and more prosperous UNITED States of America.

Do Americans have the right to complain publicly about our new president? Absolutely! Fortunately, unlike many countries around the world, the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America provides for "freedom of speech" by its citizens. I served the United States of America for over 20 years, defending our right to speak freely in addition to the many other rights afforded us by the constitution and its amendments. I took this oath to "support and defend the Constitution on August 2nd, 1985:

“I ... having been appointed a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

So, I and others may agree or disagree with the things people say and do, whether it be claiming that Donald Trump is not your president or burning the American flag, but you absolutely, and thankfully, have every right to do so.

Ask yourself, had Hillary Clinton been elected president under the same circumstances, winning the electoral college, but not the popular vote, would you still claim that she is not your president? Absolutely not. Thankfully, she was not because she has committed crimes by mishandling classified information and lied to the FBI and the United States Congress. She should have been disqualified from running for or serving in the Office of President of the United States for those reasons alone. Let me explain.

Many Americans have been prosecuted for and are serving time in prison for mishandling classified information. I held a Top Secret security clearance while serving in the military and if I had taken classified documents home or anywhere other than the safe or classified computer in which they were stored, I would have a) lost my security clearance for life; b) been discharged (fired) from the military; and c) probably served time in prison and/or been fined a substantially large sum.

Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, kept Top Secret information on a private "unclassified" and unsecure server at her residence as well as her mobile device without the proper authorization or necessary firewalls. She also sent classified information through her personal and unsecure email account over unsecure networks and systems. What ramifications were there for these extremely serious security breaches and potential leaking of Top Secret information to our adversaries as well as lying under oath? Nothing! A slap on the hand! I find it unbelievable that she was even allowed to run for the highest office in the land, requiring the very highest security clearance available and with access to the most sensitive information in the world.

What has Trump done? 

1. He talked about grabbing women by the genitalia many years ago while not knowing that he was being recorded. Inappropriate? Of course, but even he admitted it and apologized for it. 
2. He was accused by several women of sexual harassment or assault, but where are these so called victims and their accusations now? Disappeared, gone, never to be heard from again because they were obviously lies likely initiated by the Democratic Party.
3. Early on, Trump called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on." That statement has been twisted into statements and beliefs insinuating that Donald Trump is a racist and that he hates Muslims. Not true. He made a broad statement before he had all of the facts that he later clarified and backed down from.

So, based on those debacles, Donald Trump is now a woman, hater and racist and half the country is freaking out, crying in public, offering and needing intensive therapy, and making ridiculous statements like "he is not my president". Did he say and do some stupid things? Yes, absolutely. Did he do anything illegal, prohibiting him from holding a security clearance or being elected president? Absolutely not.

So get over it folks. Donald Trump is OUR duly and legally elected president. If you do not like it and refuse to acknowledge him as our legitimate president, then move to Russia, China, Iran, Somalia, Singapore, North Korea, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia or any of the other dozens of countries that do not permit free speech, jailing, flogging or killing those that do. I will very happy to start a Kickstarter campaign in your name, chip in, and buy you a ticket wherever the hell you want to go. Bon voyage!

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie





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

Title: EDITORIAL: If You Claim "He's Not My President", Maybe You Are In The Wrong Country

Key Words: Donald Trump, Donald, Trump, Hillary Clinton, Hillary, Clinton, Bill, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, editorial, president, President of the United States, America, election, top, secret, not my president

Matera: Is It Italian? Is It American? It's Pub "14th" And Yummy Burgers!

14th
Via XX Settembre 14
75100 Matera, Italy
Phone number: +39 329 5974869
Prices: €€€€

It was a cold night, snow falling and wind howling when we found ourselves in an alley across from San Francesco di Paola church in Matera's town center not far from their famous Sassi and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the most snow (2+ feet) Matera had since 1956, 60 years ago and most restaurants in town were closed for the holiday (Befana) weekend. To find 14th, enter the alley and follow the signs toward Pizzeria Da Mario, but instead of turning right, turn left and 14th will be the last place on the right ... burgers, sandwiches, cheap beer, friendly service and more. You will not find it otherwise.

A large cavernous place, they have wooden booths, tables and chairs downstairs near the bar and more tables up in the loft that has been erected in the center of the room. They serve mostly hamburgers and sandwiches and a decent selection of tap and bottled beers as well as wine and spirits.

I ordered a 1/2 litre Edinger Hefeweizen (€5) and a Classic Burger (€8) with a thick 1/3 pound beef patty, cheese, caramelized onion, bacon, lettuce. tomato and BBQ sauce (I sub'ed mayo for the BBQ sauce) on a big homemade sesame seed bun and accompanied by handcut fries. The beer was cold with a frothy head and the burger, amazingly enough, excellent even though the bacon was more like ham due to the fact that American-style bacon is relatively unknown and unavailable in Italy.

My wife had a ham, cheese, and mushroom "Club" panino (€7 - "panini", commonly used as singular in the US, is actually plural in Italy, meaning two or more), also accompanied by fries. The sandwich was massive with three thin slices of white toast layered with mushrooms and cheese on one and ham and cheese on the other, then toasted in a sandwich press. The sandwich and fries were good, but both could have been warmer. probably having sat waiting for the two busy servers that were obviously not expecting such a large crowd on a Sunday night after a holiday.

The servers were friendly, but, overwhelmed by the unexpectedly large crowd, service was rather slow. We waited over 30 minutes for our orders while the couple that entered just before us (and told us about the existence of the pub) received their food less than 10 minutes after ordering.

CombatCritic Gives 14th 7 Bombs Out Of 10 With Deductions For Slow Service Untraditional Bacon, And A Lukewarm Sandwich ... More Bombs Are Better!

Seven Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie





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

Read Chris S.'s review of 14th on Yelp

Title: Matera, Italy: Is It Italian? Is It American? It's Pub "14th" And Yummy Burgers!

Key Words: 14, 14th, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, pub, bar, hamburger, food, beer, sassi, Sassi di Matera, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp

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

Matera, Italy: "Crazy" Cold Night, Warm Tavern, Very Average Meal

Osteria Malatesta
Via San Biagio 45
75100 Matera
Italy
Phone number +39 331 2887242
Website: osteriamalatesta.com
Prices: € € € € 

It was a cold winter's night with nary an open restaurant to be found on Befana Eve in snowy Matera (January 6th, Befana, is the morning where kids in Italy awake to presents brought by the legendary witch). We stumbled upon Osteria Malatesta (Malatesta is an old Italian (Rimini) family name and literally means "bad head" or "crazy") while walking down a back street toward the Sassi di Matera (old town - UNESCO site) where there seemed to be more action and open shops.

The place was full except for an open table and the two servers were running around taking orders and delivering food when we arrived. We were just happy to be in a warm room and out of the uncharacteristically bitter cold in Southern Italy. The server told us that the table was reserved, but there were seats available at the "tavola degli amici" (table of the friends), a table for eight where a young couple from Puglia was already sitting, one a forest ranger and his wife a Carabinieri (state police). They invited us to join them, not like they had a choice, and were quite welcoming and friendly.

For our antipasto, we decided to share the formaggi (cheese), olive (green olives), e salame (and salami) accompanied by fresh bread. For €8, the plate was a bit sparse with three small triangles of local cheese, about 9-10 green olives, and four slices of salami. I think €4 to €5 would have been a more reasonable price. A litre of local red house (della casa) wine was much more reasonably priced at €4.50 and was quite good.

For our entrees, we decided to go light and order only pasta (no meat course). My wife went with the local cavatelli in a pesto, gorgonzola, and almond sauce (€8). The portion was of decent size and the sauce rich and flavorful. THe combination of pesto and gorgonzola was unique, but they pulled it off quite well.

I wanted to try a local dish and the server recommended the Orecchiette Cruschi e Mollica Fritta (€8). Cruschi are sun dried sweet Italian peppers with the seeds removed, cut or crushed into tiny pieces, then pan fried in olive oil until crispy. The olive oil and peppers are then added to the cooked cavatelli, sprinkled with fried breadcrumbs. It was quite different than any pasta dish I have had and tasty enough, but there are many more sauces I prefer to this one.

The tavern was old with large arched stone ceiling, a bit plain but inviting nonetheless. The tables and chairs were old and wooden with candles burning on all except ours. The service was efficient, but as cold as the air outside, barely talking to us until we left and I told them that I was a food critic. They became all smiles then and treated us like old friends ... too late.

CombatCritic Gives Osteria Malatesta 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Six Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie





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

Read Chris S.'s review of Osteria Malatesta on Yelp

Title: Matera, Italy: "Crazy" Cold Night, Warm Tavern, Very Average Meal

Key Words: Matera, Italy, Basilicata, Settembre, tavern, 14th, pub, bar, hamburger, sandwiches, panini, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp

Translation for Civilians: G2G = "Good To Go"

Matera, Italy: Is It Italian? Is It American? It's Pub "14th" And Yummy Burgers!

14th
Via XX Settembre 14
75100 Matera, Italy
Phone number: +39 329 5974869
Prices: €€€€

It was a cold night, snow falling and wind howling when we found ourselves in an alley across from San Francesco di Paola church in Matera's town center not far from their famous Sassi and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the most snow (2+ feet) Matera had since 1956, 60 years ago and most restaurants in town were closed for the holiday (Befana) weekend. To find 14th, enter the alley and follow the signs toward Pizzeria Da Mario, but instead of turning right, turn left and 14th will be the last place on the right ... burgers, sandwiches, cheap beer, friendly service and more. You will not find it otherwise.

A large cavernous place, they have wooden booths, tables and chairs downstairs near the bar and more tables up in the loft that has been erected in the center of the room. They serve mostly hamburgers and sandwiches and a decent selection of tap and bottled beers as well as wine and spirits.

I ordered a 1/2 litre Edinger Hefeweizen (€5) and a Classic Burger (€8) with a thick 1/3 pound beef patty, cheese, caramelized onion, bacon, lettuce. tomato and BBQ sauce (I sub'ed mayo for the BBQ sauce) on a big homemade sesame seed bun and accompanied by handcut fries. The beer was cold with a frothy head and the burger, amazingly enough, excellent even though the bacon was more like ham due to the fact that American-style bacon is relatively unknown and unavailable in Italy.

My wife had a ham, cheese, and mushroom "Club" panino (€7 - "panini", commonly used as singular in the US, is actually plural in Italy, meaning two or more), also accompanied by fries. The sandwich was massive with three thin slices of white toast layered with mushrooms and cheese on one and ham and cheese on the other, then toasted in a sandwich press. The sandwich and fries were good, but both could have been warmer. probably having sat waiting for the two busy servers that were obviously not expecting such a large crowd on a Sunday night after a holiday.

The servers were friendly, but, overwhelmed by the unexpectedly large crowd, service was rather slow. We waited over 30 minutes for our orders while the couple that entered just before us (and told us about the existence of the pub) received their food less than 10 minutes after ordering.

CombatCritic Gives 14th 7 Bombs Out Of 10 With Deductions For Slow Service Untraditional Bacon, And A Lukewarm Sandwich ... More Bombs Are Better!

Seven Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie





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

Read Chris S.'s review of 14th on Yelp

Title: Matera, Italy: Is It Italian? Is It American? It's Pub "14th" And Yummy Burgers!

Key Words: 14, 14th, Matera, Basilicata, Italy, pub, bar, hamburger, food, beer, sassi, Sassi di Matera, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp

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