EATING OUT WITH JAKE

EDITOR'S NOTE:
Today our Dining Blog introduces a new feature, Eating Out With Jake, reviews from one of our younger readers. Local 9-year-old Jacob Legg feels passionately about food, and he knows how to express himself. Look for his reviews regularly in this space.

By Jacob Legg

The next best thing to eating breakfast at home with my family is eating a yummy breakfast at Rudy’s Hideaway on South Nevada Avenue in front of the Travel Lodge Motel.

We like going there because the people are friendly and the food is very good. The waitress is always smiling and remembers our names. I usually have something spicy for breakfast. This last time I had the Cheese Enchiladas and eggs with beans on the side.

When I asked the waitress for the green chili she looked at me in surprise and said, “Are you sure?”

I love their green chili!

My sisters had scrambled eggs with bacon and sausage patties, while my mom had a big warm cinnamon roll with butter dripping over it and my dad had Huevos Rancheros. All of us cleaned our plates and sat back in our chairs happy with our stuffed bellies. While I ate I could look back into the kitchen from our table and watch the cooks working quickly at the stoves as the restaurant filled up with a lot of familiar faces.

If you’re in a hurry then Rudy’s isn’t the place for you, but if you want great food and don’t mind the short wait as they prepare it, this is the best place to have breakfast.

Palapas wasn't her dish

Here's a letter from reader Tracy Miller:

Recently, my husband, 9 year old daughter and myself went to Palapas Island Grill, based on a review I had read. We had a very disappointing visit. First, there was no children's menu, The menu itself was hard to understand and the fixed menu had all these little side notes that indicated the price would be much higher if you picked lobster, for example. In addition to that, we felt it was way overpriced! I ordered the crabcakes (an appetizer) for $15 plus a salad ($8) and way to small. When the cakes arrived they were the size of 50 cent coins, dry and overcooked. My husbands meal didn't fare much better. We also waited an excruciatingly long time, watching as others were served before us, even though they arrived way after us. The manager did come and apologize and offered a free dessert. But it can be really hard for a nine year old to sit in a restaurant that long.

In addition, we also noticed at least two tables near us, where, after the couple were seated and perused the menu, they got up and left. We wished we had done the same. I honestly have to say we could have had a better meal and a more affordable one at Red Lobster.

I realize they are new and have kinks to work out but if the owner wants this to be successful, especially on that side of town, they need to improve the service, have more offerings on the menu and more variety in the prices as well.

Thanks for letting me blow off steam!

THANK YOU, TRACY

Nathaniel's review of Palapas is scheduled for next Friday.

Best of the Springs time

If you haven't already, please take a moment to cast your votes in the Best of the Springs survey.

CLICK HERE

You can win some major prizes here. We're talking $500 in certificates to your favorite 2007 winners. That would include Plate, Chopsticks, The Penrose Room.

Plus, you could win a bunch of movie tickets for Cinemark or Tinseltown.

So far, the response has been great. On Friday, we had more than 200 votes, the most we've ever received in a single day.

Deadline for this will be noon April 4.