Category Archives: Dining Discoveries

The Bern’s California Walk

Posted on October 9, 2017 by sheldonmenery

Bern’s Steak House is not just a local Tampa institution, but a national one.  Although it’s one of the finest steak houses in the country, the primary reason to go is exploring the world’s largest operating wine cellar. While there … Continue reading →

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The Burger

Posted on July 21, 2017 by sheldonmenery

Anyone can take great meat and make a delicious burger (so long as they avoid overcooking it).  It takes a master to make a burger into something special.  Fortunately for me (and a bunch of other restaurant-goers in the Tampa … Continue reading →

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Okay with Oakley’s

Posted on July 17, 2013 by sheldonmenery

It’s the place you drive by a hundred times before you decide to stop.  It’s in that awkward-to-get-to little strip mall, wedged in between a DQ and a mattress shop.  It doesn’t have any parking to speak of, or a … Continue reading →

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Dear Server

Posted on July 14, 2013 by sheldonmenery

Dear Server, First of all, thank you for taking care of us tonight, although every time you use that phrase, I look around to make sure there’s no one sneaking up on me with black leather gloves and a silencer.  … Continue reading →

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Being a Decent Diner

Posted on April 13, 2013 by sheldonmenery

Spending a fair amount of time in restaurants and having worked in them when I was younger, I know how tough the job can be.  There’s no reason for us as patrons to make it even more difficult.  In fact, … Continue reading →

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Back to Bern’s

Posted on March 15, 2013 by sheldonmenery

A couple of our friends, Nate and Mary, are getting married and then moving away for an exciting opportunity owning a restaurant.  They wanted one final fling at Bern’s Steakhouse, one of America’s best, before they left.  We were happy … Continue reading →

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Getting a Drink at Disney (Or Not)

Posted on February 25, 2013 by sheldonmenery

I’m not often critical of Disney customer service.  They wrote the book on it.  Every company should follow their model.  Except when it comes to booze. The most difficult thing to deal with, at least at Disney World here in … Continue reading →

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Harry & Izzy’s: A Gamer Tradition Continues

Posted on July 11, 2012 by sheldonmenery

It’s now a several-years running tradition that while attending GenCon (coming up in August), the Best Four Days in Gaming, I get together on Thursday evening with good friends Scott and BDM for a trip to Harry & Izzy’s.  We … Continue reading →

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Return to the Cooking Place

Posted on October 18, 2011 by sheldonmenery

The first major meal of our week-long celebration of my 50th birthday was at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge’s signature restaurant, Jiko.  We’ve been to Jiko a number of times before, and we’re pretty much in agreement that it’s our favorite … Continue reading →

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Food in Philly

Posted on September 9, 2011 by sheldonmenery

First of all, anyone who would spell ‘food’ with a ‘ph’ for the title of this piece deserves the worst kind of torture—consigned to be in Center City Philadelphia, near the delights of Reading Terminal Market, but allowed only to … Continue reading →

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