Uncommon Eatery - They are a catering concern that opened up the front of store. They said they opened fifteen months ago. I thought it was less. They have a small space with unwaitered service open to the public. Small menu as well. I settled on one of the three salads. Curry Chicken for $10. I wasn't paying $12 for bao (2 types) or $10 for an empanada (2 types). I also threw in an order of Moroccan Fries for $4. The salad was disappointing. Shredded chicken (I want chunks) atop of a smattering of field greens. Could have been bought from a supermarket. Chicken probably comes in a bag. They threw in some sliced strawberry and nuts and nuts. Some raisins in the salad. I also tasted dry curry powder in the salad. Lazy. It was made worse by the generous portioning. More to suffer through. The fries were limp. Seasoning ok. Topped with parmesan. Also a big portion. They also sell a grilled cheese, pork sandwich, chicken sandwich, poke bowl, crab cakes and soup. All over $10. I expected more. Maybe a different meal would bring different results. The room is decorated in Grandma level tchotchkes and mismatched chairs and tables (4). order at a counter. Open for lunch and dinner.
Estrella Latina - Open from breakfast to 5pm. No frills Latin. I had the roast pork from the buffet (also has a menu). They don't speak much English, so, I thought it would be $6. It was $8. Maybe the quote was for the chicken? Maybe they hosed me? still a deal. Came white half a to go tray of rice and a side. I chose yucca. Good. Buttery rice. Ok yucca. Pork was good too. Atmosphere is lacking. Dirty and bland. Big menu. No need to exert yourself finding them. I'm sure you have something similar near you.
*Travel Notes for SD/ND/MN/WI/IA/MO trip - I canceled a trip to NE because of Hurricane Elsa. Should have risked it. Plane left on time. Booked a $65 ticket to KC in its place. with one week notice. Rental car was just a tad more than NE. Lots of fast food in the beginning. Stayed in Sioux Falls SD at a BW (rack rate) for $130. Pricing was insane. Fried chicken nuggets at Slim Chickens. Drove to a crap NP in Pipestone MN and thru Fargo to Jamestown ND. Stayed at Jamestown Motel for $50. World's largest Buffalo Statue. Drove through Bismarck ND. Had a Neuron sandwich (brisket and mac and cheese) at Erbert's and Gerbert's. Drove to Stanton ND and another waste of a NP (Knife River Indian Villages). Onto Theodore Roosevelt NP and onto MT. Ate bad chili cheese fries and hamburger at Retreat in Glendive MT. Stayed at Baymont for $102. Drove back to ND and Fort Union NHS near Williston ND (home of Phil Jackson). Across ND to Stanley and the Dakota Drug Co where they claim they invented the machine that makes blizzards. Had a brickle and butterscotch whirl whip. Onto Minot ND and Scandinavian Heritage Center. Ate an ok bacon cheeseburger and fries at Burger Time. Slept at Noble In for $73. Onto Geographic Center of NA in Rugby ND and Grand Forks ND (U of ND). Slept across river in East Grand Forks MN (Fairfield Inn) for $96. Ate lunch at Fat Albert's Subs in Grand Forks. Had a "cubed meats" sandwich called the Punisher. They put all the chopped up ends of the sliced meats (like seven kinds) in a sandwich. Up north to this little notch into Canada called Lake of the Woods at Warroad MN. Onto Bemidji MN. First town of Mississippi. Paul Bunyan. Had ok beer at Bemidji Brewing Co. Slept at AmercInn for $130. Minnesota is expensive. Like the socialist enclaves usually are. Drove towards Duluth (east) and up to Two Harbors MN. Had ok beer at Castle Danger Brewery. Ok smoked Alaskan shrimp at Lou's Fish House. Slept at Voyageur Motel for $130. Everything booked. The first 3M hq is here. Drove east to Bayfield WI to take a boat around Apostle Islands NP. Tried last year. It wasn't running. Tour was $50. Ate at Pickled Herring Club. Had whitefish livers and a smoked trout and blue cheese naan. Slept in Washburn WI at Washburn Inn for $201. This was the cheapest thing within twenty miles. Drove south to Minneapolis MN. Slept at LivInn in Fridley for $103. Had Dum Ka Chicken at Hyderabad. #1 on Yelp. It was described as chicken in yougurt. Seemed like dark meat chicken tikka. Went to 3M Open in Blaine. It cost $65. South to Waterloo IA. Home of John Deere and Hostess (before sale) and Wrestling HOF. Ate at Newton's Paradise Cafe. Had a great (and huge) pork tenderloin sandwich (Iowa's thing) with parmesan fries. Slept at HoJo for $78. Went to U of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. U of Kurt Warner and David Johnson. Onto Marshalltown and Taylor's Maid Rite. They do loose meat sandwiches. Had two with cheese. I think I saw this place on some documentary about the Lincoln Highway. On through Cedar Rapids (Quaker Oats) to Dyersville IA to see the Field of Dreams movie set. On through Dubuque to Maquoketa and the Econolodge for $77. To Mississippi River and down to Davenport. Through Wapello IA (pit stop for lousy meager brisket sandwich at Cynful Smokehouse) to Eldon IA and the house from the Grant Wood American Gothic house. Onto Ottumwa IA (Radar O'Reilly's home) and Hotel Ottumwa for $75. They had a free breakfast at 2nd Ave Cafe. Eggs. Through Osceola IA to Maid Rite Diner. Had another loose meat with cheese. This time it was goo cheese and bigger. Cost more. Called a mega cheese. Onto KC and Gates Bar BQ. Had a Nooner sandwich. Was to have had brisket and burnt ends. No ends and sliced brisket. Real let down. They are supposed to be great. need brisket pencil thick. Took forever too. Also stopped at LC's Bar BQ. It was on No Reservations. Had a pork and burnt ends platter. Also no ends. Big chunks of pork. They had a fire in the smoker while I was there. Doused it with houses. I think my pork was washed. Also a disappointment. Got lost driving around and found a nice area with their zoo. The area around the gates I went to was also nice. Art museum and U of M KC, etc. Also some nice restaurants, etc. Will have to try KC again. Slept in Independence MO at My Place for $97. Went to downtown to see where Joseph Smith claims the Garden of Eden really was. It's an LDS temple. I had already done the Truman bs. Saw a soda factory for Polly's Pop. Back to near airport (Platte City MO). Stayed at Ramada for $71. I have to report that the KC airport is way better. Each five or so gates has their own TSA. My line had no people. Plus it's in the same hall as the check in.
**I forgot to add these odd products: birdseed salad (sunflower seed and broccoli) and peanut butter monster (m and m's) cookies. I also saw a show on Austin TX that explained those Migas tacos I told you about. They put crushed tortillas in the eggs.
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