Service Review: Bon Appetit Catering - Davison, MI

Having been a mobile DJ for nearly 25 years, I have worked with more catering services than you could shake a stick at (why you would shake a stick at a caterer, I don't know). One service that always stands head and shoulders above the rest is Bon Appetit. Chef Dean and his wife, Gayla, operate a first rate service worthy of your business.

First and foremost, their food is always excellent. Whenever I learn they will be catering an event at which I will be performing, I know I'll be eating well. And that certainly was the case at last night's wedding reception. I won't attempt to detail all of their available selections because there are simply too many to list here. Suffice it to say that I have worked with their company enough to know that anything they serve is wonderful. In addition to the food quality, the presentation is creative, tasteful, and beautiful.

The caliber and presentation is but one facet of this diamond. While Chef Dean is the 'man behind the meat', Gayla runs the show on the floor. She is very friendly, always smiling, and keeps things flowing seamlessly. The floor staff are nicely dressed and obviously well trained.

From a business standpoint, recommendations made are a reflection on you. With that in mind I always recommend Bon Appetit ahead of any other caterer. That is not to say that there aren't other quality caterers in this area. There are several. However, Bon Appetit gets my top billing. From a business to business standpoint, they are a pleasure to work with. Aside from their overall professionalism, they take care of all the so-called 'small' details, such as releasing tables, serving the wedding cake, etc.

If you are ever in need of a catering service, you simply cannot go wrong with Bon Appetit.

Service Review: The Sun Shack - Swartz Creek, MI

DISCLAIMER: By now everyone has heard all the warnings about how UV rays (either natural or artificial) are so bad for you, yada yada yada... I don't buy into all the hype because, let's face it, anything and everything these days is going to kill you or cause some horrible thing to happen to you. Bottom line, if you decide to tan (or eat McDonald's or drive an SUV) don't sue me. You are responsible for your own actions.

Andy and Paula, the owners of The Sun Shack, understand how important happy customers are to their success and it shows in every facet of their business.

To begin, customers are greeted as friends when they walk in the door, usually on a first name basis. Every employee is friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about the products and services, which includes spray tanning. In addition, these folks WORK. No sitting behind the counter watching soap operas. They are constantly doing something productive, cleaning and organizing.

Speaking of clean... the place is as close to spotless as you can get. It's simply never dirty or a mess. Every tanning bed and booth is cleaned after every use. The display cabinets and shelves are never dusty or in disarray. Any equipment problem is remedied immediately.

The equipment is kept in good condition but the bulbs are The Sun Shack's real sweet spot. Most tanning bulbs are rated for between 800 to 1000 hours of use but theirs are changed, like clockwork, after 400-500 hours use. That shows that they are more concerned with providing a quality service than squeezing every last cent out their equipment.

There are always specials on tanning, lotions, and other products. Not that their standard tanning rates are more than anywhere else - they simply put the customer first. Happy customers equates to loyal customers and that equals a better bottom line. It's a shame that too many businesses can't grasp that simple concept.

Hats off to The Sun Shack. Great customer service. Great products. Great value.

Restaurant Review: Red Lobster - Flint, MI

I try to stay as unbiased as I can but I must be honest when I say that I LOVE seafood. I would freebase lobster if I knew how...

Personal pig-out preferences aside, Red Lobster on Pierson Road in Flint is a clean, well-run establishment and the food is reliably delicious at a fair price. My visit yesterday was absolutely no exception.

We were seated almost immediately by the manager, who was very friendly. Our server was prompt, friendly as well, and offered suggestions in a non-rehearsed manner. She was very attentive and timely in clearing plates and refilling our drinks. A definite gold star for her. The manager returned later to check on us. I like that.

The salad was good and their 'Cheddar Bay Biscuits' are unreal. I ordered the 'Ultimate Feast', which included a Maine lobster tail, steamed snow crab legs, garlic shrimp scampi, and 'Walt's Favorite Shrimp'. I have no idea who 'Walt' is but the dude knows his shrimp. They were awesome. I opted for my lobster tail prepared with their 'Wood-Fire Grill'. It was good (I haven't met a lobster I haven't liked yet) but I prefer the traditional methods of preparation.

My entire meal (including a soda) was about $25 and you just can't beat that. If I could muster one complaint about the visit it was that there were a few crumbs on my seat. Yeah, that's the worst I could come up with...

As a side note, on a previous visit we waited quite some time to be seated despite many open tables. Upon inquiry, we were informed that each server is only assigned/allowed a certain number of tables. While I understand and applaud management's desire to keep service standard's high, people tend to get cranky waiting while looking at empty tables.

Overall, the folks at Red Lobster are doing things the right way. Keep up the good work!

Restaurant Review: Fire Mountain - Flint, MI

Have you ever been to a restaurant that has so much potential but you have a bad experience because basic, common sense things are ignored? That is Fire Mountain in a nutshell.

Fire Mountain has a buffet style setup and has many good choices. Well, they would be good if they were consistently fresh... or hot... or even warm. The lettuce was wilted, several of the dishes were downright cold, and a couple of the options (like the fish) appeared as though they had been sitting there for hours. The fried okra was nearly raw underneath the breading.

Fire Mountain would be place with a homey, country-style feel... if it were clean. The floor was terrible - I literally could not take a single step without stepping on dropped food, straw wrappers, etc. It looked like everyone's food had exploded. The sticky puddle in front of the ice cream machine was a lawsuit waiting to happen. It was obvious that someone had made some attempt to clean our table, as it was still wet with familiar 'rag streaks' on the surface. When I used my napkin to dry it off, brown gunk came off. Very, very appetizing.

Unless and until the management at Fire Mountain makes some serious changes, I cannot in good conscience recommend this place to anyone. My suggestions are:

1. Set aside one staff member to do nothing but make sure the floor is clean and another to make sure that all the tables are clean. The waitstaff there are generally very friendly and attentive. However, they also seem to be responsible for the floor and tables. Keep each staff member assigned to one job because the more tasks you assign them, the less chance there is that all (or any) of them will be done well.

2. Set aside one or two staff members to do nothing but make sure the buffet is clean and the the food is hot. More than any other factor, the food is what will keep people coming back or will keep them away. The buffet is the focal point of the business and should be treated as such.

I fully understand and appreciate that it is hard to keep up with everything when you have a large crowd. While that may be a reason for a messy floor, dirty tables, and a disheveled buffet, it is not an excuse. While I have never been a restaurant manager, even I know that certain days and times are busier than others (such as Sunday at dinner time). PLAN FOR THAT.

I was fully prepared to give the place a decent review... before yesterday. I genuinely like the food and I like the service but I don't like eating cold food in a filthy setting. Yesterday was simply some of their common problems greatly exacerbated. The bottom line is that these simple things shouldn't be problems at all.

Movie Review: "District 9"

Given the price of theater tickets these days and the multitude of crap movies churned out by anyone with an iPhone, I'm rarely willing to shell out the small fortune to see a flick on the big screen. But being a sucker for sci-fi, I took the plunge to see District 9. I am thrilled to report that I was not at all disappointed.

D-9 tells the story of aliens stranded on Earth (don't worry - plot spoilers aren't my style, so read on). Given that the movie is filmed documentary style and had a relatively low ($30 million) budget, you might expect the casting and special effects to come across as cheesy. Not at all. Everyone and everything about this movie is quite convincing. The special effects are solid and even the plot line, as told, seems amazingly believable.

The lead character is played by Sharlto Copley. Don't recognize that name? You're not one of the eleven people who saw the 2005 blockbuster Alive in Joburg?! Regardless of his relative inexperience, Copley is simply fantastic as Wikus Van De Merwe - a nerdy bureaucrat who evolves (literally and figuratively) into a character who showcases all the good and bad that humanity has to offer.

As I've said before, I don't need a movie to have an important social message and I usually go out of my way to avoid such films. Despite the obvious parallels to apartheid and the portrayal of humans as the bad guys (a real stretch, I know), the movie is extremely entertaining and very well done. I absolutely felt as though I got my money's worth from the film.

However, don't get me started on the concession prices...

Restaurant Review: Fortune Buffet

The Fortune Buffet at 3192 S. Linden Rd., Flint, is... wait for it... a buffet. While their website claims it is a 'Chinese and American Buffet', in reality it is about 99% Chinese food and 1% American food. I don't mean that as major knock because, face it, customers don't go there for burgers and fries. It is, however, a little misleading.

The restaurant is clean and well organized but in no way fancy. In fact, most of the signs/labels above the selections are hand written and I can't help but think the broken english ("No Spicy", etc.) is intentional. Regardless of whether it's done on purpose or because the staff needs a grammar lesson, it is unprofessional and really should be corrected.

I won't go so far as to say the service is poor but it is definitely subpar. Aside from often having to physically go find your server for a drink refill or extra napkins, the staff members rarely smile and hardly ever speak. Their demeanor is almost frighteningly neutral. This may be the custom in China but we're not in China. Our culture likes friendly faces and a touch of small talk. You would think that anyone (native or otherwise) who is bright and resourceful enough to finance and operate a business in a prime location would grasp that concept. Apparently not.

The saving grace for the Fortune Buffet is the food. It is consistently very good and there is a large variety to choose from. There are six large buffets, each with about a dozen options, including crab legs a small selection of sushi. One of the buffets consists of raw items that you take to the chef for a quick stir-fry with about a half-dozen sauces to choose from. There is also a small dessert buffet that always has a nice assortment (tiramisu, etc.).

All in all, it is a decent value in spite of the aforementioned issues. Lunch or dinner will cost less than ten bucks per person and you don't have to worry about leaving much of a tip.

Restaurant Review: Red Robin - Flint

I know - I could have chosen a more interesting locale for my first restaurant review. Then again, I am the 'Average Guy' and I had dinner there tonight. In all fairness, I have eaten at this Red Robin several times so you might correctly surmise that I'm kind of fond of the place.

Obviously, it isn't fancy but they don't aim to be. The decor is basically a scaled down version of what you find at a Bennigan's or T.G.I. Friday's and, being scaled down, that suits me just fine. Too many restaurant's look like an antiques store threw up all over the walls.

I had the 'Crispy Fish Burger' (an oxymoron, I know) and my wife had the 'Sauteed 'Shroom Burger'. Having tried over half of their menu items, trust me when I say that the food never disappoints. Every selection I have tried has been darn tasty and if it doesn't fill you up (refills on American fries are endless), you should consider a diet. The servers have always been friendly and attentive and a manager ALWAYS stops by to make sure your visit is pleasing.

If you're not in the mood for a burger there are plenty of other options, such as pasta, chicken, and seafood.

There are, however, two negatives that I must point out.

First, it's a rare meal where you don't hear the staff performing the various obligatory 'Happy Birthday' songs several times. It's kind of cute the first time but wears on you after the fourth or fifth rendition. Also, because of the birthday crowds it often gets a bit noisy.

Secondly, their chefs (and I use that term very loosely) have a tendency to undercook the meat. While I would rather have a burger or steak undercooked than overcooked, anything should be prepared as ordered. Such was the case today as the 'Sauteed 'Shroom Burger' arrived medium rare instead of medium (as ordered). I pointed out the problem to the manager when she stopped by and she immediately offered to replace the burger or take it off the bill, which brings up my next point...

Remember that seemingly long forgotten thing called Customer Service? It is alive and well at Red Robin. Everyone is friendly. Everyone is smiling. The employees seem to genuinely enjoy working there and serving the customers. The waitstaff has achieved the happy medium of being attentive while not smothering you. Whenever I have had any kind of problem (which has been rarely), it is immediately rectified. I don't expect everything to be perfect all the time but any genuine problem or complaint should be resolved to the customer's satisfaction. My compliments to the management for consistently doing just that.

A meal for two will run you about $20 to $25 and, all things considered, I always feel as though I get my money's worth. Yes, it is a franchise and that may turn some people off. However, if you want good food served with a smile at a decent price, check out Red Robin.

Service Review: Netflix

For those of you who don't get out much, read, watch any commercials, or talk to anyone, Netflix is an online DVD and Blu-ray Disc rental service offering flat rate rental-by-mail and online streaming video. They boast over 100,00 titles and have over 10 million subscribers.

I was apprehensive to sign up for the service and would not have done so were it not mandatory for an unrelated offer. I didn't like the idea of having to wait for a movie that I decided I wanted to see. That said, I LOVE THIS SERVICE.

I pay about $18 per month for the service and it is some of the best money I've spent. For that price I get 3 movies at a time and can keep them as long as I want - with no late fees. Their selection is impressive and the turnaround time is usually only a couple of days. There is no extra fee to watch their movies online, however the selections for that feature are limited.

You return the movies in pre-paid supplied envelopes. Perhaps the best feature is that I get great gas mileage going to and from my mailbox. There are no hidden fees and no one is harassing me to spend more money. Face it - driving to and from your local video store and renting 3 movies will cost about $18. Plus, you face late fees and there's that little detail about any more rentals costing you more money...

There are several different options as far as price, number of rentals you can have out at one time, etc. If you haven't tried Netflix yet, give it a shot. You'll never go back to the high prices of your local video outlet again.

Movie Review: "17 Again"

This is my first film review because, well, it's the last movie I watched. I likely would not have watched it had my wife not had on our Netflix list (review of Netflix forthcoming). While I like Matthew Perry, he is one of those actors that is always 'Matthew Perry as...'. What I mean is that the role becomes him, he does not become the role (much like Kevin Costner, Al Pacino, etc.).

That said, Perry is a likable guy and his role in the film is pretty limited. Zac Efron plays the younger version of Perry. It's a stretch but they pull it off and Efron is a talented actor who plays the part very well. Without giving away the plot, suffice it to say that it's a story about sacrifice and not appreciating what you have until it's gone.

Overall, I liked the film. It was funny and puts things into an interesting perspective. The humor is intelligent, relatable, and there are plenty of familiar faces. It's definitely worth the rental.

Movie Reviews

Right off the bat let me tell you that I don't need (or necessarily want) a movie to change my life, give me an important 'social message', or touch me deep down inside. I watch a movie for the same reason I suspect that most of you do - TO BE ENTERTAINED.

Should a movie inspire me or provoke an emotional response, fine. However, that is secondary to me. I simply want to feel as though I got money's worth. I'm a fan of many different genres, from action/adventure to even - dare I say it - 'chick flicks'.

I should forewarn you that I am not a huge fan of most of the 'classics'. They simply aren't my cup of tea. I'm not a film student nor did I grow up in the era(s) during which they debuted. Most films from those bygone days just don't give me what I'm looking for which, again, is to be entertained.