top 5 restaurants in Sowal area

How come no one mentioned Criolla"s ???? :idontno:

I didn't mention it because it isn't in my top 5. It isn't even in my top ten. As JB mentioned, service is great, as is the wine list, but when I want good wine, I drink it at home with a great meal, at a quarter of the price. Criolla's is expensive, and I think the food is too lacking to make my top choices of restaurants in the area.

Borago - fine dining
Red Bar - bluegrass brunch on sundays!
Fabrice - wonderful pastries and sandwiches.

but the top, #1, super fave is Amore. I could be biased, but it's still the best pizza!!

This has nothing to do with restaurants. I just wanted to say that the baby in your 'tar is gorgeous.

Thanks!! We think so! He's a sweetie...

He's going to be a ton of fun in SoWal over the 4th.

FYI- Criollas has a new Executive Chef as of this past weekend. Shane was hired from Shout, an Atlanta based restaurant owned by Tom Catherall, where he was the Executive Chef.

How come no one mentioned Criolla"s ???? :idontno:

I love Criollas! I have been dining with Johnny since Paradise Cafe days and he amazes me how he continues to evolve. Many local restaurants do the same thing year after year. Criollas is a special place to take someone on a special night. Top shelf in my book!

Good to know about the new chef. I have always liked Criolla even though it is pricey. Criolla is the only restaurant that charges for refills on soda......and they put too much ice in the glass !!! I made those notes in my day calender so that I would know for the next time to order "diet pepsi...no ice". I will use the ice from my water glass. But I have always found the food very good and very interesting.

Good to know about the new chef. I have always liked Criolla even though it is pricey. Criolla is the only restaurant that charges for refills on soda......and they put too much ice in the glass !!! I made those notes in my day calender so that I would know for the next time to order "diet pepsi...no ice". I will use the ice from my water glass. But I have always found the food very good and very interesting.

Wow. I know it is a small thing, but enough of an irritation to cast a pall over my meal. And I don't drink soda.

It is a funny thing, in the south and southwest soda refills are free, and in the northeast they charge for refillls......can get expensive on a hot and humid july afternoon.

I always miss out on free refills because I don't drink soda or tea with my meal................ they always charge me to refill my glass of wine, beer, thai ice tea, or milk (altho I stopped ordering that as it often arrives still in a carton).

Greetings Neighbors and Friends,

We have been blessed over the years at Criolla's and I love reading everyone's feedback on Sowal.com, both the negative and the positive.

Smiling Joe is right about our new Chef de Cuisine Shane Vaughn, what a gentleman and superb chef and we are delighted to have him leading our kitchen. We have always been fortunate to have great folks working with us. From the beginning Criolla's has been an interactive kitchen in so far as not only does our Chef de Cuisine influence our menu but I ask for our entire culinary team to create - line cooks, sous chefs, interns - it's an incredible way to work.

If you haven't been in this year come check out our tapas bar we opened in February. We get a chance to bring the kitchen out front plus you can stop in and enjoy Criolla's without always feeling the need to go through multiple courses. It's been exciting for all us cooks.

For our fellow Sowall'ers, I would like to invite y'all to come check out what's new and recieve a complimentary tapas and dessert anytime between now and July 21st. Just let our friendly GM Tim Kinderman know and he will take good care of you. BTW, for all the Sowal soda drinkers out there, I apologze for having charged you repeatedly. From this point forward your sodas are complimentary, just let us know when you are there and we'll take good care of you. Unfortunately I can't offer the same for you oenophiles, but we do bring in some gems you can't get everywhere.

Have a great weekend and enjoy this fabulous weather - we all should all be at the beach today. Best wishes and thanks again for the past 24+ years.

Johnny

Johnny, your reply seems geniune and we appreciate it. I will say that in the last two days, I've heard a local bragging on the tapas at Criollas, and an Executive Chef from one of Atlanta's top restaurants, bragging on his dinner at Criollas. I might have to give Criollas another whirl.

I love tapas! Great to share and sample a variety! Perfect portion size too - most restaurant meals are too big so you can't clean your plate and enjoy your dessert (an essential part of the meal in scooterbug land).

www.30A.com that has a lot of info about "the best" things to do in SoWal... places to eat, etc...

www.30A.com that has a lot of info about "the best" things to do in SoWal... places to eat, etc...

:clap: I love this site!!!!:clap: