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Joni Kinney

The Angry Octopus – A Pleasant Surprise

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If you’re looking for a unique and enjoyable dining experience in Chicago, I recommend checking out The Angry Octopus Restaurant. This small, independently-owned restaurant serves up some delicious dishes. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed, perfect for a casual night with family or friends. And the best part? It’s affordable too! So if you’re looking for an affordable yet unique Chicago dining experience, check out The Angry Octopus Restaurant.

Angry Octopus Food

If you're looking for a unique and enjoyable dining experience in Chicago, I recommend checking out The Angry Octopus Restaurant. This small, independently-owned restaurant serves up some delicious dishes.

I was visiting Chicago with my sister and our teenagers when we happened to discover this place on our way to see Blue Man Group perform. It is within walking distance of the show, so we thought we would try it out. After all, we do enjoy some little off-the-wall local places when traveling.

We were pleasantly surprised by the food. The homemade fries were probably the best thing we had. But the wraps, Philly sandwich, and atmosphere made the entire experience worth it.

Enjoyments of the Experience

The Angry Octopus is not a well-known place in Chicago, so there were no lines and no waiting. Their menu was surprisingly robust. We didn’t have pizza, but at first, it appeared to be a pizza joint mainly. We were very surprised by the different dishes offered. They have burgers, wraps, hot dogs, Gyros, Chicken tenders, etc.

The Angry Octopus Things to Improve

Realizing the space of the building is limited, more seating would be great. And while cute enough, the tables and walls gave off a more childish appearance than one normally wants when eating at a restaurant. We were a little concerned when we walked in as the vibe is not as upbeat as you would expect it to be.

Restaurant Conclusion

I would happily eat at The Angry Octopus again. There was a wide variety of food, and it was a clean and comfortable place to sit down as a family and eat. So if you’re looking for something a little different, be sure to put The Angry Octopus Restaurant at the top of your list!

Click the link to check out some other recommendations and Chicago experiences! If you are ready to book a trip to Chicago, click this link and get started!

Pioneer Plaza in Dallas, Texas: A Fun Way to Commemorate the Dallas History

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Looking for something fun to do in Dallas, Texas? Check out Pioneer Plaza! This beautiful public square is near some of the city’s major attractions, including the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. It commemorates the history of Dallas and is a great place to take photos or enjoy a picnic lunch.

History of Pioneer Plaza In Dallas

Looking for something fun to do in Dallas, Texas? Check out Pioneer Plaza! This beautiful public square is near some of the city's major attractions, including the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. It commemorates the history of Dallas and is a great place to take photos or enjoy a picnic lunch.

Pioneer Plaza in Dallas has larger-than-life bronze sculptures of 40 steers and 3 cowboys in the midst of a cattle drive. As you can imagine, this site is visited by many tourists. The Pioneer Park Cemetery adjoins the plaza, and the Confederate War Memorial can be found there. It is the Dallas central business district’s largest publicly accessible open space.

The $9 million project began in 1992 and was completed in 1994. Private donations provided almost 1/2 of the money. The park is adjacent to the Dallas Convention Center. The plaza is the city’s second most popular attraction (The first place belongs to Dealey Plaza). In 1996 the Dallas Convention center took over maintaining the park.

Sculptures

These amazing Cattle Drive Sculptures were created by Robert Summers from Glen Rose, Texas at the corner of Young and Griffin street. He is an accomplished artist who has been creating sculptures for more than 40 years. You can tell by the details that these were created with the history of Dallas in mind. He accurately recorded the many markings used to identify cattle on the pathways, including a brand on the left hip.

There are 4 main sculptures to consider. The 3 cowboys; Trail Boss, Black Cutter Cowboy, Vaquero, and the Texas Longhorns. I will let you look up the significance of the cowboys and the steers if you are interested but suffice to say, they are very interesting.

In addition to the amazingly detailed sculptures, the plaza hosts man-made cliffs, native plant life, and historical details embronzed on the sculptures themselves.

Pioneer Plaza Conclusion

Pioneer Plaza in Dallas is a great place to visit when you are in Dallas, Texas! It is close to other attractions, has a rich history, and features beautiful sculptures. You will not be disappointed if you add Pioneer Plaza to your list of places to see.

If you are ready to book a great vacation, click here to get started!

Looking for something fun to do in Dallas, Texas? Check out Pioneer Plaza! This beautiful public square is near some of the city's major attractions, including the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. It commemorates the history of Dallas and is a great place to take photos or enjoy a picnic lunch.
Looking for something fun to do in Dallas, Texas? Check out Pioneer Plaza! This beautiful public square is near some of the city's major attractions, including the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. It commemorates the history of Dallas and is a great place to take photos or enjoy a picnic lunch.

Mochomos Restaurant: A Fun Dining Experience with Delicious Food and Excellent Service

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If you’re looking for a fun dining experience while in Mexico with excellent food and service, Mochomos Restaurant is the place for you! This restaurant is located in Monterrey, Mexico, and it has a great atmosphere that will make you feel right at home. The food here is delicious, and the portable cocktail bar is a lot of fun. Plus, the service here is excellent – Americans will feel right at home.

Mochomos Restaurant

I was visiting Monterrey, Mexico, and wanted to go out to a nice place to eat. Mochomos was recommended, and I am glad I decided to make the trip. This restaurant is located on the third floor of the Metropolitan center, a big shopping mall. There are several hotels and places to stay nearby.

If you're looking for a fun dining experience while in Mexico with excellent food and service, Mochomos Restaurant is the place for you! This restaurant is located in Monterrey, Mexico, and it has a great atmosphere that will make you feel right at home. The food here is delicious, and the portable cocktail bar is a lot of fun. Plus, the service here is excellent - Americans will feel right at home.

Restaurant Location:

Metropolitan Center

Lázaro Cárdenas no. Ext 2400, No Int. RS3 | C.P. 66269

Col. Valle Oriente San Pedro, Garza García

www.metropolitancenter.mx

The menu has many great items and caters to those with allergies.

Enjoyments of the Experience

The most memorable aspect was the delectable cuisine. The first dish we tried (Fried Panela Cheese) was fantastic. Who wouldn’t enjoy fried cheese?

The meals were magnificent and delectable. Everyone was satisfied with their selections. I got the Almond Filet, tenderloin beef medallions in almond cream, and honey sauce for my main dish. There was also a side of chips and guacamole, which is fantastic if you like guac from Mexico.

The room we were seated in made you feel like you were outside without being in the sweltering heat. There were vines around the room and huge windows to look at the scenery. This was a great bonus, given how hot it typically is in Mexico.

The cocktail cart was the most unexpected highlight of the night. This fantastic serving team went from table to table, making and refilling beverages, which was great to observe. Shaking, pouring, and just having a good time with their work. It was really a live art performance in action.

Dessert was another surprising highlight. After all, who could be sad about this:

@jonikinney

Fun and so yummy dessert from #mochomos while i was visiting #monterrey #mexico Had a great visit with my team. Would you eat this?

♬ original sound – Joni Kinney
If you're looking for a fun dining experience while in Mexico with excellent food and service, Mochomos Restaurant is the place for you! This restaurant is located in Monterrey, Mexico, and it has a great atmosphere that will make you feel right at home. The food here is delicious, and the portable cocktail bar is a lot of fun. Plus, the service here is excellent - Americans will feel right at home.

Things to Improve

The second appetizer we ordered was Mochomos, which is shredded beef cooked with onions. We assumed it would be good since the restaurant’s name is Mochomos, but this was a letdown. The server assured us that the dish was delicious, so we didn’t expect much from it. By far, the least enthusiastically consumed item at the table.

Restaurant Conclusion

If you’re looking for a great restaurant while in Monterrey, Mexico, Mochomos is the place for you. The food here is delicious, and the service is excellent. You’ll have a great time at this fun and festive restaurant!

Looking for other great recommendations? Check out these recent posts:

We would love to hear if you’ve tried out Mochomos and what you thought. Comment below and let us know.

If you are ready to book a great vacation, click here to get started!

If you're looking for a fun dining experience while in Mexico with excellent food and service, Mochomos Restaurant is the place for you! This restaurant is located in Monterrey, Mexico, and it has a great atmosphere that will make you feel right at home. The food here is delicious, and the portable cocktail bar is a lot of fun. Plus, the service here is excellent - Americans will feel right at home.

Franny’s Family Restaurant & Pancake House

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Breakfast food is comfort food, and we are always searching for a great place to get that warm, homey feeling. Welcome to Franny’s Family Restaurant & Pancake house!

We were super excited to hear about a new restaurant in our town that seemed like a Waffle House style place with Pancakes instead of waffles.

We were so excited to try it out. So did we like it? Keep reading and we will let you know.

Franny’s Family Restaurant & Pancake House

The restaurant is tucked away just off one of the main areas of Stevens Point. This area is no stranger to great food as there are several other restaurants within walking distance.

Another great benefit is that the Holiday Inn is just right down the way if you are looking to visit. So what kind of food do they offer?

Well, it’s not just pancakes! Franny’s Family Restaurant offers a wide range of foods; you will find everything from Mexican to stirfry to good old fashioned breakfast favorites.

Enjoyments of the Experience

Breakfast food is comfort food, and we are always searching for a great place to get that warm, homey feeling. Welcome to Franny's Family Restaurant & Pancake house!

Since this restaurant is local to us, we’ve actually enjoyed it a few times. The first time we actually went to the restaurant to eat. On my visit to the restaurant, I was excited to try out a salad called the Oriental Chicken Crisp. Jason tried the Pancakes and French fries.

The pancakes were delicious, fluffy and oh so delicious. Even the fries were good with their golden brown crust.

Franny’s offers delivery through Eat Street and we’ve taken advantage of that now a few times. The food always arrives warm and delicious. I’ve found I really like the Beef Stir Fry and the Steak Chimichangas. At this point I’m not sure there is any bad food at Franny’s.

Things to Improve

Breakfast food is comfort food, and we are always searching for a great place to get that warm, homey feeling. Welcome to Franny's Family Restaurant & Pancake house!

The salad was good but misleading since it’s not really Oriental dressing instead some sort of southwest ranch. This must be a common misconception because the waitress told me right away. I was still happy to try it and it was really good.

Restaurant Conclusion

I love this place and can’t wait to return. If you are looking for a comfort meal in a cozy little restaurant you can’t go wrong trying out Franny’s.

Looking for other great food recommendations? Check out these recent posts:

We would love to hear if you’ve tried out Franny’s and what you thought. comment below and let us know.

  • Breakfast food is comfort food, and we are always searching for a great place to get that warm, homey feeling. Welcome to Franny's Family Restaurant & Pancake house!
  • Breakfast food is comfort food, and we are always searching for a great place to get that warm, homey feeling. Welcome to Franny's Family Restaurant & Pancake house!
  • Breakfast food is comfort food, and we are always searching for a great place to get that warm, homey feeling. Welcome to Franny's Family Restaurant & Pancake house!
  • Breakfast food is comfort food, and we are always searching for a great place to get that warm, homey feeling. Welcome to Franny's Family Restaurant & Pancake house!

Ri Ra Irish Pub – Las Vegas

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When meeting up with friends you want a restaurant that is enjoyable to sit in and the wait staff is friendly. That is exactly what we got at the Ri Ra Irish Pub when visiting in August of 2020.

Ri Ra Irish Pub Food

Ri Ra Irish Pub - A great place to eat with good food, good service, and AMAZING dessert.

When ordering my dinner, I decided to go with a classic. Check out their full menu for other great choices. I went with the Shepards Pie, which was a delectable loaf of potato and meat stew goodness. It was perfectly seasoned with lamb, peas, carrots, and of course the mashed potatoes.

Feeling a little indulgent, my friend and I to order and split a Whiskey Caramel Bread Pudding dessert. The dessert was sweet, warm, and an amazing way to finish off our meal. I am so glad we took the advice offered and decided to order it.

If you want this dessert, you really need to order it before you start eating your meal. It takes around 45 minutes to cook and be delivered to the table, so this is no last minute dessert option. You won’t be disappointed when you decide to get it.

Enjoyments of the Experience

When meeting up with friends you want a restaurant that is enjoyable to sit in and the wait staff is friendly. That is exactly what we got at the Ri Ra Irish Pub when visiting in August of 2020.

Anytime I’m visiting a new restaurant I want to ensure I understand the menu. Our wait staff was friendly, made suggestions, and offered what I felt were valid opinions on our food.

The great advice really made the overall experience at the Ri Ra Irish pub even more enjoyable.

Things to Improve

The restaurant itself is laid out a little odd, or maybe that’s where our table was. Due to COVID restrictions, we ended up at a huge table. However, this worked for us since we were really brainstorming, and having the extra table space came in handy.

Restaurant Conclusion

Overall, I would recommend you try out the Ri Ra Irish Pub. The food was great, the wait staff attentive, and the vibe was one of old-time comfort.

Looking for some other activities in Las Vegas:

When meeting up with friends you want a restaurant that is enjoyable to sit in and the wait staff is friendly. That is exactly what we got at the Ri Ra Irish Pub when visiting in August of 2020.

Kwik Trip Specials to Save You Money

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Kwik trip runs some of the best deals. This convenience/grocery/gas station has a lot to offer busy families. You can get everything from hot food, gas, to everyday groceries making it a convenient solution for fast shopping. I especially love the Kwik trip specials to save money.

There are many Kwik Trip specials that will help you save money. Check out our favorites! Everything from fuel, groceries, and instore food.
Take Advantage of all the great deals!

Kwik Trip Locations

This convenience store is mostly located in the midwest and covers Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. If you want to know if there is a store near you use their Kwik Store Location services. They cater to families, those in a hurry, and semi drivers at many of their locations.

Kwik Trip Specials

I especially love the savings deals they offer. There is always something new to try and they offer common foods at super reasonable prices.

Daily Deals

The daily deals change each day and are always super awesome. Some examples of things you may find include bars for $1, $1 sandwiches, or $4.99 whole pizzas. This is just a sample, I’ve seen so many great products offered as a daily deal. My all-time favorite is the $1 Karuba Gold coffee drinks that are a Monday Daily Deal every week.

Want to know what is coming up as a Daily Deal? Check out their listings! What is your favorite item to get on special?

Special Promos and Fuel

Kwik Trip specials are not limited to daily deals. They have special promos as well which include items like 99 cent pork filets, or 29 cents per pound bananas. To see the current special promos check out their site!

Every month Kwik Trip offers promotional items you can purchase to earn credits towards fuel. To check out what fuel savings they have right now check out the Fuel Discounts page.

Don’t forget to register and save even more using their Kwik Rewards cards. Learn how we use our Kwik Rewards to help us save money on airline tickets and earn miles. This helps our family vacation more often.

Conclusion

If you aren’t already taking advantage of the great offers Kwik trip has you really need to consider it. Stack rewards, supplement your groceries, and pick up your fuel. All of these combined make Kwik Trip one of the most valuable stores in the state.