Author: michael.wysolmerski
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Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse – Center City, Philadelphia
Mrs. Underwhelmed Traveler had a birthday last night, and unlike most of my recent dining experiences, I’m not going to spend this entire post apologizing for something that didn’t completely deliver. That’s rare enough that it deserves its own paragraph. We drove to Philadelphia specifically because she wanted a nice birthday dinner that didn’t involve…
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Cork and Cap: A Farm-to-Table Fine Dining Experience… Allegedly
When I booked our table at Cork and Cap mid-week, the only option was a high-top. Fine, I figured — must be popular, the reviews were glowing, they’re clearly slammed. We show up. There are open regular tables everywhere. So that was a fun start. The Mrs. and I kicked things off with cocktails, which…
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Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar — Chantilly, VA (Team Dinner Edition)
Team Dinner Edition Rating: Whelmed I’ve been to this Lazy Dog before, and my prior verdict was “whelmed” — so when it came time to pick a spot for a sales/PM/engineering team dinner, I wasn’t rolling the dice on anything. I knew exactly what I was getting, which was the whole point. The assignment was…
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Uncorked — West Reading, PA
Wine & Bourbon Bar | Visited: Tonight Let’s start with the win: the kids were at the Reading Phillies game with the in-laws, which meant the Mrs. and I got an actual kid-free night. In Berks County, a good glass of wine and solid small plates is not exactly easy to find. Uncorked has been…
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Mom Chaffe’s Cellarette — West Reading, PA
We were tired of the usual Berks County bar food circuit, so on a ChatGPT recommendation we tried Mom Chaffe’s Cellarette — a place that’s apparently been tucked into the bottom floor of a West Reading row home since the 1930s. Went with the Mrs. and our daughter for an early 5pm reservation. Walking in,…
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Morning Fuel (West Lawn, PA)
Verdict: Actually Overwhelmed (yes, we’re as surprised as you are) Third time’s the charm, except we already knew the charm was there — this wasn’t a gamble, it was a victory lap. Morning Fuel has a following in West Lawn, and by 10:30 on a Saturday that following was very much present: 20-minute wait, packed…
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Morning Fuel — West Lawn, PA
Verdict: Actually Overwhelmed (yes, we’re as surprised as you are) Third time’s the charm, except we already knew the charm was there — this wasn’t a gamble, it was a victory lap. Morning Fuel has a following in West Lawn, and by 10:30 on a Saturday that following was very much present: 20-minute wait, packed…
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Cedar Creek Farm Market — East Earl, PA
A farmers market, deli, and ice cream shop rolled into one. Not worth a special trip for the food alone — but if you ever need watermelon, pickles, and a hoagie in the same stop, this is the place.
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Tasteful Station — Poultney, VT
Genuinely nice for Poultney — which isn’t a high bar, but it cleared it. Great cauliflower and lobster tacos, an overcooked chicken dish, and drinks priced for a bigger town.
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Rick’s Blue Jay Cafe — York, ME
A roadside diner with Mexican flair, a stuffed breakfast plate called “the Divide,” and a verdict that comes close to Overwhelmed without quite crossing the line.
The Underwhelmed traveler 