Orapax in West Ghent, Norfolk

Date Visited: August 27 2009

Reason Why we Visited:
It was the beginning of our weekend and Jon's friend Holly was in town. We decided on a local favorite to show off Norfolk's culinary diversity. For those of you not from HR, Orapax is a long time favorite for many of the locals. It was transformed from an old inn.

The Wait:
Since Kate is a Hampton Roads lifer she has visited this establishment many times. She commented to us that she has never had to wait even at it's busiest. This proved to be par for the course as we were seated immediately upon arriving.

The Atmosphere:
Orapax has an authentic "old country" feel. It is very family friendly and although the tables are close together and the entire place not very big, it is relaxing and homey. The decor lends itself to its Greek and Mediterranean heritage. There a few different sections and we have been here previously where large parties were hosted comfortably. This visit, we were placed in a little nook where it was quiet and we could entertain our guest. Orapax also features an open kitchen and as you can tell from our previous comments on this (see Catch 31 review) Jon and Kate both find this style of restaurant interesting and transparent.

The Service:
Our waitress was excellent. She was very knowledgeable of the menu and explained many of the exclusively Greek dishes that Americans may not be familiar with. Even when a slight miscommunication landed Jon with the wrong dressing for his salad, the waitress was very gracious and patient.

The Drinks:
Jon and Holly both ordered a domestic beer while Kate and Isabelle stuck with soda and juice.

The Food:
All tables are started off with Orapax's home-made bread and clarified butter for dipping. This is very yummy and it is hard to stop snacking so there is room for the rest of the meal. We ordered one of our staples, the calamari, as the appetizer. Jon raved about it, saying it was probably the best he has ever had. Kate thought it was very good but said she could have done with a lighter batter. Obviously, this judgment will be up to personal taste. We enjoyed dipping the calamari in their house marinara and the tazikhi sauce (that we asked the waitress for specifically). It seems that one of our goals is to taste all the calamari in Hampton Roads. Jon and Holly both ordered the gyro platter which is an Orapax classic. Jon was a little put off by the fact that the ingredients came separately so that one had to assemble their own pita bread, meat and toppings together. He suggested this was probably because he is used to the gyro sandwich where all the components are put together beforehand and served as one dish. Holly thought the flavor was very good. Kate ordered a Ceaser salad (another one of her old stand-bys) because she ate so much calamari that all she wanted was something light. She also enjoys Orapax's Ceaser dressing that is a little bolder than the norm. Isabelle munched on everything. Kate mentioned to the group that she has also ordered the Vegetarian pita and found it to be delicious. Everything on the menu that we have tried so far has been very fresh tasting and authentic.

The Dessert:
We passed on this because we had other adventures lined up for the evening and were pressed for time.

Value:
The menu is reasonably priced and the portions are a good size for the cost. The service is typically good and we have rarely been dissapointed by anything on our visits.

Overall:Orapax is a great family friendly, good service, unique food kind of place. We have heard good things about their pizza as well, and glancing over the menu, it looks as if they have many different variations to try (definitely not your delivery from Dominos, Chanellos, Pizza Hut, etc).

Isabellas, Upper West Side, New York City

Date Visited: August 22, 2009

Reason Why we Visited:
At the last minute Jon was able to work out a day trip to NYC. Before we left we researched a few restaurants so we knew where we would end up for lunch. At first, we searched the famous ones, but apprehensive of crowds, noise, and high prices we opted for a few lesser knowns. The one that caught Kate's eye was "Isabella's" because of course, it was so close to her daughter's beautiful name. The online reviews were good and the menu on their website boasted high-end and healthy options.

The Wait:
Kate's initial idea was to NOT make reservations or call ahead for the following reasons: 1) we weren't exactly sure when we were stopping for lunch (we still hadn't quite mastered the subway schedule) so we didn't want to be too early or too late for a reservation 2) we thought we would have lunch a little later in the day missing the "lunch crowd" and 3) we figured even if there was a considerable wait, what would be the harm in wandering around the area surrounding the restaurant...that's what the whole point of our trip was anyways. FIRST MISTAKE! It had been off and on drizzling all day. We asked the hostess for wait time and she seemed a little put off we didn't call ahead. She offered us the outside or the bar for immediate seating, but we were warned that if the weather turned we would be moved inside, possibly to no table. We chose the bar which was a little disappointing. THEN, just as we were seated at the bar the rains came. We thought we were safe because we were safely inside gloating that we had not decided to wait and get caught in the storm. Just then, everyone from Columbus Ave poured into the tiny establishment, shoulder to shoulder, invading our personal space. Conversing at a bar is already a little difficult but is made immensely harder when 30 New Yorkers are chatting in a confined space right behind you.

The Atmosphere:
Very cute. Little New York style high-end bistro. Small, as many New York restaurants are but nicely decorated and pretty views of the street inside. Outdoor dining area for nice weather. It seemed very "local" and not as tourist-ish.

The Service:
The bartender was great! Just as friendly as if she were a waitress at the table. Gave Isabelle crayons and chatted with her like she was an adult. Very attentive. The BEST part: When she found out Isabelle's name she insisted on getting a hat from the kitchen with the company's name and logo on it for it.

The Drinks:
Kate had a slight headache from so much walking and only wanted water. We were just not in the mood for cocktails since we had alot more of the city to explore.

The Food:
We had the calamari served with marina and tzatziki sauce for an appetizer. (If you've followed us regularly you have noticed calamari is one of our fave appetizers). It was good and Jon and Kate agreed that the tzatziki sauce was delicious-cool and refreshing. Also different, since this is not the traditional calamari accompaniment. Marinara was only ok, something similar to Campbells tomato soup. Kate ordered a dinner size Caesar and Jon had the Spinach-Ricotta Ravioli. The Caesar was good, nice portion, and tasty dressing. Jon enjoyed his pasta except he mentioned that a few pieces were a little undercooked. Kate tasted the dish and liked it as well. The tastes were excellent. Jon praised the sauce.

The Dessert:
We skipped dessert due to our hectic schedule. However, if dessert was anything like the meal it would have been good.

Value:
Prices were definitely not bad, especially for NYC. Very reasonable for good food and great service in a classy neighborhood.

Overall:
We really enjoyed our visit but we regret not calling ahead and getting better seating. We also felt (and this was a continual feeling throughout the day) that we wish we had more time to linger and soak it all in. But NYC is huge and we only had a few hours to scratch the surface. Isabella's is a place we would recommend for anyone visiting NYC.