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Mango House is a shared space for refugees, and those that love well made, from the heart, food. My husband and I were told about the Mango House, by one of his co-workers. We decided to try it, and we are glad we did. When we first entered the Mango House, we really were not sure what we would find, and we didn’t know what to expect either. We knew we would find different foods from other countries, so we were game. When you enter (from the back) you enter a big space with very little going on. The actual food court is in a bit, and the food “vendors,” for a lack of a better name, are around the perimeter. Currently there were four different vendors. There are also several shops that offer various items for sale. We were there for the food, and not the shops, so I am not able to speak to the shops. The review is for the food. My husband and I both tried two different vendors. I had the food from Jasmine Syria. I choose the Schwarma Rice Plate with chicken. The two sides I choose were the hummus and pita bread. The main dish, along with the two sides, was very good! I was pleasantly surprised. My husband had the Chicken Tangine from the vendor directly next door. I’m sorry, I didn’t get the name! My mistake. His dish was also very good. My husband liked my rice better, and I liked his rice better. LOL! It’s nice to get different dishes and share. I would really like to try the falafel. The Muhallabia: Syrian Milk Pudding with coconut and almonds, was excellent! Again, when you enter the food hall, there isn’t much going on. The space is large, I think it was formerly a Basset Fine Furniture, but don’t quote me on that. The space is large, with tables and chairs set up along the side, by the food vendors. There are also several couches and chairs set up directly next to the tables and chairs. There is a large dance type floor and cover in the center. My husband was told that on either Saturday or Sunday, they have brunch in the hall. We have not checked that out. I really like the idea of the Mango House. I just don’t see how it can survive. I really hope it survives. There were only a few people there, when we were there on a Thursday evening, around 4:30 – 5:00 pm. No, it wasn’t really late, and it wasn’t the weekend, so I may be totally out of place here. I did notice that there is a youth center inside the main door, so that’s good. It’s nice seeing that the space is being used. Maybe the center is used throughout the year, I certainly hope so. There is private parking in the back, otherwise I believe it might be difficult to park, if the spaces in the back are taken. There are signs on the main entrance doors (in the back) that warn you about parking, so you won’t get towed, which is good to know. We enjoyed the food, and will go back. The prices were very good. I just hope it succeeds.

JASMINE SYRIAN FOOD Menu with Prices 10180 E Colfax Ave STE 186, Aurora

Mango House is a shared space for refugees, and those that love well made, from the heart, food. My husband and I were told about the Mango House, by one of his co-workers. We decided to try it, and we are glad we did. When we first entered the Mango House, we really were not sure what we would find, and we didn’t know what to expect either. We knew we would find different foods from other countries, so we were game. When you enter (from the back) you enter a big space with very little going on. The actual food court is in a bit, and the food “vendors,” for a lack of a better name, are around the perimeter. Currently there were four different vendors. There are also several shops that offer various items for sale. We were there for the food, and not the shops, so I am not able to speak to the shops. The review is for the food. My husband and I both tried two different vendors. I had the food from Jasmine Syria. I choose the Schwarma Rice Plate with chicken. The two sides I choose were the hummus and pita bread. The main dish, along with the two sides, was very good! I was pleasantly surprised. My husband had the Chicken Tangine from the vendor directly next door. I’m sorry, I didn’t get the name! My mistake. His dish was also very good. My husband liked my rice better, and I liked his rice better. LOL! It’s nice to get different dishes and share. I would really like to try the falafel. The Muhallabia: Syrian Milk Pudding with coconut and almonds, was excellent! Again, when you enter the food hall, there isn’t much going on. The space is large, I think it was formerly a Basset Fine Furniture, but don’t quote me on that. The space is large, with tables and chairs set up along the side, by the food vendors. There are also several couches and chairs set up directly next to the tables and chairs. There is a large dance type floor and cover in the center. My husband was told that on either Saturday or Sunday, they have brunch in the hall. We have not checked that out. I really like the idea of the Mango House. I just don’t see how it can survive. I really hope it survives. There were only a few people there, when we were there on a Thursday evening, around 4:30 – 5:00 pm. No, it wasn’t really late, and it wasn’t the weekend, so I may be totally out of place here. I did notice that there is a youth center inside the main door, so that’s good. It’s nice seeing that the space is being used. Maybe the center is used throughout the year, I certainly hope so. There is private parking in the back, otherwise I believe it might be difficult to park, if the spaces in the back are taken. There are signs on the main entrance doors (in the back) that warn you about parking, so you won’t get towed, which is good to know. We enjoyed the food, and will go back. The prices were very good. I just hope it succeeds.

CommonGrounds Workplace – Menu with Prices – 18 S 2nd St, San Jose

I attended a Silicon Valley Young Professionals mixer last week at the new venue. The space was great as its right off of the VTA line and smack dab in the middle of bars and nightlife in San Jose. There’s a cool coffee bar located at the main entrance and there’s a breezeway running right in front of the main doors. Funny, how there’s only one single door to enter the work space from the main lobby and a weird long step down once you turn right to access the other rooms. It does not look like its handicap friendly from this side ;( The space is large and inviting with many different room styles for working either isolated or collaboratively. Might be worth checking out for remote space!

Verve Bowls – Ballard – Menu with Prices – 1764 NW 56th St, Seattle

I’ve been on an açaí bowl kick lately and I’m always looking for new places to try. Then, about half the time I end up eating chicken wings *hangs head in shame.* I was excited to hear Verve was open in Ballard and since chicken wings weren’t easily accessible in the hood, I choose a smoothie bowl instead. I love that I easily found street parking. It’s just far enough away from the bustle of Market Street to give me hope that I can actually park somewhere. The space is very cute – window benches, stools, wicker chairs with pillows, and bar seats are all available for seating. There are high ceilings and an adorable succulent wall! I had the Good Morning Sunshine Bowl. It starts with açaí blended with mango, pineapple, bananas, and house-made almond milk. Back in the day, I thought soy would be my true love forever; almond milk stole my heart! The smoothie is topped with granola, pineapple, mango, and strawberries. It’s filling, just the right amount of sweetness for me, and has some of my favorite fruits! I also tried a dark and stormy smoothie and it was everything a smoothie should be! This is a great addition to the neighborhood and I’ll be visiting often (unless there are chicken wings, then it will be a hard choice).

Tuptim Thai Cuisine Menu with Prices 4896 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsilanti

Me and my husband both are huge fan of Thai cuisine. After leaving San Diego we never got many good Thai place to eat in Michigan, specially in Ann Arbor. Tuptim Thai Cuisine restaurant is just near my house but still I was reliant to try this place reading the reviews. Today at lunch I took my chances and went there. It wasn’t a bad experience but not a very good one either. They do have plenty of free parking space both sides of the restaurant. As soon I walked in I was seated by a very serious man. Both the servers one man and woman were nice to me, they came to ask if everything was ok but none of them smiled for once. Anyway back to the main thing – food. I am a huge huge fan of Penang Curr duck. As it was my first time there I wanted to order something safer. So I ordered Penang curry chicken. It came with a side vegetable tofu soup and one spring roll. The soup was simple yet fresh. The spring roll was ok. I never find much to compliment a spring roll as it has literally nothing inside of it. The curry on the other hand wasn’t good. It was simply pale. One of the main reasons I love Penang curry because of its coconut sauce which should always has a sweeter taste to it. In this case it was more towards spicy and paler side. Still it was ok but the vegetables they put in that curry was simply taken out from frozen bag and put it in there. Green peas, beans and carrots. The whole packaged vegetables they just threw in that curry. I couldn’t even eat my vegetables. I was very hungry when the food came. Seeing the portion of the rice I was thinking that I might have to order more but at the end I couldn’t eat the rice because the entire curry was so bland. I just picked up the chicken pieces and ate. The pricing is good. Specially with their quality of food I think it’s justified. I will probably go back again to try few more dishes and see if my idea of the place changes or not. This place is not terribly bad. I will be back I want to update my review based on my recent experience in this place. Last night me and my husband went there for dinner. We went around 6:30 pm and the place was quite full. The service this time was pleasant and prompt. Atmosphere was nice. We ordered Thai chicken fried rice and chicken Penang curry. The curry came with white rice on the side. I must say the food was good and huge portion. Specially the fried rice was excellent and very large portion. Usually around dinner time my husband’s appetite is skyrocketing. And he loves eating rice. So we have to order tons of rice. Yesterday also we were thinking we might have to order more rice but at the end we happily shared that one plate. In each bite we got huge size chicken. It was really well prepared dish. Although the curry on the other hand has the same problem I faced last time. They don’t prepare their veggies and chicken separately at all. The broth of the curry was really flavorful this time but the chicken was extremely blunt and flavorless. If they could have sautéed the chicken little bit before putting it into the curry it would have been a great dish. May be I am this critical about these preparations because I keep on comparing them with my west coast experience. We ended our dinner with their mango sticky rice and I must say that is one of the best mango sticky rice dish I have eaten in long time. It was cooked to perfection. Though I am not fully happy the way they cook their curry but I will still go there and experiment more new dishes along with excellent mango sticky rice.

Manatee Performing Arts Center – Menu with Prices – 502 3rd Ave W, Bradenton

Visually, this space is five stars. This theatre is beautiful! Both the interior and exterior have that old feel of Broadway luxury with the upgrades of modern theatres thrown in. The Stone Hall (Main Stage Theatre) is a standard proscenium set up. The seating is very nice. The seats are large and comfortable. I sat in the back row, where sightlines were not an issue, and they have ample space in front of them so that you don’t even to stand to let someone pass. A big bonus! The sound booth is situated house left, towards the back, but still in front of a few of the rows of seats. It isn’t a sightline issue, but while watching “A Chorus Line,” where there seemed to be an inordinate amount of sound issues, I found myself a bit distracted by the amount of activity over there. The sound issues cost them half a star. Perhaps the sound is usually very good, but when you are billed as a Performing Arts Center and one of your main offerings is what you bring to your stage and share with your audience, the lighting and sound are inextricably linked to the overall experience. Some of the mics were too hot and offered feedback and some seemed turned off completely. The other half of a star was lost because of the parking. Such a large and elegant theatre space, I think the parking lot should match. Parking seems to be a crucial detail often forgotten. If you want to attract new people to your space, you need to make it easy to get there. Bradenton is a smaller city, and there is more than enough surrounding area to pave, but the MPAC has opted to leave it grass and dirt. I came on a particularly rainy evening, pulled my car into the “lot” and was greeted with mud on my nice shoes. They do offer a valet service, but the walk from the “parking lot” to the theatre is short, the valet service waiting line was rather long, and I don’t see the necessity to charge me to park when the ticket price itself was near 30.00. Overall, a great experience. I would return, but not on a rainy evening.

Bibihana-Fresh Korean Cuisine – Menu with Prices – Ohana Hale Marketplace, 333 Ward Ave #009, Honolulu

I debated on what rating I should give the new Ohana Hale Marketplace. I really like the concept of this marketplace in theory. I have found myself dining here regularly because I work and live nearby. There are a lot of great restaurants to choose from that offer a meal under $15, which was not the case for this neighborhood prior to the marketplace’s opening. I think (in theory) Ohana Hale Marketplace offers the opportunity for local entrepreneurs to open a business that would have been near impossible to afford in a larger space in Kaka’ako. That can be a great thing for both entrepreneurs as well as for residents and tourists. That is why I am giving it five stars. I want the vendors at the marketplace to do well. In reality, I still have a lot of questions about whether most vendors will find success here. My spidey sense also tingles whenever I hear anything associated with the Howard Hughes Corporation, a corporation that I equate with everything that is wrong with what is happening in Honolulu today – but I’ll save that rant for another review! Every time I visit the marketplace, I can’t help but feel bad for a lot of the vendors, especially the retail ones where there are barely any customers on an average day. The restaurants seem to fare better, especially the ones that have found a niche and can offer something specialized or very delicious that is hard to find elsewhere in town. Some of the restaurants that have stood out to me so far have been Allegrini Mozzarella (some of the best Italian food I’ve had in Honolulu), Ganesh Dosa (gluten free Indian crepes), Fat Cheeks (tasty braised pork), and Ocean Taste (really fresh wild caught Hawaiian ahi). Each of these restaurants offer either something really unique or fresh tasting high-quality food that can rival the restaurants outside of the marketplace. As for the retail shops, I have already seen vendors closing not even six months since the marketplace’s grand opening, and there are still a lot of empty stalls around the marketplace. After wondering about the business economics behind all of this, I found an article which stated that a 10 by 10 sq. ft. space at the marketplace goes for $2100 a month. Yikes. I do think that for a few of the standout businesses, they will be able to earn a sizable profit, but I’d be surprised if most of the vendors are lucky enough to bring in $5,000 monthly. My prediction is that opening a business at Ohana Hale will be similar to opening one at the Shirokiya at Ala Moana, meaning a dog eat dog competition where a lot of small businesses won’t make it. The last time I was at Shirokiya, there were a ton of empty stalls. I also wonder if the marketplace will be able to attract more of the elite crowd living in all the surrounding luxury condos. Do pretentious millionaires like to shop at indoor swap meets? I always walk to and from the marketplace, but the parking lot seems pretty crowded whenever I’m there. I’m not sure if parking is easy to find, but I imagine the parking lot should be big enough to accommodate both Ohana Hale, Ross, and the other restaurants in that shopping area. There is also a free V.I.P Trans Hawaii shuttle bus that arrives and departs 45 minutes after every hour that stops at Hyatt Regency, Aston Waikiki Beach, Ilikai, and Ala Moana Shopping Center. I do hope that more people will check out Ohana Hale and give some of the vendors a chance. The food there is really good, there is a casual atmosphere, and occasionally some live music. It will be interesting to see what becomes of this place as well as its vendors in the next several years.

Spicy Sugar Thai – Menu with Prices – 1538 E Broadway, Long Beach

We were craving some Thai food and this popped up in our Yelp review, here was our experience on a Saturday afternoon. AMBIANCE: Parking: Street parking…it’s a busy street so be strategic when coming. Seating: It’s a pretty intimate space that can seat about 40 people for usually groups of 4-6 people. Feels: The surroundings are nice. It’s a busy street with other restaurants and not too far away from the beach. As for the restaurant itself, it has a ma and pa feel with some Thai arts and designs. I dig the modern R&B music, it provided a nice calm mood. Good place for families or a casual local place to eat out. FOOD: Tom Kah Noodle (Recommend) A good presentable portion that warmed my cold. I enjoyed the flavors and the texture of the soup. Mango Sticky Rice (Recommend) Hits the spot. A good portion of rice that was quite sticky and well milked in coconut. The mango was sweet too Thai Coffee (Recommend) A pleasant smooth and sweet coffee that packs a punch. CUSTOMER SERVICE: I liked the service here, friendly, helpful, and quick. TL; DR OVERALL: 4 Stars. The price was reasonable, I digged the location of the spot, and the selections were great. I can see myself coming here again. If you’re craving good authentic Thai food for a good price, this is the spot. The location is a good spot to walk around to shops or the beach, only trouble may be parking. Overall, enjoy! TIPS: * Check-in for a discount! * Look into their lunch specials!

La Michoacana Express of DTSA – Menu with Prices – 300 E 4th St #101, Santa Ana

The price of a small Agua Fresca inside one of the vendors at the 4th Street Market is $4.00 but here you can get a large! Great service, generously offered samples, and was super friendly. I told him I loved Mangonadas but I didn’t particularly like how they made it with the mango ice cream. He was so accommodating & was able to make me a custom 1/2 ice & 1/2 mango ice cream (non dairy) Mangoneada/Raspado. I would return to try the paletas and they have nondairy fruity ice cream!

Little 5 Corner Tavern Menu with Prices 1174 Euclid Avenue Southeast, Atlanta

Just what’d you expect from a bar in Little 5! My husband and I met up with some friends to catch one of the NBA final games here and had a good experience! Los Guidry’s Thoughts and Recommendations: – Plenty of drinks to choose from. They have a full bar, craft beers, wine, and anything else you might want. We ordered some red wine and it was so cheap- $6 a glass. – Food is decent! Our table got a variety of sandwiches and all were happy with their orders.My husband and I shared an order of smoked chicken wings- DELICIOUS! Came with fresh celery and ranch on the side. – Service was great! The waitress was so nice and attentive to our group, and we were a large group too. Brought out the check quickly when we asked for it and made no mistake despite how many other people were at and around our table. – No Parking. Unfortunately, like most businesses in this area Corner Tavern has no dedicated parking lot. It ‘s up to you to find street parking or pay for parking at a nearby lot. – Not a big deal for most people, but this place smelled like cigarettes. Yuck! Don’t wear nice clothes (ladies hope you don’t care about your hair) because you will leave smelling just like a cig. Overall, this is a decent bar in Little 5. Not my favorite in the area but it had all we needed to have a good time.

International Tap House – Menu with Prices – 633 E Main St, Louisville

International Tap House Louisville has opened and what a showstopper! First of all they have 45+ rotating taps plus 100+- bourbons and they also serve wine and cocktails!!! The Space is located on the corner of Main & Shelby Streets in the hopping NULU neighborhood. The space is bright and full of light. It features garage doors to bring in the outdoors. There is a nice, covered outdoor space tucked in on the Shelby Street side with colorful mural and bright chairs and tables. The staff is super friendly and welcoming. The beer is ice cold and the air conditioning is set to a perfect temperature. The bar stools are high end and super comfortable. The International Tap House is also a package beer store so you can take your favorites to go. We are super excited to have ITH in NULU and look forward to lots of visits to enjoy their many happy hour specials!

Khun 9 Thai Kitchen – Menu with Prices – 2018 W Carson St, Torrance

This review is strictly for the mango sticky rice. Was craving mango with sticky rice after ramen and so glad I checked Yelp! Khun 9 Thai Kitchen had great reviews and saw their very cute heart shaped sticky rice and mango and I just had to try it. So glad I did! I ordered 2 and I am so glad I did bc my family and I loved it! The best mango sticky rice we’ve had is in Hawaii and let me tell you, Khu 9’s version was not far from it. It was so tasty, the mango was so sweet and the sauce was delicious! So happy we’ve found a new place whenever we are in Torrance and craving for a yummy dessert. They only serve during mango season so if you’ve never trued mango with sticky rice, it is a must and get it from Khun 9 , promise you won’t be disappointed! Also, their other foods look good. Definitely smelled good as I picked up my dessert. Will be back to try their other food. They are located in Torrance on Carson street next to Flame Broiler.

Raw Eatery and Market – Menu with Prices – 1145 Kensington Crescent NW #2, Calgary

Located in Kensington, the place is a little difficult to spot at first. But after your first visit, you won’t forget! Parking is difficult around here but is just the typical Kensington/downtown parking situation. Street parking available at a fee during the week but free after 6pm and on Sundays! Once you go down the stairs and enter the cafe, the feel for the space is very homey; I personally like the different tables and chairs throughout the space. The cute little table and chairs on the patio were a nice touch too. Menus are available at the front but everyone working here is so approachable and friendly; they can easily make a recommendation for you or answer any questions you may have about the ingredients list, etc. I’ve tried a handful of dishes here including the tacos, the zucchini thai, the pesto salad, the kale salad, the sourdough… EVERYTHING IS DELICIOUS. I love that this place exists cause honestly, Calgary doesn’t have enough options for vegan restaurants/cafes. They also have desserts that seem to change on the regular! On top of all their amazing food, they carry products from other local companies like kombucha and chocolates.. ? If you need help picking a menu item, FOR SURE pick the tacos – they are my personal fav, and the girl told me that they are also the most popular dish there. I don’t think you could go wrong with any of the menu items though, and I can’t wait to go back to try more and to one day have tried the entire menu…. Overall I LOVE THIS PLACE. Delicious, healthy, affordable and VEGAN! Still a good place to eat even if you’re not vegan, so please check this place out if you’re on the fence and you won’t regret it!