Quirky Places to Eat | Cookbookmaniac

“…Of Course We Have Scampi!” Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant New York City

American Recipes By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

Warning! Warning! Touristy restaurant review ahead Proceed with caution Warning! Warning! Forrest Gump is one of my favourite films. I jumped with unabashed joy when we walked past the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant in Times Square, New York. I had no idea that the restaurant existed and I was determined to dine there. Just to give it a go. Bubba's dream is alive! I usually try and stay away from tourist-driven places when on holidays but I couldn't help but giggle like a japanese school girl when I enter the premises. The restaurant looks like the Hard Rock Cafe for Forrest Gump paraphernalia. Downstairs is filled with merchandise from the film. T-shirts, shorts, caps, mugs, pens, photo frames are printed with tacky sayings and logos mostly taken from the film. The restaurant was a little more tasteful and was themed more accurately to the film than the merchandise…

The Smokehouse – Vintage quirky and mighty delicious

Australian Restaurant Reviews By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

I love to travel. Take me to any exotic place and I will not fear to venture out on my own. There is nothing more exhilarating than to get lost in a city and discovering its many hidden treasures without the aid of a travel book or map. Pizzaboy and I have not been able to travel as much as we use to since we decided to settle down and buy a home. All our savings are now being banked up in a volt for when we find the right place. Isn't it odd that we must save money to borrow money? We have had to give up on a lot of things in pursuit of the homeownership dream, but we are not able to sacrifice the luxury of eating out. The discovery of The Smokehouse had left me with the same joyful feeling as when I travel without a…

Twelve in King St, Newtown

CBD & Inner City By Amy @ cookbookmaniac

Bad luck follows me wherever I go. There is always something that I am missing out on or something that I have overlooked. One rainy evening, Pizzaboy and I make our way to Newtown to try the newly opened and uber-trendy Bloodwood, only to find the windows shut and lights turned off. It is closed on Tuesdays... bummer. We walk along King St, glum faced and with no idea what to have for dinner. We walked past Twelve a couple of times before deciding on dining here. It was really our hunger that made the final decision. After being shown to our tables and looking over the menu I take a closer look at the restaurant and notice it is tasteful but haphazardly decorated. It's retro-italian, Lygon St, high school mural, arty, home furnishing shop, organic cafe style that somehow meshes together well. The restaurant is empty when we sit…