Mike's Wine Dive | Wichita Restaurants and Dining Review

Mike's Wine Dive is one of those places that you can't visit just once. It calls you back time and time again. Not only do they have a great wine selection (of which they were just awarded for in Wine Spectator), but because the food is so good. My personal favorite is the Lobster Mac and Cheese.

Take the ultimate comfort food and adjust it for your "grown up" tastes. That is what you get with this deliciously rich and creamy dish. Savory, Creamy, Cheesy accented by the sweetness of fresh lobster tail and you could easily ask for seconds, although your waste line and cardiologist may suggest otherwise.

The wine list is very extensive with page after page of wine by the glass and wines by the bottles. All the servers seem to know a thing or two about the wine selections and can give fairly accurate suggestions as to what would go well with what - or match your taste request to a glass on hand.

The atmosphere is very laid back and contemporary. Rich dark woods lit by hanging lanterns made from wine bottles that line the bar and back wall. It's the perfect place for a romantic dinner or a laid back afternoon of good food and wine with friends. You don't feel intimidated or get a pretentious vibe here at all.

Like I said, My favorite is the Lobster Mac and Cheese (as seen above), but they have an extensive menu that is loaded with great choices. I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more exploration in the menu from season to season, as it seems that most of the menu items (there have been a few changes) are the same from the day the doors opened over a year ago. But I can't complain, what they have is a winning formula for great food and a Wichita restaurant that meets your expectations every time you stop in.

When Pigs Fly BBQ | Wichita Restaurants and Dining Review

I'm always on the lookout for something unique and new. When I heard about another BBQ joint in Wichita, quite honestly I wasn't in a big rush to get there. I'm sure the food was good, but there is certainly no shortage of BBQ shops around town. Then I was told about a unique offering from "When Pigs Fly". They had something I had only read about in fairy-tales and horror novels. "Pig Wings".
Where could they have possibly found such a beast? Furthermore... Why was this animal not preserved rather than being another victim to Bar-B-Que? Turns out, just like the Buffalo. Its not a real wing. However it does not come from a chicken. Its basically a pork shank the size of a chicken wing that is slow cooked till its fall-off-the-bone delicious. 

What you get with a "Pig Wing" is a flavor combination of ham/pulled pork. It has a richness to it above pulled pork with a texture that is reminiscent of it, all on a finger licking good bone. They are slightly smaller than a drumstick and slightly larger than a chicken wing. Making 3-4 of them the perfect size for a meal. If you're looking for a different "cut" of meat on your next BBQ binge. I suggest trying a "Pig Wing".

Tommy's Restaurant Grill & Lounge | Wichita Restaurants and Dining Review

I first walked through the doors of Tommy's 3 years ago. Upon entering the "lounge" it instantly became one of my favorite spots in the city. The main reason for my love of this unique establishment is pure nostalgia. I grew up in Wisconsin and almost every Friday night was taken to a "Supper Club" for the "Friday Night Fish Fry". Tommy's decor is/was the definition of an old school "Supper Club". It reminds me of childhood and a time before the endless manufactured decor of chains like TGI McFunsters.

Tommy's is known for their Prime Rib, which I must say is quite good. However my favorite is their fried catfish. It has a flaky and buttery almost cracker like hand breaded crust that adds a smooth depth to the taste of the sweet meat. It's also my way of getting my "Friday Night Fish Fry" fix in an area where people look at me strangely when I talk about it.

I always felt like I had gone back in time when sitting in Tommy's lounge. So, "When in Rome" - I made sure my cocktail was an old school choice, one that is VERY popular in Wisconsin to this day - yet is considered a "classic" everywhere else. An "Old Fashioned." There are many ways of making this drink, by my prep of choice is Southern Comfort, Sprite, Grenadine and an orange slice, cherry and olive.

In recent months Tommy's has been taken over by new management. The standard greeting and goodbye by Tommy standing at the register is no more. It was a nice touch and made you feel welcome especially since Tommy knew everyone by name, even if you only dined with them once. It is still a great place to visit for a taste of nostalgia. However as with all things over time - change is under way. The dining room has just undergone an upgrade, and I must say - I think it looks great. Gone is the older wallpaper, and some other decor that gave it a dated feel. However, the main dining room is not the reason I go to Tommy's. Its the lounge.

The lounge is what defined  a preserved era gone by. I would go as far as calling the decor "delightfully tacky". It had white Christmas lights lining the mirror and fake plants year round. A steady flow of "yacht rock"   from artists like Seals and Croft, Christopher Cross, Hall and Oates and more  played over the sound system. With dark mood lighting of a late 70's or early 80's supper club. Yet you didn't feel like anything was out of place. It just felt right. It was a unique experience that I hope they bring back after the renovations to the lounge are complete. The Christmas lights are gone, as well as the plants. The last time I was in, I had to endure a Ricky Martin tune as I sipped on my Old Fashioned.  Many of the patrons who frequent Tommy's do so because of the retro atmosphere, and have probably been going here since what is now "retro" was current. Changes aside, I still love this place. I truly hope that the atmosphere that  makes Tommy's so unique is not lost in the myriad of changes that are taking place.

Little Saigon | Wichita Restaurants and Dining Review

Wichita has no shortage of Vietnamese Restaurants. Some are good, some are great and some just give you a feeling of impending doom when walking through their doors. "Little Saigon" on Broadway just north of downtown is one of the establishments I would lop into the "Great" category. Every time I've dined there, I find the staff to be very welcoming, friendly and helpful when looking for a dish suggestion. My biggest problem is the fact that I keep ordering the same thing almost every time. I get into a rut like this sometimes, when I like it - I like it and I stick with it. The Pho with shrimp was my pick for the last year. Today I branched out and went with the "Bun" - Noodles with sliced pork, veggies, nuts and a light broth that you dump over the top.

Some of the best things at a Vietnamese Restaurants to me - are the appetizers. I could have easily order 3 or 4 of them to share and call it a meal. The rice paper spring rolls were very fresh and the shrimp packed in it was fresh! I had to point this out, because there has been some recent incidents in other diners of the same theme where the shrimp was questionable at best. The peanut sauce could use a bit more of a kick, but that's what the table side Sriracha is for.

I also tried the pork fried dumplings, which were very good and made fresh. The filling was made of ground pork and veggies with a nice crisp cilantro jab to them that really made them pop.

Quite honestly, I used to frequent several of the Vietnamese Restaurants around town. As of late though, I find myself ignoring the others and going back to Little Saigon alone. There are other choices in town for great Vietnamese, but I have to say that at this moment in time Little Saigon is my dining of choice when I have the craving for Vietnamese. I welcome your suggestions on other great Vietnamese Restaurants in Wichita. I'll be sure to visit them soon! Leave them in the comments section.

Nancy's A-MaizeN Sandwiches | Wichita Restaurant Review

If its delicious and sometimes "odd" sandwiches you crave. Then Nancy's AMaizen Sandwiches is a place that you will love. This little diner can be found about 1 mile out of Wichita on the main strip in Maize... Hence A-MAIZE-N. I've been here several time now and continue to find new favorites.

One that I keep going back to is a sandwich that combines the likes of freshly sliced turkey, bacon, mayo, jalapeno and grape jelly on a soft bun. It sounds very strange... almost to the point of being "A-Mazi-N after bar food, which I'm sure it is... However - I've only eaten it stone cold sober and thoroughly enjoyed it! It's a must have when you stop in.

Among other things that are made fresh are the baked beans. Now I must warn you, your spouse or whom ever you share a bed with may not appreciate the look of pure pleasure on your face as you consume these little gems of goodness... especially 2-3 hours later. But they are well worth it.

Nancy's AMaizen Sandwiches is one of those Wichita Restaurant's that proves you cant judge a book by its cover. From the outside, it looks like your average small town diner. Its when you get inside and take a look at the menu that you discover just what a unique experience you've stepped into.

That experience is complete when you get a chance to try the food. It's great stuff that will keep you going back for seconds.

Thai Tradition | Wichita Restaurants and Dining Review

"George Likes His Chicken Spicy" is the line that always comes to mind whenever I visit this Wichita Restaurant. Thai Tradition was one of the first "go to" places that I visited on an almost weekly sometimes daily basis when I first moved to town six years ago. I have a deep love and appreciation for all the complex flavors and combinations that authentic Thai food brings to the palette, and Thai Tradition comes through as one of the best Thai Restaurants I've ever been to.

The food is consistently good. I've never had a bad meal there. One of my favorite appetizers that is only on the lunch menu but can be made if you request it at dinner is the "poor mans beef". Its thin shreds of beef flash fried and then picked up with sticky rice and dipped in a spicy soy mixture. Its finger food at its finest. My wife and me will at times place two orders of it because its just "That good!".

My favorite dish on the menu is the Pad Prik King. Its a spicy dish made up of fresh green beans tossed in spicy Thai Chili paste with peppers, meat and kaffir lime leaves. The lime leaves give the dish an ever so slight sweetness that compliments the spice of the dish like the devil standing around with a Super Soaker in hell. If you like spicy, its a great dish. It can also be made very mild, but the best experience in my opinion is the "Thai Hot" route.

At lunch your dish is served with their home made hot and sour soup. Some of the best in the city. Its not your typical "Asian Buffet" variety from a can. Its made fresh daily and amazing.

One of my other favorite dishes are the curries. At lunch you can add a cup of the thick, hot, spiced liquid of the gods for a small amount more - It is always worth it. My curry of choice is the Red Curry. If you're in search of a great spot for lunch or dinner, with more than a little spice (upon request) - Thai Tradition off of Carriage Parkway is one of the best in the city.

Stearman Field | Wichita Restaurants and Dining Review

A hidden gem just outside of Wichita, Kansas in Benton is Stearman Field (formerly the Benton Airport). Stearman Field is home to a one of a kind bar and grill as well as a fully functional airport with planes landing feet from your dining table at any given time of the day or night.

This is one of those places you walk into and go "How on earth have I never heard of this place before"!! If you are looking for a 5 course Bobby Flay meal, look elsewhere - but if you are looking for some of the best made from scratch burgers and what I call "bar food" - you've come to the right place! The drive from Wichita only takes about 15-20 mins, and is well worth it.

I've been able to try both breakfast and lunch here now, and both times was very happy with the service and the food. On my last visit I had the "Stearman Burger". Which is a fresh beef patty topped with melted cheese, grilled onions, jalapenos and cheese. It was not over the top "greasy" but had just enough to satisfy my craving for a juicy cheeseburger.

In the summer months the hangar doors are open to the airfield, putting you just feet from planes taking off and landing. Quite a few pilots visit this hot spot and park in the "air plane parking lot" next to the building. It makes for great entertainment any time of day as the flow of incoming air traffic is nearly constant.

If you are not a pilot and get the bug to be in the air while watching the airshows going by, they can help you with that too - as they offer rides on both a helicopter and an authentic Stearman Plane. This is a great place to take your kids or some friends to sit back and relax for a few hours with some great food and drinks. You can find their location and hours on their website here.