Previously On…
This is a compilation post of all our previous reviews from our old website…enjoy.
Hello Readers!
Welcome to The Keno Diet. This is just our little corner of the internet where we’ll share our reviews of local restaurants (and some chains) found in and around the Kenosha, Wisconsin area.
There are two of us, so we’ll each review will be posted in two parts - one from each of our perspectives.
We also really enjoy cooking and baking, so we’ll be sharing some old favorites and new recipes as we try them. You’ll also get some videos of us trying new and/or “unique” foods/treats, so you can see our initial and unfiltered reactions to them. We’ll throw in some other fun things for variety. :)
We already have a list of places we want to try (and there’s a rumor of a Giordano’s going in nearby that we’re definitely going to check out as soon as it opens!), but if you know of a great unknown or underappreciated restaurant/eatery in the Kenosha area, let us know!
Don’t forget to follow us on social media (@kenodiet) to keep up to date with what we’re up to.
- Kat & Rebecca
Dickey’s Barbecue
Hello Readers!
Here’s our very first review. So exciting! We said we didn’t really want to review chains, but we’re making an exception for Dickey’s because we had never heard of it before we tried it (and with that new Giordano’s going in, we’ll DEFINITELY be making an exception for that).
We had a couple of giftcards for restaurant.com and decided to use one. So, we went to the website and checked what restaurants were available new us. We saw a few, but Dickey’s menu seemed the most appealing.
We didn’t feel like eating out that night, so we ordered it for take out. We are planning on going again for the dine-in experience as well.
Now for the good parts….almost.
Kat’s half of the review will be posted on Wednesday and Rebecca’s half will be posted on Friday, so come back then for all the juicy (pun intended) details.
Thanks for reading! And don’t forget to follow us on social media @kenodiet. :)
- Kat & Rebecca
Kat’s Review
Hello Readers!
Kat here to bring you my review of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit. I didn’t go into the location to pick up the food, so you’ll have to come back on Friday and read Rebecca’s review for details on the atmosphere and ambiance of the place.
For my first taste of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, I decided to try the beef brisket sandwich with the baked potato casserole and macaroni & cheese for my sides (Yay! Carb city!). I put the original Barbecue sauce on my sandwich and that stuff is so good, I want to buy a bottle (or two or a dozen) for at home.
The sandwich itself was pretty good. The brisket was cooked to perfection and practically melted in my mouth, and the brioche bun was delectable. The seasoning was great, except for a couple bites that had a bit too much salt.
The sides were very tasty as well. The baked potato casserole was pretty similar to a mashed potato dish we make for holidays that is filled with cheese, green onions, bacon, and all kinds of yummy bits. The mac & cheese was delicious; it’s just good old fashioned homemade comfort food with a creamy, melty cheese sauce.
Overall, I really enjoyed this first try of Dickey’s and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Come back on Friday for Rebecca’s review and don’t forget to follow us on social media (@kenodiet) for all the latest news and updates!
Thanks for Reading!
XOXO, Kat
Rebecca’s Review
Hello. Rebecca here to tell you about my experience at Dickey’s.
When you first enter, the place is decorated in a southwestern theme. There are wooden tables with wanted posters laminated in the tops. There is also a rope with wooden stands to show where to order.
The smell in the place reminded me of grilling; it was like walking into a backyard when the steak is just fragrant enough to get your mouth watering.
The employees were friendly and helpful. They make each meal to order (meaning, if you wanted fried or fried okra, they don’t put in in until you order).
I got the shredded turkey sandwich with their original BBQ sauce. The sandwich was delicious, but there were a couple of bites that tasted a bit salty. The sides that I got (that I remember) were the potato casserole. The coleslaw was alright; it was like any other coleslaw, nothing special but still good.
They also offer ice cream cones for free when you eat in the restaurant.
All-in-all, I would give it a 4 of 5 stars. It’s worth going again.
***This review was originally published in August 2019***
IKEA
Hello Readers -
This week we’ll be reviewing IKEA.
Now, I know those of you who aren’t very familiar with IKEA might be thinking, “why are you reviewing a DIY furniture and decor superstore?” and the rest of you probably already know about their cafeteria and their famous Swedish meatballs...
Whichever camp you fall into, I hope you’ll come back throughout the week to read about our experience.
The reason we decided to review IKEA is because Kat had a coupon for $15 off a purchase and a free meal during her birthday month (August) and, since we had never eaten at IKEA before, we thought we would share the experience with all of you.
So, come back on Wednesday for Rebecca’s review and you can read all about Kat’s meal on Friday. Let us know what restaurant you would like us to review and leave a comment with your experiences at IKEA. :)
Thanks so much for reading and don’t forget to follow us on our socials (@kenodiet).
-Kat & Rebecca
Rebecca’s Review
Hello, Rebecca again with another review.
This time we went to Ikea in Oak Creek, WI. Yes, it is not in Kenosha, but it is within 30 minutes.
If you have ever been to an IKEA then you know that the restaurant is located in the middle of the store. The place is setup like a lunchroom cafeteria. The selection of deserts were in a refrigerated display right after the plates and trays. The line then led to a counter where a worker took your order and plated your food.
I got the veggie balls with curry. It came with the veggie balls with pumpkin curry on top, couscous and broccoli with green beans (the vegetables change during the year for the seasons). The balls were dry and tasted as though they had been sitting out for a while. The taste wasn’t bad, but I don’t think I would get them again.
The other items in the meal were really tasty. The curry was rich in flavor and paired well with the couscous. I drank their brand of cola. It reminded me of RC and I would not mind getting it again.
The total meal was under $10 and was worth the money paid.
I did try some of Kat’s chocolate cake and one of her meatballs. They were delicious and I was glad she shared. I might even get them the next time we go.
Kat’s Review
Hello Readers!
Kat here, and today I’m reviewing IKEA’s famous Swedish meatballs.
We actually went to IKEA because I had a coupon for $15 off a purchase and another coupon for a free meatball meal (including a slice of cake) for my birthday back in August. It was our first time eating at the IKEA restaurant, even though we have shopped there a few times and have gotten the frozen yogurt cones (which are super tasty) from the bistro by the checkouts.
So, for my first IKEA restaurant/food court dining experience, I chose the classic Swedish Meatballs that are quintessential IKEA and I am so glad I did.
The meatballs were DELICIOUS! They were cooked - or should I say “heated”? - to perfection. They were flavorful and juicy and covered in a delectable gravy with just the right amount and combination of seasonings and spices.
The Swedish meatballs came with sides of seasonal vegetables (broccoli and green beans), mashed potatoes, and lingonberries - which I just learned is a mountain cranberry.
The veggies tasted fresh and delightful. The mashed potatoes were served with that same yummy gravy that was on the meatballs, so they were delicious as well. The lingonberries were good, but a little too tart for my taste.
For my free slice of cake, I chose their chocolate cake which they keep in a refrigerator case after apparently leaving them out to thaw first.
The cake was pretty good despite a slight frost bitten taste. I shared some with Rebecca but, it was so rich, we couldn’t even finish one slice between the two of us.
I also tried a bit of Rebecca’s veggie “meat” balls and curry but didn’t really care for either one of those.
Overall, it was a pretty good experience and I would give it a 4 out of five stars (I would have said 3.5, but those meatballs were just so good!). I definitely want to go again and try the salmon balls next time.
Well, that’s all for this review; what else should we try at IKEA? Let us know in the comments or on our socials (@kenodiet on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook) and don’t forget to hit those follow buttons while you’re there.
XOXO, Kat
***This Review was originally published in October 2019***
Ming Garden
Hello Readers!
This week, we’re reviewing our new standard for Chinese takeout, Ming Garden.
Full disclosure, we have eaten from here several times before writing these reviews. But, we are going to try focusing on this one experience for the reviews.
Also, fun fact, we recently re-watched the “classic” movie, 13 Going on 30, for the first time since moving to Kenosha and, hometown hero, Mark Ruffalo namedrops Ming Garden when Jennifer Garner shows up at his door after waking up as a 30 year old version of herself.
Anyway, come back tomorrow for Kat’s review and, on Friday, we’ll have Rebecca’s review for you (for real this time…)
Thanks for reading!
- Rebecca & Kat
Kat’s Review
Hello Readers!
Welcome to my review of Ming Garden Chinese restaurant. :)
On this particular night, we ordered some of our standards like chicken fried rice, barbecue pork, fried noodles, crab Rangoon, and egg rolls. We also decided to try their potstickers since we haven’t had them from there before.
The fried rice was delicious as always. The barbecue pork is always melt-in-your-mouth good and it was the same this time. The crab Rangoon was tasty, as usual, except it was little greasy. The pan-fried noodles were super greasy which is not normal for them.
Now for the potstickers. While they aren’t a favorite of mine, I do usually enjoy potstickers. However, these were slimier than normal and the filling was sparse. The little bit of meat that I did taste was not that appetizing.
That being said, I will definitely be eating from Ming Garden again because the food we usually order is pretty amazing; I just won’t be ordering the potstickers again. I’ll probably also try some more things from their menu and, maybe, write mini reviews of them in the future.
That’s all from me today, but you can come back tomorrow for Rebecca’s review!
Don’t forget to follow us on our socials (@kenodiet on Twitter, Facebook, and insta) and/or leave us a comment letting us know what restaurant we should try next!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
XOXO, Kat
Rebecca’s Review
Hello everyone. Rebecca here again.
Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. Today I am reviewing Ming Garden.
The delivery was here early and the delivery driver was very polite. As shown in the picture we had chicken fried rice, barbecue pork, Cantonese noodles, crab Rangoon, egg rolls and dumplings.
The food was delicious. The crab Rangoon was crisp and the insides were creamy. The egg rolls were cooked to perfection and tasted like heaven. The fried rice was fantastic, with the perfect combination of meat and vegetables to rice.
The food there usually lasts for more than one day. It tastes good reheated and the rice is not all dried out.
I would recommend this restaurant to everyone.
***This review was originally published in October 2019***
Red Robin
Hello Readers!
Today we are reviewing another chain because we, honestly, had never had anything from Red Robin before this year and we wanted to see what all the hype was about. Now, it has definitely become one of our favorites, especially during the pandemic.
We hope you enjoy reading our review of Red Robin and we hope you come back for “seconds” because we have a few reviews lined up for you every Wednesday. We’ve also tried some new recipes that we wanted to share with you.
- Kat & Rebecca
Kat’s Review
Hello Readers!
Kat here with my half of the review for you.
On this trip to Red Robin, Rebecca and I both tried the Guacamole Bacon Burger for the first time and it did not disappoint.
The beef patty was juicy and cooked to perfection. The bacon was much crisper than you would get elsewhere and seasoned just right. The veggie toppings were deliciously fresh and oh so tasty. The star of the show, however, was the guacamole.
This guacamole, which is made in-house was some of the best I’ve ever had. It was a beautiful green color, of which the only thing brighter was the fragrant smell wafting to my nostrils. The texture was that of the creamiest, most perfect, lump-free masterpieces. And, when I took my first bite, my taste buds began the dance of the hippos from Fantasia. It was unbelievably flavorful with a good amount of kick without overpowering the overall taste of the other ingredients.
Overall, this burger’s elements and worked together to form a perfect harmony of flavors. It was one of the best burgers I have ever tasted. However, it was too big for one meal, so I cut it in half. It was also super messy and, when things are messy, I tend to eat them faster for some reason, so that made it harder to savor the burger.
In the end, I would give this burger a 4.75 out of 5. It would get a perfect 5 if it wasn’t as messy…
XOXO,
Kat
P.S. – the fries were great, as usual – fresh and crispy with perfect seasoning.
Rebecca’s Review
The burger came wrapped in a Red Robin container. It was really messy and larger. I cut the sandwich and had it for two meals. The burger tasted amazing. It had just the right amount of pink and toppings. The guacamole did have a little kick to it but, with the other toppings, it was the perfect complement.
The fries were warm, crisp, and had a nice golden hue. The fries were seasoned with seasoned salt. The taste was great and better than most fries that are delivered.
- Rebecca
***This review was originally published on September 30, 2020***
Original Cream Puff – Pumpkin Spice
Kat’s Review
Hello Readers!
Kat here with another (albeit late) review for you.
At the beginning of October, we got the chance to try the new pumpkin spice flavored cream puff from the same people who make the famous Original Cream Puff for the Wisconsin State Fair. We had to order the cream puffs online, just like we did for for the Original Cream Puff this summer but, this time, we had to drive all the way to West Allis to pick them up from the fairgrounds.
So, confession time…we may have gotten up early to pick these up and eaten them for breakfast as soon as we got home…
At first glance, these didn’t look too different from the regular cream puffs; the cream just happened to be orange and there was cinnamon sprinkled on top. But, with the first bite of the cream, you could tell the difference.
The cream had a distinct pumpkin flavor but it wasn’t as sweet as I was expecting. It was still tasty; I just think it could have been a tiny bit sweeter.
The puff pastry was very much the same as the Original Cream Puff. It was golden and so delicious. The top was absolutely smothered with powdered sugar, making the whole thing a bit messy. Yes, the powdered sugar covered pastry was messier than the cream filling.
Together, the cream filling with the overly sugared pastry was perfect! I loved it. Overall, I give this limited seasonal treat a 4 out of 5.
Unfortunately, these were only available for a few days at the very beginning of October, but, I hope they have them again next year. If they do, and you have the opportunity, you should definitely get some for yourself.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this review and come back for more!
XOXO,
Kat
Rebecca’s Review
Hello. Rebecca here with another food review.
So, this week, we are reviewing the State Fair cream puff. This is the first year the cream puffs were pumpkin flavored and could be bought in late September, early October. The regular cream puffs were available at the beginning of August.
The pumpkin cream puffs looked amazing. They were large, filled with an orange (pumpkin spice) cream, and topped off with powdered sugar.
When eating it, we needed a fork because the filling was too thick to just bite. The filling was sweet and reminded me of pumpkin pie. They had just the right amount of spices. It seemed like no matter what I did to eat it, I always ended up with cream and sugar on my face. I am hoping they have these again next year.
***This review was originally published in November 2020***
Original Cream Puff – Cocoa
Kat’s Review
Hello Readers!
Kat here with another cream puff review for you.
Once again, the Original Cream Puff geniuses offered seasonal, limited-time goodies. This time, they were cocoa cream cuffs, giant chocolate chip cookies, and peppermint brownies - we only tried the cream puffs. And, once again, they were only available for a short time.
We pre-ordered our cocoa cream puffs and picked them up on Friday, December 11th, which was the first of three days they offered for pickups. We left our house around 7:30 am because pickups started at 8. When we made it to the fair grounds, the whether was a bit cold & rainy and the lines (there were two) were winding from the Cream Puff Pavilion almost all the way to the entrance gate and it was only 8:30 in the morning.
We listened to Christmas music as we waited patiently in our warm car as the line slowly crept closer to the pickup point. There were people handing out free calendars for the Milwaukee Admirals hockey team (with a flyer inside for a free ticket to a game) along with their mascot, so that was a fun bonus. The Original Cream Puff mascot was there as well, dancing to keep warm in the dreary weather.
After almost a half-hour in line, we finally made it to the pickup tent, got our treats, and headed back home to enjoy a not-so-healthy breakfast.
The Cocoa Cream Puffs were DELICIOUS. The puff pastry was wonderfully flaky while the delectable cocoa cream filling was smooth and perfectly chocolatey - it tasted almost like chocolate ice cream. Plus, the top was lightly dusted with powdered sugar and cocoa powder. I LOVED them.
Just like the Pumpkin Spice Cream Puffs, I REALLY hope they offer these again next year (if not sooner). If they do, you should DEFINITELY try them, if possible.
Maybe next year, we’ll try the brownies and cookies…
XOXO,
Kat
P.S. - I wish you all a WONDERFUL Holiday Season! Merry Christmas!
Rebecca’s Review
Hello everyone.
Rebecca here with another food review.
Today I am reviewing a new cream puff, the cocoa cream puff.
As you may have read in a previous post, we tried the pumpkin cream puff which were also new this year. The cocoa cream puffs looked amazing. The flaky puff, topped with powdered sugar and cocoa, was beautiful. The cream looked good, but it seemed to have less filling than the other creampuffs we had before. Of course, I had to use a spoon for the filling and I did get powdered sugar all over, but it was well worth it.
The creamy filling was just the right amount of chocolate which melted in your mouth. Then, the cream puff was made to perfection. Just the right amount of flaky and soft. It tasted like heaven. The only thing I wish is that there was more of it.
If you have to chance to try these I would recommend.
Well, that’s it for me today. Have a Happy Holiday Season.
***This review was originally published on December 16, 2020***