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• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Mitch Albala
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Note: Another person didn't have the muffin or the corn on the cob which came with his dinner)

"The muffin's good!"

"Oh yeah?"

"The corn too!"

"I guess I should've had them!"

"Both!"

"Two great tastes that taste great together?"

"See, sometimes you've got to combine."

"Yeah?"

"Sometimes it doesn't work out well, though."

"Like what?"

"I have had tuna fish and peanut butter."

"Tuna fish and peanut butter?"

(Howard raises his eyebrows and makes a pleased face)

"I like tuna fish!"

"And peanut butter?"

"And I like peanut butter!"

(Howard makes a displeased face)

"But tuna fish and peanut butter...."

"Didn't work out?"

"I will not try it again."

(Howard makes a pleased face)

"But I tried it!"

• James Muscianesi
• Lisa Muscianesi
• Howard Smith

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Daniel Muscianesi
• James Muscianesi
• Lisa Muscianesi
• Joe Pansini
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Mitch Albala
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• James Muscianesi
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Mitch Albala
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(While having pasta fagioli)

"I didn't know pasta fagioli was spelled like that."

"Fa-gee-oh-lee?"

(Howard nods, raises his spoon towards his mouth, and raises his eyebrows)

"But this is good, though."

"Regardless of how it's spelled?"

(Howard takes a bite and nods approvingly)

"This is good, though."

• Mitch Albala
• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• James Muscianesi
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Mitch Albala
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Howard asks a question)

"How's the chicken parm?"

"Excellent! As always!"

(Howard responds with mild disappointment)

"Yeah. I'm missing the chicken parm."

"Why, how's your etouffee?"

(Howard shrugs)

"Fine."

"But it's no chicken parm?"

"It's no chicken parm."

• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Mitch Albala
• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Mitch Albala
• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

"How's the berry tort, Howie?"

(Howard shrugs)

"It's got berries in it."

• Mitch Albala
• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Bob Vesterman

• Mitch Albala
• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman
• Mark Whittaker

(Unprompted)

"I am OK with my meal so far."

"What is your meal?"

"Ribs and ribs?"

"So far, I think, he's had corn."

"And firecracker!"

(Referring to the firecracker green beans)

• Mitch Albala
• Mike Coless
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(The Outback staff starts singing "Happy Birthday" at another table; Howard begins bopping to the music)

"How's the Queensland Salad?"

(Howard's mouth is full)

(Howard continues bopping while chewing)

(Howard shrugs while bopping and chewing)

(Howard swallows, continuing to bop)

"Fine."

(Howard continues bopping)

• Mitch Albala
• Howard Smith
• Kathleen Staab
• Rob Staab
• Bob Vesterman

(See also Howard's review from May 3, 2001)

"What is that, Howard?"

"Crab."

"Crap?"

"Crab."

"Crap?"

"Crab."

"Crap?"

"Yes."

• Mitch Albala
• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Note: The Meyersville Inn is once again under new management, with a new chef and a new menu; we suspected that it might be the same as its older incarnation, and were trying to figure out whether it was or not (and it turns out that it is))

(Three appetizers were ordered for the table: Cajun popcorn crawfish, calamari, and hummus)

"So far, I'm OK with all of the appetizers."

(Howard does not like hummus)

"Except the hummus?"

"Well, I didn't have any of it. So I'm OK with it."

• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Howard had previously mentioned that he was going to combine the sausage appetizer with the mozzarella and peppers appetizer)

"Well, Howie, how is it?"

"How is what?"

"Combining them."

"I always combine!"

"I didn't ask if you always combine. I asked how it was."

"Fine."

(The questioner makes an exasperated noise)

(A question is directed to the original questioner)

"What did you expect?"

(Howard interjects)

"Why would you not combine?"

• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Howard Smith
• Kathleen Staab
• Rob Staab

• Mike Coless
• James Muscianesi
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Howard takes a bite of his Cajun ribs, and makes an urgent face)

"NNNNNNNNNNNFFFF!"

"What's wrong?"

"Hot!"

"Heat hot, or spicy hot?"

"Heat hot!"

(Later, unprompted)

"These ribs have a lot of sauce. There's more sauce on these than the others, and not as much meat."

(Howard inspects a rib)

"Look at this - sauce. It's hard to find meat."

(Howard picks up a large rib, and perks up)

"Ooooooh, a big bone!"

(Later, the waitress asks Howard about his meal)

"How are those ribs?"

"Hot."

"Hot? Are they good?"

(Howard shrugs)

"They're good."

"Good."

(The waitress leaves)

"Hot."

• Mitch Albala
• Mike Coless
• Howard Smith

• Mitch Albala
• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Bob Vesterman

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Regarding the appetizer sampler platter)

"The quesadillas are good."

(A moment later)

"That other thing's good, too."

"Which other thing?"

(Howard gestures towards the nachos)

"Nachos thing."

• Mitch Albala
• Mike Coless
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Unprompted, regarding the whipped cream that came with dessert)

"I do not like whipped cream."

"I don't believe that."

"I do not like whipped cream."

"You don't believe that Howard doesn't like whipped cream?"

"That's correct."

"I do not like whipped cream."

"Here's some whipped cream right here, Howard; try it."

(Howard grimaces and shakes his head)

"I do not like whipped cream."

"But you've got to either refute or confirm Coletti's claim!"

"I have had whipped cream."

"I believe that you've had whipped cream. I don't believe that you dislike whipped cream."

"I dislike whipped cream."

"He's going to start saying 'Well, it's OK, it's not bad, it's fine...'"

"OK, maybe 'dislike' is too strong a word."

"See what I'm talking about?"

(Howard laughs)

• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Howard wanted to try something different, and wound up ordering a cup of the new Portugeuse style stew instead of his regular cup of gumbo)

"So Howard, how's your experiment?"

(Howard, while chewing, makes no sound)

"What was that, did you make some sort of facial gesture? I didn't see it. I need a verbal response."

(Howard, still chewing, laughs)

"This? I think I prefer the gumbo."

(Howard pauses a moment)

"Yes, I definitely prefer the gumbo. The gumbo's better."

"Is it spicier than the gumbo?"

"Not really. The gumbo's better. This reminds me of Indian food."

"I like Indian food."

"I do not."

• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Regarding tiramisu)

"I don't really like soggy."

"What about bread pudding?"

"Bread pudding is not soggy."

"Bread pudding can be soggy."

"No, Jamaican bread pudding is not soggy. And the bread pudding that we got at the shell thing place..."

"The Meyersville Inn?"

"Yes, the Meyersville Inn, their bread pudding is solid."

"What about the bread pudding at that ribs place?"

"Famous Daves? It is solid."

(Later, regarding his dessert, which was a cannoli with some chocolate sauce drizzled on it)

"Cannoli's good. Would have been better without the chocolate stuff."

"You don't like chocolate?"

"I'll have chocolate."

"He likes chocolate; he doesn't like chocolate flavored things."

(Howard nods)

"At this point, you have to put it completely out of your mind that chocolate is a chocolate flavored thing."

(Howard laughs)

"So a candy bar..."

"It depends. I don't like candy bars with stuff in them."

"So you'll have a Hershey's - just plain Hershey's bar..."

"I'll have a Hershey's."

"But not a Three Musketeers, or a Snickers, or anything like that."

"No."

"But isn't that sauce on your cannoli chocolate?"

(Howard looks down at the sauce and grimaces slightly)

"The chocolate sauce is chocolate, but it makes the cannoli a chocolate flavored thing."

(Howard laughs)

"I mean, look at that stuff, who would eat that?"

"I would eat that."

"By itself?"

"Sure."

"I would not eat that."

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• James Muscianesi
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Howard drinks some of his lemonade)

"AUGGGGH!"

(Howard hangs his head and holds it in his hands)

"What's wrong, Howie?"

(Howard neither replies nor moves)

"Howard, are you OK?"

"Brain freeze!"

"From lemonade?"

"Brain freeze!"

"You got a brain freeze from lemonade?"

"It's icy! There is a lot of ice in it!"

(Howard picks up his glass and shows that there is a lot of ice in it)

"See? It is very icy!"

"I can't believe you got a brain freeze from lemonade."

"It is very cold!"

(Howard drinks some more of his lemonade)

• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Unprompted)

"I like reading my own reviews!"

(Later, regarding his drink, known as a "Jamaican Shake")

"Mine is strong! Woah!"

"Howie, how do you make a Jamaican Shake?"

(Howard smiles and shakes)

(Later, regarding that same drink)

"It was a little alcoholy."

"A little alcoholy, or a little too alcoholy?"

"And chocolatey. It was chocolatey. It wasn't too different from your chocolate shake."

"But what in it would be chocolatey?"

(Howard shrugs)

"Kahlua?"

"But Kahlua's not chocolatey."

"I know."

• Mitch Albala
• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Daniel Muscianesi
• James Muscianesi
• Lisa Muscianesi
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Mitch Albala
• Sarah Kerr
• James Muscianesi
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Mitch Albala
• Howard Smith

• Mike Coless
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Referring to a dipping sauce that came with the appetizer sampler platter)

"What kind of sauce is that? Is it tartar sauce?"

(Howard shrugs)

"I had it."

• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Unprompted, while eating ribs)

"I am enjoying myself!"

• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Howard Smith
• Kathleen Staab
• Rob Staab
• Bob Vesterman

(Referring to the hummus appetizer, as it was being passed to him)

"That sucks."

"You've had it before, Howard?"

"I had a little bit tonight. That sucks."

(Later)

"How was the hummus?"

(Howard makes a displeased face)

"Tasted like hummus."

• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Note: Howard had previously made a point of making sure that it was known that the hot wings ordered as appetizers should not be boneless)

"How are your bones and ribs?"

(Howard smiles)

"There are bones in there!"

• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Note: Earlier in the evening, Howard was trying to explain what taste the word "stainy" describes)

"How's your malt?"

"I haven't had a malt in twenty years."

"Is it stainy?"

(Howard laughs)

"No, it's not stainy."

"How is it?"

"This? It's fine."

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Mitch Albala
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Unprompted, regarding the chocolate lava cake)

"I think I'm going to try some of the lava thing."

"But it's chocolatey, Howie!"

"I think I'm going to try it."

"You're going to risk it?"

"Yes."

(Howard takes a bite)

(Howard makes an urgently displeased face)

"HOT!"

(Howard makes a displeased face)

"No."

"No?"

"No."

"What part didn't you like about it?"

"Most of it."

• Mitch Albala
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Mitch Albala
• Howard Smith
• Roland Volz

• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Howard points at a basket of complimentary appetizers)

"Wasn't there something in here that I liked last time?"

"Yeah, I think there was."

"What was it?"

"I don't know. There are french fries, and onion straws, and cheese bread, and bananas, and..."

"Cheese bread sounds right. Maybe it was cheese bread."

(Howard picks something out of the basket)

"This?"

"Yeah, that's cheese bread."

(Howard pops it in his mouth)

(Howard makes a displeased face)

"I am not impressed."

• Mitch Albala
• Mike Coless
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Note: Howard generally dislikes beer, but ordered a Blue Moon beer)

"Howard got a beer! Walked right up to the bar and said "Blue Moon"!"

"How is it, Howard?"

(Howard responds in a positive tone of voice)

"This is the third time I've had it!"

"So... how is it, Howard?"

(Howard laughs)

(Later)

"How's the beer, Howard?"

"Did you ask, "How's the beer, Buoy"?"

"No, "Howard". How's the beer, Howard?"

(Howard shrugs)

"Fine."

• Mitch Albala
• Howard Smith

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(The Meyersville Inn is under new management, with a new menu)

(Howard tastes the ribs)

(Howard makes a displeased face and shakes his head)

"No?"

"No."

(Howard shakes his head again)

"I am disappointed. I had high hopes."

"Disappointed relative to those high hopes, or disappointed regardless of those high hopes?"

"Regardless."

(Later, unprompted)

"The potatoes have too much vinegar."

(Later, regarding the bread pudding; note that Howard had always had high praises for the previous Meyersville Inn's bread pudding, and disliked that of Famous Dave's)

"It's not quite as bad as Famous Dave's."

"Not quite?"

"Not quite as bad. It's not bad. It's good, it's good."

(Later, more enthusiastically)

"It's definitely not as bad as Famous Dave's!"

• James Muscianesi
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Mitch Albala
• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Bob Vesterman

• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Regarding the combination chicken parmigiana and pasta with vodka sauce)

"Have you had that before, Howie?"

"Yes. It's good. Better than the other things. I like the other things, but this is good. It's better than them."

• John Berger
• Mike Coless
• Kathy Herbert
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Mitch Albala
• Mike Coless
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Referring to Coletti's chocolate-based dessert)

"I was not impressed by that."

"Well, you don't like chocolate, right?"

(Howard nods approvingly)

"Well, I should say, you don't like chocolate-flavored things, right?"

(Howard nods approvingly)

(Howard directs a question at Coletti)

"What was that, Coletti? Chocolate Mud Loaf?"

(Coletti shakes his head.)

"Chocolate Lava Cake?"

(Coletti shakes his head again, and answers)

"Chocolate Sensation. It's a sensation!"

"I disagree."

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Mike Coless
• James Muscianesi
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Unprompted, regarding the firecracker green beans, which are green beans with bits of bacon)

"I've had better firecracker."

"Not explosive enough?"

(Howard takes another bite)

"Oooh, they're getting better!"

(Howard takes another bite)

"Oooh, and they're still getting better!"

(A moment later)

"The cornbread is good."

"But you haven't had any yet!"

"It's good from the last time. It's good from every time!"

"Not like the firecracker green beans, which got better?"

"Maybe I hit a chunk of bacon."

• Mitch Albala
• Mike Coless
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Unprompted)

"It's a new..."

"A new what?"

"What's the word, a new..."

"Paradigm?"

"Style... not style..."

"Trend?"

"Trend!"

"What's a new trend?"

"Knish and ketchup."

(Howard pours ketchup on his knish)

"You're a trendsetter."

(Howard tastes his knish with ketchup)

"So how is your new trend, Howard?"

"What, potato and ketchup? They were born together."

"Not much of a trendsetter, then."

"But this is a knish."

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman
• Rob Weiss

• Mitch Albala
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Referring to the fact that one of the dishes was messy)

"You know what I say: Messy is good."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes. Hot roast beef and cheese, the gravy coming out, messy."

"You going to Vito's after this, Howard?"

(Howard laughs)

(Later, unprompted, regarding a spinach-like vegetable served with a scallop dish)

"The green stuff is good."

• Mitch Albala
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Unprompted, gesturing to a bottle of tabasco sauce)

"I do not like that."

"What, tabasco? Too spicy?"

"It's not that it's too spicy. I don't like the taste."

(Howard puts tabasco sauce in his soup)

(Howard tastes his soup)

"This is good!"

"You must like the taste of tabasco, then!"

"Whatever! This is good!"

(Later, after the meal)

"My soup was good. Especially..."

(Howard smiles and points at the bottle of tabasco sauce)

"This is like the second or third time you said you liked that!"

"I was pleasantly surprised."

• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Kathleen Staab
• Rob Staab
• Bob Vesterman

"Everyone likes snacks."

• John Berger
• Kathy Herbert
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

"How was yours, Howie?"

"Good. It was kind of like the other thing."

"What other thing?"

"Pork. Pork shank."

"What was yours?"

"Veal. Osso whatever. Osso buco."

• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Rob Staab
• Bob Vesterman

(Unprompted)

"That stuff is good."

"What stuff?"

"Shrimp-sausage thing."

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Mitch Albala
• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Unprompted)

"This is better than the one on 22!"

"The other restaurant of this same chain, on Route 22?"

"Yes! Or, at least my ribs."

• Sarah Kerr
• James Muscianesi
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Kathleen Staab
• Rob Staab
• Rob Weiss

(Excitedly, pointing to a sauce on the sampler tray)

"I didn't see that - what's that?"

"That's a remoulade sauce. It's for the catfish fingers."

(Howard dips a catfish finger into the sauce)

"I don't think I like catfish."

(Howard pops the catfish finger into his mouth)

• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

(Upon being offered chicken hearts, and being told that no self-respecting Jamaican would refuse them)

"A guy where I work says that I'm not really Jamaican - I'm Jamerican."

• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Daniel Muscianesi
• James Muscianesi
• Lisa Muscianesi
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

"How's the cider, Howie?"

(Howard shrugs)

(Howard shrugs again)

(Howard shrugs again)

(Howard shrugs again)

(Howard shrugs again)

"All right."

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Sarah Kerr
• James Muscianesi
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Ed Wrocenski

• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Howard Smith

• John Barnes
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Jennifer Sweeney
• Bob Vesterman

"So, Howard, what's the official result, with regards to authenticity and such?"

"I liked it, but I don't know about authenticity."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you don't get ribs in Jamaica."

• Mitch Albala
• Lisa Burke
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Mike Coless
• Sarah Kerr
• James Muscianesi
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Referring to Howard's hurricane)

"How is that?"

"This? Not fruit punchy enough."

"Not fruit punchy? Every time I've had a hurricane..."

"Enough."

"Oh, fruit punchy enough. I just heard fruit punchy."

(Howard raises his finger and eyebrows as if to make a point)

"Enough."

• John Berger
• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Kathy Herbert
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith

• Mitch Albala
• Jim Burke
• Lisa Burke
• Sarah Kerr
• John Schmidt
• Howard Smith
• Bob Vesterman

(Note: several different desserts were being shared by the table)

(Unprompted)

"What's in that cheesecake?"

"It's got caramel, and chocolate, and pecans...."

(Howard makes a displeased face)

"Doesn't sound good?"

(Howard shakes his head while answering)