Michael’s Food Review

12-26-16 Sherwood Inn

Today I visited the Sherwood Inn for the first time. Located in Skaneateles, New York, it
had a very rustic appearance with both a lakeside porch and spacious main dining room.
However, due to its location, parking was more difficult than would have been expected. As a
plus, however, seating was completed without much delay.
While at the table, an appetizer of sourdough bread and whipped unsalted butter was
served with water. I ordered a local draught beer named Bass Ale and a Reuben. Service was
completed rather quickly, given the busy state of the restaurant during their lunch hours. The
Bass Ale was a decent ale; a muted hoppy taste and fruity flavor allow for the ale to be quickly
palatable, while still retaining a good level of the bite of alcohol.
The Sherwood’s Reuben was served open-faced, which came as a slight surprise. The
swiss cheese topping had a texture and muted taste more reminiscent of Mozzarella. There was
also an excessive level of sauerkraut when compared to the rest of the sandwich. However, the
meal came with a side of German Potato Salad. These potatoes were absolutely the highlight of
the meal. Made with Bacon and a sweet vinaigrette sauce, I could not stop enjoying them.
While there, I was also able to sample another pale Ale, which I found to be too hoppy
for my palate, and their Margarita Pizza, which was very well made in my opinion. The sweet
basil and fresh tomatoes really elevated the pizza slices, while the crust retained its support and
soft crunchy flavor.
Overall, the Sherwood Inn had modest fare. Some choices and combinations were
excellent, while others fell flat. However, with a high-class presentation and a price tag to match,
I would have expected a higher class of food than what I had received.
3/5 stars
12-28-16 Buffalo Wild Wings
Today I visited Buffalo Wild Wings for the first time. Locate in Auburn, New York,
which was somewhat of a drive for me, it was very reminiscent of a McDonalds or Burger King.
This was not an accident I believe. Parking was no difficulty, especially that far north later in the
Lunch Hour.
While at the table, Mozzarella Sticks were ordered as an appetizer as we ordered our
drinks. The Mozzarella Sticks were rather decent; not under or over cooked and well-seasoned.
However, their beer selection was mediocre and predominantly weaker American drinks such as
three different kinds of Budweiser. On top of that, my friend who was with me ordered a drink
from the tap, but they were out. It took a surprisingly large amount of time to finally receive our
drinks, especially compared to how slow the tables seemed to be. I finally received a Curious
Traveler Seasonal Ale, which I did find delicious. It had a heavy taste of orangey citrus and went
down smoothly.
 I ordered the Small Wings, with a side of Fries, and spiced with Asian Zing. I was
impressed with the large selection of spices and sauces they offered for their wings; but as my
friend pointed out, “It’s called Buffalo Wild Wings, not Buffalo Wild Drinks.” The fries were
passable; they were not much better than I would have expected at any fast food joint. The
wings, however, were marvelous to my palate. The unique spice was so refreshing with just the
right amount of zing for me. My friend ordered the Cajun Jerked Seasoning, which had more
spice and flavoring, which I enjoyed as well. However, we still preferred our personal choices in
the end.
One thing that Buffalo Wild Wings had that was quite enjoyable, was during their down
time various video games were offered and broadcasted on the large TVs. We amused ourselves
playing a very public game of Poker, which did help to pass the time quickly.
In conclusion, the look of the restaurant fit well into the theme of the restaurant; it is a
chain restaurant which has created a formula. While much of the food was quite delicious and
had unique styles of flavoring, its atmosphere fell very flat and the bill rose quite high for the
number of people involved in my opinion.
3/5 Stars