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DISCOMBOBULATED
Mixed Messages: Fusion is ever more fre
quently the name of the game in the res
taurant business, to the point where it's
trickled down even to the franchise level.
Shishkabobby's (2 South Main Street, Suite
105, Watkinsville) isn't a franchise yet, but
the folks bringing it to you have goals to
make it such. Their experience in that arena
isn't quite showing yet, though, or at least
not in positive ways. The advantage of a fran
chise is a clear, simple, non-threatening con
cept and as much consistency as possible, and
while some things at Shishkabobby's aren't
bad at all, neither the clarity nor the consis
tency is up to standards yet.
The most confusing thing is the utter lad<
of skewers, despite the restaurant's logo. Is it
that likely someone will get poked in the eye
if a sharp thing makes it around the coun
ter and into the dining area? And the fact
that veggies, chicken, steak or salmon (four
choices) have been already slid off the pointy
stick muddles the ideas at work. Is it really a
shiskabob if, in the "Bobby Roll," whatever
was on it is folded into a wrap with white
rice, black beans, cheese, salsa and lettuce?
Or is it a burrito? The salsa bar has some good
options, like a tasty black bean and corn mix
and chilled bottles of Sriracha, but it contrib
utes further to mystification.
What appears to be going on here is a
melange of Mediterranean (sort of) and the
kind of Mexican done by Barberitos and Moe's
(i.e., customizable), and while that's not
necessarily a bad idea—food cultures can and
should learn from one another—it also doesn't
seem necessary. Who, really, was clamoring
for hummus topped with cheese dip ("Bobby
style")? Note that the cheese dip is barely
noticeable, completely overpowered by an
insanely garlicky hummus. The ingredients
could be better in some instances. Diced
tomatoes have been turned into an indistin
guishable mush, and the bacon seems like the
artifically smoke-flavored microwave variety,
but the various wraps and flatbreads are sub
stantial and have a fine texture. The "Bobby
Melt" comes on the latter, and while the steak
was rather chewy without partaking of the
flavor of the grill, the taste of the whole thing
left a positive impression. The real question
is why one would pick Shishkabobby's over its
more strictly delineated competitors—grilled
pineapple? a love of tzatziki sauce? It is, at
least, something a little different. The restau
rant is open for lunch and dinner daily, takes
credit cards and does catering.
Very Few Messages at All: MJ's Fish Shack
(211-A Tallassee Road) requires a leap of
faith. Yes, the red "open" sign is on, but if
you open the door, enter the deserted and not
' particularly lit covered patio that was Caliente
Cab once upon a time, push open the door
that leads into the small cinder-block room
bedecked with seaside doodads and politi
cal fliers, and ring the bell set in front of a
blacked-out sliding glass window, you will be
rewarded—most likely, unless you are actually
breaking and entering, which is sort of what
the experience feels like. Fortunately, most of
the food is worth the effort. MJ's has a menu
consisting of baskets (one side) and two-piece
dinners (two sides) of fried fish and shrimp,
plus turkey legs, hot wings and desserts. The
french fries are salty enough to preserve a side
of beef, and the coleslaw and potato salad are
on the sweet side. But both the whole fried
catfish (around $8 for a two-piece dinner)
and the basket of fried shrimp are better than
average. The shrimp is, somehow, exception
ally tender. The restaurant is open Wednesday
through Saturday for lunch and dinner and
takes credit cards.
What Up? Taqueria del Sol is open at the cor
ner of Prince and Childs Streets, and nearby
237 Prince Woodfire Grille has closed.
Restaurants Open Thanksgiving Day: Maison
Bleu (2-6 p.m.; a la carte menu), The Basil
Press (turkey special; searings at 1, 3:30 and
6 p.m.), Gingko Tree Restaurant in the Holiday
Inn (11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; buffet) and Foundry
Park Inn and Spa (T-giving buffet; 11 a.m.-
2:30 p.m.; reserve with a credit card).
Hillary Brown
WlwaHS
Saturday, Nov. 22 is
at ztofs
Featuring
Pam Blanchard &
Michael Wegner
of Cite Sunny-Side Up Band
jrUMM2T FOOD. GREAT MUSIC
LOTS OF FUN!
Starting at 5pm * No Cover Charge
VV MWB M m
BcechwoodJShopping Center;
• - —* -* - maM
THE GEORGIA BAR
$2 DOMESTIC BOTTLES
MONDAYS & TUESDAYS
TERRAPIN TUESDAY
1st PINT REGULAR PRICE
KEEP THE GLASS • REFILLS $2
NCAA FOOTBALL GAME PLAN
PICK THE GAME YOU WANT TO WATCH
. BEST BVRSTOOLS CVTOWN 1
159 W. Cl.VVrb,N|ST-.,- 706-546-9884;
Wselclij SpssiaU
Mmidarp avul Wednesday*
2 For the Price of 1
'fuetday* and *?Wu**day*
99c 12oz Domestic Draft Beer and
$1.99 32oz Domestic Draft Beer
Fwday*$Steiurdaip,
avul Sunday*
Margarita Pitcher and
Cheese Dip Combo
_ Large Combo: $19.95
(Large Pitcherjuid Large Cheese Dip)
Small Combe: $10100
(Small PitcheTaM-SffllCheese Dip)
2455 W BROAD ST
NEXT TO HOWARD JOHNSON
706-548-5663
WWW.LACAZUELA.COM
Dally Special by Donna L. Barstow
AFFORDABLE IN-TOWN LIVING
FLOOR PLANS STARTING OUT AT J129,900
QUIT JUMPING FROM LEASE TO LEASE!
NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY!
TUCCC unMPS.
- ARE ENERGY STAR* NEW HOMES
- HAVE A CENTRAL PARK GREEN SPACE
- HAVE SIDEWALKS AND GUEST PARKING
. - ARE ON THE BUS LINE
- SINGLE FAMILY / OWNER-OCCUPIED NEIGHBORHOOD
ONLY 1.8 MILES TO DOWNTOWN!
(LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF VINE ST. AND DUBLIN)
FINANCING OPTIONS INCLUDE
-FMA-MWMUM DOWN RAYIUNT OPTIONS
- SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR QUAURB) 1ST THU BUYER
GEORGIA DREAM HOiJE OWNERSHIP PROGRAM .
WWW.THECOTTAGESATVINE.COM
COME SEE FOR YOURSELF!
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAYS 2-5PM
DIRECTIONS FROM THE ARCH DOWNTOWN ATHENS, CONTINUE ON EAST BROAD, CROSS THE RIVER, PASS DUDLEY PARK ON RIGHT;
LEFT ON ARCH ST., CONTINUE DOWN ARCH TO LEFT ON DUBLIN AND AT INTERSECTION OF DUBLIN AND VINE, S/D IS ON RIGHT
Rose Sellers
B:(706) 613-6040
O: (706) 548-6222
C: (706) 255-0472
www.RoscPetalsHomes.com
Prudential
Blanton Properties
524 Hill St. -
Athens, GA 30606
NOVEMBER 19, 2008 • FLAGPOLE.COM 15