First time ordering; entree choices were Smothered Pork Chops or smothered chicken, both of which were discounted. There was also a $10 lasagna plate special and lasagna available as a side.
After reading the reviews, my initial selection was the smothered chicken with lasagna and cabbage potatoes and adding a third side for $5, but I felt overwhelmed by the number of options and ended up calling my dad for his opinion. This resulted in changing my order to things I ultimately disliked the taste of, but since he and I have been fighting a lot lately (he, obviously, being the one of us in the wrong), and this gave us a topic of conversation on which we could both express strong opinions, find some common ground, disagree to some extent, and remain respectful & empathetic, I would absolutely describe the exercise as a solid "win" for our whole team, and at under $40 including tip, a very affordable private meal supplement to the family therapy options included with our respective Medicare plans.
Specific tasting notes:
1) Reasonable portions on each side and substantial amount of food for the plate, 10/10.
2) Rice and gravy with entree was plentiful, well-seasoned, delicious, and cooked to exactly the right level of gooey without becoming porridge, 10/10.
3) Pork chops were a plentiful serving but, at least in my opinion, overcooked to the point of toughness and salted sufficiently to keep through the winter in a root cellar; my dog felt differently but this is why we make such a great team--4/10 but mayve they were originally a 6/10 and that's why they were 30% off.
4) Converseley, the smothered potatoes were bland, the potatoes themselves being overcooked and grainy while the ground sausage was overcooked and dry, the links absent, and the whole dish under-sauced and under-salted--4/10.
5) The potato salad had the perfect blend of creamy and tangy with just a hint of sweetness and a subtle mustard kick--8/10 def will order again even though I prefer this disg with hardboiled egg and more celery .
6) The lasagna was definitely a "side" portion but a good value for the $5 add on; also, while it was better than a lot of pasta I have had delivered before in Oakland, I could detect hint of neither Ricotta nor bechamel, and shudder to think what my great-grandnonna Nazzarena Taurcini would have broken upon tasting this--5/10.
7) I added on a side of Mashed Potatoes just for safety and was glad I did; they were perfectly seasoned, a bit runny but definitely made of actual potato and not flakes, sometimes a simple approach really is best--7/10.
I will definitely order again amd hope I get the chance to try the chicken!!
