Cod and Chips at Tony Roma's

Cod and Chips, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Oh, Tony Roma's, you saved my budget with your lunch specials yet again!

The Cod and Chips was an ample portion featuring two pieces of fish, lots of fries, and coleslaw. The fish was flaky and soft on the inside, while the batter was crispy and tasted to me like a beer batter.

I was surprised the tartar sauce was Kraft served up in a small dish. I generally expect house made tartar sauce in a restaurant. Fortunately, I like Kraft tartar sauce.

Vegetable Tempura at Tokyo Express

Vegetable Tempura, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

This was a case of my eyes being bigger than my stomach. Yes, i was very hungry, but was not prepared for how huge these pieces of battered, deep-fried vegetables were.

Tempura at Tokyo Express usually comes with prawns, but I asked for all vegetables, and they obliged. The batter was light and crispy (as it should be) and the vegetables were fresh.

Salmon on Noodles at Tokyo Express

Salmon on Noodles, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

Someone once commented to me that Japanese food can never be fast. So perhaps this piece of salmon on stir-fried noodles from Tokyo Express is not authentic, but it is economical and tastes great. And did you know that Tokyo Express is an Edmonton-based restaurant chain? That makes me feel much better about eating there too.

Moment of Truth: Ten Inch, Two Topping Pizza at Santo's

Ten Inch, Two Topping Pizza, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

I have been visiting Santo's on a regular basis ever since it re-opened under new ownership and management this year. During these visits, I have tried numerous items representative of the new menu, from pasta to steak to breakfast.

It was finally time to stop and taste the pizza.

Santo's has always been famous for inexpensive, delicious pizza. Indeed, this is one tradition the new owners are keeping. Most of the 13 inch pizzas are within $10-$12 in price, and there are a few new additions amongst the choices.

As I was dining alone, I did not want to consume a 13 inch pizza, nor was I in a position to take any home. Fortunately, a 10 inch pizza is now available. And for only $7.95 (for two toppings) it is a value indeed.

My mushroom and black olive pizza was hot, loaded with toppings, and had a tangy sauce. Neither a traditional flat crust nor a puffy North American style, it was crispy. and stayed crispy throughout the meal. Crispy, and a little dry and hard, especially around the edges.

Still, for the price, I can't complain too much. The pizza is not quite the same as it was before, but I don't think customers will be disappointed either.