TGI Friday's

The was my first favorite restaurant as a child. I remember my first trip
to one that opened in Marina Del Rey. The menu was handwritten with
looney caricatures pointing to various dishes, and saying silly things. I
would sit through the meal making sure I read it all. My favorite was the
"Design Your Own Omelette". They boasted, "If you can think of it, we
can make it." I would stuff mine with strawberries and sour cream and
top it with gobs of whipped cream. There was even a guy that would go
from table to table making balloon animals. As more and more chains
opened the menu was typed laminated, and the food became more
"chain" than something different and delicious. Somehow though they
retained their fun feel, and I wouldn't mind coming for an appetizer and
a drink. Our location, in San Bernardino, even has a magician during
Sunday Brunch, who goes table to table making things disappear before
your very eyes. Lately I've been pleased to see some changes in the
food. Though I can't understand why they took my favorite Deep Fried
Mushrooms off the menu, they've added some new favorites. Their
signature Jack Daniel's sauce is a mainstay on the menu and I would
guess it to be one of their biggest money makers. I avoided it for quite
a while, thinking it was a barbecue type sauce, but it isn't, it's more of a
sticky sweet teriyaki type sauce. My sister-in-law loves their Sesame
Jack Chicken Strips and no matter how tired they are, she goes out of
her way here for several orders to take home with them before
beginning their hour ride home. It is so yummy sweet that it could
double as dessert. We can't pull ourselves away from the Jack Daniel's
Shrimp. You can order an appetizer portion of them under "Extra's" for
$3.99, it is fair to say it's one of the best shrimp dishes we've ever had!
And most recently we enjoyed their Jack Daniel's Ribs which were
extremely messy, but worth it. I suggest just getting their Jack Daniel's
Sampler which showcases the shrimp, chicken and ribs, which are all
wonderful and served with garlic mashed potatoes and a dinner salad.
Their new Tuscan Spinach Dip far surpasses their old spinach dip. This
new version has a cream cheese base that is melted with parmesan and
Romano cheeses, artichoke hearts and served with fresh fried corn
tortillas and crispy baked ciabatta garlic bread. Their Smoked Chicken
Quesadilla sounded simple, but wow'd me with sweet chicken and
caramelized onions, and paired perfectly with an avocado ranch dipping
sauce. The Crab Cakes were like none other that we'd eaten before,
kind of a Kentucky Fried Chicken Tuna Cake. The breading was just like
KFC and the crab was definitely canned, but my hat's off to them, I
consider myself quite the cook and I couldn't make canned crab taste
that good, and the lemon butter sauce they served it with was perfect.
I wasn't as impressed with the Blackened Chicken Alfredo which was a
bit bland and though the Lemon Chicken Picatta was delicious served
with my favorite, angel hair pasta, it was so buttery rich, I couldn't eat
much or I knew I was going to have a serious stomach ache later.
Ordering up their House Salad with the side of cheese and bacon bits
and the house dressing with bleu cheese crumbles is still something we
look forward to here. Friday's has definitely redeemed itself in my book,
and for a chain restaurant no less. It's always been a favorite place for
us to have drinks and play trivia, but now we won't be eating before
coming here.