Thanks to the gentleman who mentioned the barbeque place in Bluff City. Due to time constraints, we didn't make it there. But what we did was go to a seafood restaurant in downtown Bristol and a Bennigan's in Johnson City. Rockafeller/Offshore Cafe-Downtown Bristol ------------------------------------------- Check out the local phonebook for location and phone number. The place is open for dinner from about 5pm-12am daily, blues is played at the Offshore from 12-2am Th-Sun. If coming from the interstate, take the #3 exit, go straight for three stoplights, turn left on State Street, go up about two blocks, the restaurant is kitty-corner from JC Penny's at the light. Rockafeller advertised its specialty as steamed seafood dishes. We had some trouble in finding the place, due to the fact that when the guy at the rest- aurant said that the store was across the street from JC's, we thought that it was indeed *across* from JC's, not diagonally across. The atmosphere was ok, with a huge oaken bar dominating one side of the restaurant, green walls, elevated dining tables and benches. Service was decent, if not highly efficient (IMHO) (We were the only people in the restaurant who were not Caucasians) People seem to know people at Rockafeller's, since we kept seeing people come in and hailing each other. My dinner companion and me started out our meal with Cajun Shrimp and Chicken soup. It had a cheese-base with the minutous amount of chicken and shrimp in a cup. We were told that this soup would take longer to prepare than the gumbo because each cup was prepared individually. (I find that hard to believe...) When our soups came, the taste was wholly lacking. It needed salt and Tobasco to make anything of it. For the main course I had the steam plate, which consisted of Cajun boiled shrimp, crab legs, crawfish, and steamed oysters, and cole slaw. All I can say is this, go out to your local seafood shop, buy a box of Cajun crab boil, get a pound or so of seafood, and do it yourself. My friend had a pound of shrimp boiled Cajun style. He didn't like it either. Dessert was either lemon, key lime, or mint-chocolate cheese cakes. Not that great, but if you really must have cheesecake, get a slice and share. In synopsis, Rockafeller's sure needs improvement. I don't know how long the place has been there (looks recent) but it sure didn't feel homey. ** 1/2 out of ***** *-inediblle, ** almost good for human consumption, ***-edible ****-pretty good, *****-out of this world Bennigan's-Johnson City, TN ---------------------------- Again check the phonebook for number and location. Take the Roan St. South exit and it's to your left after the turn. I've never been to a Bennigan's before, though I have been to TGIF's. If your a fan of franchise funeateries, this is the place for you. The Johnson City Bennigan's was like any Bennigan's you'd expect. Walls littered with paraphanelias and the music eclectic. (Country-R&B in 10 minutes) Our waitress was cool enough, but seemed a bit hectic. We had to ask her to bring water to us about four-five times before anything was done, and then my friend had to go up there and do the asking. For appetizer we had the chicken quesilladas. It was ok, though its spiciness surprised us a bit. I have no clue as to why theey'd put fried corn chips (?) underneath the quesilladas for... *Bleach* The main course: I had the chicken terriyaki. Dry as heck, and not even tasty. The fried rice was pathetic. My friend had the seafood platter. It had battered perch, fried shrimp, and crab cake. Looked good, and he liked it. No complaint there. The strawberry drink was *good*. I liked it alot. The chocolate cake with pudding center wasa so-so, the brownie ala mode was good. ** out of ***** Jan
Tennessee